Peg

Does Melafix kill the good bacteria in an aquarium? Will I need to cycle all over again if I use it?

Peterpiper

Just read a review on Melafix, and it is a antibacterial. So it would affect the bacteria if you were to treat the main tank. You would need to recycle your tank.
Can you treat the fish in a hospital tank?
Product review
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/melafix.php

Peg

Yes, I can set up a sick tank. Just feeling lazy and trying to avoid a trip up to the attic to get it. I'm treating two medium sized angels, so need to set up my 20 gallon I guess.

Shawnie

whats wrong with them peg?

Peg

They had fungus, so I treated with a fungus/parasite med. The fungus was gone by the next day, but they both have sores where I'm assuming they scratched against the rocks trying to get the fungus off. One of the sores looks fairly deep and has some redness to it so I thought some antibacterial to help them heal might be a good idea. This all started about a week ago. I don't usually test this tank for ammonia because it's completely cycled. I've had it for about 1 1/2 years and didn't have ammonia in it for so long that I quit testing for it. Big mistake. When the fish got sick I decided I'd better test it because all the other stuff was fine. Nitrites, nitrates, PH, etc.... Turns out I had a dangerous level of ammonia. I recently read that you're not supposed to rinse the bacterial medium in the filter in tap water because the chlorine will kill it. I didn't know that and rinsed it a couple of months ago. I'm guessing that started a recycling process in the tank and that's why the fish got sick. So I've been doing major water changes this past week. I also found a new home for my 9 inch leopard pleco that was putting a lot of waste into the tank. It's 55 gallons and now I only have the two angels and two gourami's. Hopefully it won't take too long to cycle.
I was also reading some other threads and noticed a couple of people mentioning that they only used carbon in their filters to remove medications. I use it all the time. Is that a bad thing to do?

Shawnie

aww im sorry for your sick angels...they are so beautiful and you hate to see them hurting...IMO carbon shouldnt be used regularly...only for removing meds or lowering ammonia on a new tank...after about 3 weeks I think its useless myself..I hope you have great luck and I hope you cycle fast!

COBettaCouple

I recommend only running it when you need to remove meds. Most carbon wears out in a week or so and then dumps everything it captured at once into the tank.
For your angels, I'd recommend ordering Fish Protector and Vita-Chem from www.thatfishplace.com - unless you can get them locally. Both encourage healing and fish protector also enhances slime coating. Garlic Guard added daily (1 drop per gallon) can also help guard against secondary infection.

If you don't have Triple Sulfa stocked, I'd get some just in case they show signs of an infection and need it.

aquariumnewbie

Melafix doesn't kill the good bacteria. I've used it and my tank is still in cycle. And it adds an pleasant smell to your tank. lol.

COBettaCouple

LOL.. pleasant. It can be a bit much for someone with breathing conditions such as asthma even.

aquariumnewbie

lol. but melafix has a problem that i dislike. it will foam the tank up. although it will clear off after some time.

COBettaCouple

True. I think of the smell so much, I forget that it does that everytime I have to use it.

Lucy

It smells like vicks vapor-rub. lol

aquariumnewbie

Lol. but you get pretty sick of the smell. I'm quite sick of the smell at times. Lol. I guess it's just myself that feel that way toward's melafix's smell. lol.

COBettaCouple

LOL.. I think Vick's vapor-rub smells like roses compared to melafix.