What’s valuable: the water quality or the meds in my tank!?

So I posted another thread asking about carbon but this is a totally different topic.
So I dosed kanaplex last Friday, Sun and Tues and General Cure Sun and Tues. I need to change 25% of the water and I didn’t yesterday so I stuck a new carbon in and planned to do the 25% change today and use an entirely new carbon for 24 more hours. BUT THEN I REALIZED I haven’t changed the water in a WEEK now and it’s water change day which is far more than 25% (I change 70%).

Basically what’s more important:
A.) the medicines, so just do the 25% change they recommend and stick a new carbon in or my one from last night
B.) the water quality, so change my normal weekly change amount and not worry about meds, and remove the carbon that’s already been in for 20 hours.

 

Hey just wondering, what are you using the kanaplex and general cure for? Also a little confused about the whole carbon thing. Carbon removes medication so why are you changing out carbon filters just to medicate again?

 

Hey just wondering, what are you using the kanaplex and general cure for? Also a little confused about the whole carbon thing. Carbon removes medication so why are you changing out carbon filters just to medicate again?

I’m sorry! I’m often being told to merge my threads etc etc so I didn’t want to overlap with too many details. I can show you the links to both threads I have but one is super long so here goes:
7 Kribensis in tank, 6 are 11 months old, 1 is four months old I raised all
13 red eye tetras
A mated pair juvenile angels.
Occasionally a lab.
So out of nowhere my Kribs get dropsy. The baby goes first then a female. They’re all sick as heck. Then the one Angel gets HIH. Hence the treatments. Here are the threads!

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfi...-my-only-resource-kanaplex-for-dropsy.477899/

General Cure without water changes | Freshwater Fish Disease and Fish Health Forum | 479436

The fish seem much much better. General Cure says that 48 hours after the last dose, change 25% of the water and use new carbon. Yesterday would have been 48 hours after the last dose, yet I missed the change Bc it was TDay. So I put new carbon in to try to remove the meds (since I couldn’t change the water). Today I was unsure whether I should follow General Cure instructions or proceed with normal routine on water change days. I know fresh water is almost always best (though perhaps meds need to stay in the tank—that was the question I was asking in this post). Since I wasn’t sure I did my usual complete water change. Actually I did a larger change accidentally. Just did a 90% change and rescape. MacZ told me leaving carbon in the filter (besides for a day to remove meds) isn’t great for the fish. I had always used it, yet mine was months old. Recently (3 weeks ago) I got new carbon, and after that the fish got sick. I also had put a huge ornament in the tank and another filter. I am at a total loss as to what caused the sickness so I’m looking at anything I did differently. SO MacZ said to use a new carbon for 24 hours after I do the 25% water change General Cure instructs. I can either keep this 24 hours old carbon in for 24 more hours to rid tank of meds, which I think I’ll do, or use a brand new carbon for 24 hours (in case rhis carbon, having been used pre water change, is tainted), or no carbon. I’ve decided to leave the 24 hours old carbon in until tomorrow evening. Any thoughts after my crazy posts?

 

Same...confused. There shouldn't have been carbon in the filter when you medicated.

I've used kanaplex before. There isn't any need to use carbon to remove it. Partial water change is good enough.

 

Same...confused. There shouldn't have been carbon in the filter when you medicated.

I've used kanaplex before. There isn't any need to use carbon to remove it. Partial water change is good enough.

Sorry I posted more above explaining (or trying to). It’s a mess so I don’t blame you if you don’t read any of it! And I had no carbon in the entire time I used medications and you don’t need it to remove Kana yet you do to remove Gen cure.

 

Sorry I posted more above explaining (or trying to). It’s a mess so I don’t blame you if you don’t read any of it! And I had no carbon in the entire time I used medications and you don’t need it to remove Kana yet you do to remove Gen cure.

Before I had an auto water change system and it was a water change day, I just did the normal 50% water change like I did every week. I got rid of the carbon in all my tanks and use mostly sponges. Any tanks with HOB or a canister filter has sponges vs carbon. That's why I just do the water change and I don't worry about the carbon removing the meds. From my understanding of meds I have used (I've used both Kanaplex and Gen Cure), once the water change is suggested, the meds are done with what they need to do. I hope this helps.

 

So if I'm reading OP right, your last dose was Tuesday. If that's the case, you should waterchange Thursday anyhow according to the general cure instructions.

I always go a bit further than 25% when finishing treatment. If it says add carbon, the med doesn't matter anymore and you might as well flush it. I never noticed kanaplex didn't say to waterchange after treatment. Always do the best vacuuming you can after using an anti-parasite/dewormer like prazi (general cure).

You could heavy flush and redose the kanamycin, if you are still treating whatever symptoms with it, but it sounds like you are ready to add carbon so just flush. Make sure to watch your ammonia/nitrite after treating with broad-spectrum antibiotics like kanamycin, you may get some readings.

 

The waterquality was and is most important, especially cause "Dropsy" often tells something about that going wrong.

 

Before I had an auto water change system and it was a water change day, I just did the normal 50% water change like I did every week. I got rid of the carbon in all my tanks and use mostly sponges. Any tanks with HOB or a canister filter has sponges vs carbon. That's why I just do the water change and I don't worry about the carbon removing the meds. From my understanding of meds I have used (I've used both Kanaplex and Gen Cure), once the water change is suggested, the meds are done with what they need to do. I hope this helps.

Thank you! It does! Also what’s this auto water change? Besides a miracle?

So if I'm reading OP right, your last dose was Tuesday. If that's the case, you should waterchange Thursday anyhow according to the general cure instructions.

I always go a bit further than 25% when finishing treatment. If it says add carbon, the med doesn't matter anymore and you might as well flush it. I never noticed kanaplex didn't say to waterchange after treatment. Always do the best vacuuming you can after using an anti-parasite/dewormer like prazi (general cure).

You could heavy flush and redose the kanamycin, if you are still treating whatever symptoms with it, but it sounds like you are ready to add carbon so just flush. Make sure to watch your ammonia/nitrite after treating with broad-spectrum antibiotics like kanamycin, you may get some readings.

Oh thank you! That’s huge. I don’t rest too often Bc of the two filters and the consistent water changes. And when I do test it’s usually only ammonia. I did of course when the fish were sick yet I was also doing TONS of water changes.

The waterquality was and is most important, especially cause "Dropsy" often tells something about that going wrong.

Thank you! I figured, based on what you all have taught me! The carbon will come out today, as it sounds like it wasn’t totally necessary, anyway. I got rid of the vase and the carbon when they got sick Bc I wanted to take out anything new I had done recently. I didn’t take out the extra filter.

 

This is normal poo right?

 

UH OH. Just dosed kanaplex again. So the schedule has been: API GENERAL CURE last Sunday, Tuesday. Kanaplex last Fri, Sun, Tuesday. carbon put in Th, 90% water change Friday and carbon left in for a total of 48 hours then removed

Today is Sunday and I redosed Kanaplex Bc the male krib is gulping again. AHHH!