AquaMom

I have a bacterial infection in my 125G and I have 4 clown loaches. I have some Fura MS that is usually pretty effective but don't want to use it if it will kill loaches? If not, what would be safe?

ABCDemily

Medicines with copper in is harmful to scale-less fish like loaches and puffers. It burns them, like ammonia burns the senstivie area of a fishes gills. Other heavy metals harm fish as well, like magnesium and iron compounds.

If you look over the ingredients and it contains any heavy metal ions, like copper, iron, magnesium, chlorine, then I wouldn't risk using it.

On a sidenote: Copper is harmful and deteramental towards simpler organisms such as plants, invertabrates and snails, it de-mineralises their shells and harms them, and it ruins the leaves of plants.

Good luck!

AquaMom

The only ingredient on the box is the actual compound, or Furazolidone. Since I was getting desperate to stop the illness in the tank I tried it. I have added it for two days now, at 2/3 dose, just to be easy on the loaches and the tetra, and it seems to be working very well. No more deaths in the tank and everyone left is active and eating. Three of the four clowns now have ICH, I'm sure a result from the stress of the bacteria, but I just raised the temp for that and it will die out on it's own. I also added some Cichlid buffer, since the water tested perfect I'm sure now it was a fluke pH crash that caused this whole mess. Just a shame I had to lose half my fish first!

ABCDemily

Yeah, it's a shame that half the fish died

If you want to raise the pH of a tank naturally without stressing the fish, use a handful of crushed coral (available from good LFS's) and rinse it really thoroughly, otherwise you'll have a super cloudy tank. Bury the coral in the substrate, and test the pH 2 days later, then add more is you feel the need. Just remember to rinse super well!

I think the 2/3 dose is a good idea, especially as you don't know the exact compunds within. A good thing for ICH is something called Ich Attack, but I think that's a pretty last-ditch attempt if regular gravel vaccuums and temp. rising isn't working.

Good luck with the tank

AquaMom

Thanks! The Fura MS seems to be working wonders. Gave them dose 3 today and no more fish deaths. Everyone left is active and eating. The clowns have ich, secondary to the stress from the bacterium, but I am just treating that with increased temp since they really don't tolerate meds for ich well at all. I think (fingers crossed) that we are over the hump.

ABCDemily

That's good to hear, hope everything works out well. ICH is such an annoyance!