FishProfiles.com Message Forums

After your tank is well established (completed cycle, fish added, ect.) what is the best water conditoner, ick treatment, and basic "tank treatment", for lack of a better word, that you have found and use?

I basically want to know what type of things you add to a tank to make it more healthy. I would also like to know about what you use for the most common fish ailments and diseases. Please tell me where you got them.

I want to know about 10 and 5 gallon tanks with bettas, cherry barbs, tetras and kribs.

Last edited by ladiejl at 11-Nov-2005 02:44

Last edited by ladiejl at 11-Nov-2005 02:46

Hi,
The only thing I do to "condition" my water is add
the dechlorinator when changing the water. I'd suggest
that chemistry is not necessary. Feeding the fish with
a varied diet, regular tank maintenance, and the use of
a quarantine tank, will give you the healthy fish that
you expect.

Of course keeping your youngster from helping you with
the fish when you arn't around to supervise might help
too!

Should times of disease arise, there are plenty of products
that are on the market to treat Ich and other common
problems. Be sure to ask at your LFS for advice and
follow the directions on the containers.

And, if trouble should occur, be sure to post a question
in the "Hospital" part of FP. There are a bunch of
knowledgeable folks who offer advice and experiance
that frequent that section.

Frank




Last edited by FRANK at 11-Nov-2005 09:00

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I only use AquaSafe that Neutralises chlorine &amp; heavy metals which are harmful to fish, Protects against wounds, abrasions &amp; infection &amp; Reduces stress. I add 5ml with 2 gal. of water that i change, during my water changes.



http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

I use prime for a water conditioner. 2 out of the 3 times I've had fish with ich I used rid ich plus at full dose including with loaches and otos in the tank. Considering noone seemed to suffer any bad effects and the ich went away I'd say it's a good ich med for most occasions. The 3rd time I didn't even treat the fish I just kept the water quality up and waited. Didn't lose any. For any minor problems such as a torn fin or damaged scale I half dose melafix. I can't use pimafix or full strength melafix cause it will kill my applesnails. The only other disease I've dealt with is a mystery bacterial infection that didn't respond to any treatments and claimed over half my fish.

For water changes, I use the oldest brand out there. De-Chlor. It only adds a dechlorinator and not all the extras. Personally, I don't think it is a good thing to add all the "extras" all the time. As with many infections they can become resistant with over usage. As well, a fishes immune system can become weaker with over usage too. With RO water, I add trace elements and sometimes I use a ph buffer, but other than that, I don't add anything.

Out of the several thousand fish I keep, I very rarely have any problem with diseases. I have a new fish come in about once a year, that will get ich. But rarely any other new fish gets it. I use Formaldihyte II for all paracitic infestations. I have found it to work extremely well, and it does not color the water or anything in the tank.

For bacterial infections, I always start out strong, with PCN. If that does not work, then I move onto more specific ATBs.

As for fin damage and such, I use Melafix. And for fungus, I start with Primafix.

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

some of my tetras had ick and i used something called "quick cure" and raised the temperature up a little bit and it was gone in two days!

The only thing I use is called stress kote, it dechlorinates the water and helps replace the fish' natural slime coat that protects them. as for meds, I have used rid ich plus, other than that only pimafix and melafix.
I really don't like adding a bunch of stuff to the tank, as most maladies can be avoided by a very rigorous maintenance schedule. Good clean water is the best for them, esp. in smaller tanks frequentwater changes are a must. I change the water in my ten gallon every 5 days. At least 30, sometimes 50 %.

ive used prime