wrote:
Hi,
I was wondering, has anybody used any of the Gel-tek products? I'm
looking now at the Ultra Cure BX and PX products from Drs Foster Smith.
Does anybody have any experience using these to treat bacteria and
parasite illnesses, respectively? I'm especially wondering about using
the Ultra Cure BX to treat a minor case of fin rot. Any ideas?
-Wes

I'm a huge fan of feeding antibiotics rather than putting them in water,
EXCEPT for purely external problems like finrot. Fins have relatively
low blood circulation so external meds can be better.

First, minor finrot can almost always be cured without ANY intervention
other than very, very clean water. Test water and correct ammonia,
nitrite, or extreme pH (below 6 or above 8.5). It doesn't take much
ammonia to trigger finrot if your pH is high. Next, no matter what the
test results are, gradually start cleaning your tank more and changing
more water until you're up to a vac of the whole gravel bed and 50%
water change weekly. Maintain this level of cleaning and water change
for a few weeks and your fish will almost always heal. Then you can
back down to a more normal 25% a week.

If fish are getting a *lot* worse as water gets better, then consider a
medication. If I go to medication, I sometimes simply dab mercurichrome
on the affected fin daily. I've also treated with kanamycin externally
in quarantine.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com