Home Made Medicins

[scobie140]

Come across a thread on here by inchworm about how to make melafix by using tea tree oil after more research tho it i get conflicting reports that its not actully tea tree oil its cajeput oil.
From an other forum
Pimafix is a 1% solution of West Indian Bay (Pimenta racemosa)
It is analgesic,antiseptic and a general stimulant in humans. I guess its the same for fish. It has eugenol as its main ingredient which is an anasthetic. In high doses it can be used to euthanase a mortally ill fish. I personally would not use this in my tank or in aromatherapy. There are much better solutions.

Moving on to Melafix
The essential oil in melafix is cajuput NOT Tea tree
Botanically cajuput is Melaleuca cajuputi, also known as Melaleuca leucadendron
Tea tree is Melaleuca alternifolia

Whats the difference? Chemically cajuput is about 40% 1,8 cineole. Tea tree is about 45% terpinen-4-ol. Cajuput is more closely related chemically to eucalyptus! Eucalyptus globulus, probably the most common eucalypt used in aromatherapy is about 65% 1,8 cineole.

Both cajuput and tea tree are antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial and more. I have used tea tree in my tank to good effect. Cajuput is chemically gentler and probably the better of the two. There have been cases of humans being poisoned by drinking tea tree, lol cant understand why you would want to drink it.
There are no claims to my knowledge that tea tree or cajuput will cure ick. Having said that I treat ick with salt and temperature as has been recommended here. Huge thanks for that info I add 1% solution of cajuput at 5ml per 40 litres as recommended by melafix. My opinion is that helps heal the wounds caused by ich and helps restore the fishes slime coat. It may kill ick as well I really dont know. It certainly helps the fish.
As has been stated here as well, buy your essential oils from a reputable dealer. I am in Australia I can recommend a couple if any one is interested. Be very careful of supermarket versions, they are often diluted and contaminated. Thursday Island tea tree is ok, although a little rough. Far better to purchase pure essential oils.
Hope this helps. For the record I am a qualified aromatherapist.

a link for the recipe of melafix i found Melafix recipe

Its a bit long winded after all that but is it worth my while makeing up some tea tree oil and water soloution as a first line of defence or would i just be wating my time?
Also is there any way of making up its partner pimafix using West Indian bay oil?

Any input is appreciated

 

[Inchworm]

Hi scobie140

Come across a thread on here by inchworm about how to make melafix by using tea tree oil after more research tho it i get conflicting reports that its not actully tea tree oil its cajeput oil.

It is definitely cajeput oil. This is according to http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/user/49671-anna-robinson/ the Mars Fishcare Consultant who visits the forum occasionally. According to her:

The only active ingredient in Melafix is a type of Tea Tree oil - Melaleuca cajupti oil. It has been extensively tested on Bettas and all ornamental labyrinth fishes and there are no problems.

That must have been a very old thread you found. I remember there being a lot of discussion on that in the Betta section around 2004 or 2005. I did mix up my own using tea tree oil from the health food store and found it worked to cure mild bacterial infections.

On the negative side, it is more difficult mix it well with tank water than Melafix and, since it's an oil, it could leave film on the water which could reduce the amount of oxygen absorbed at the surface. This is important especially when treating bacterial infections which respond best in very well oxygenated water. I have also heard that there is the risk of burning the fish if they come in contact with the unmixed oil and prefer not to take this chance. Melafix doesn't cost all that much and using it saves a lot of work.

Its a bit long winded after all that but is it worth my while makeing up some tea tree oil and water soloution as a first line of defence or would i just be wating my time?

From what I've observed in my tanks, using either homemade or the real product, if it's going to cure a particular bacterial infection, the fish will show signs of improvement within a few days. I have an old gourami that is prone to infection and she responds to Melafix very well. My other fish are mostly corydoras and, if they get a bacterial infection, their chances of recovery are not good even with antibiotics.

Perhaps some of the other members will be able to give you more specific reasons why these things are so or present evidence to argue against them.

 

[scobie140]

Thanks for your input. Yeh I think it was from 2004 off the top of my head. From what you said I think I may order a small bottle of that oil from ebay as i don't know where else would have any and give it a try. Im curious about this as the neons in my comunity tank and my betta in his tank tend to ocasionally get bacteria infection and i used melafix and the interpet treatment and both worked but return every now and then. The interpet medicine I found to gave me cloudy water and needed alot of extra areation where as when treated with the melafix no extra areation was needed. But it costs a fortune to keep buying the bottles of melafix which when looking for cheaper deals online I found your thread and a few others so got me curious.
A bit long winded there but just thought i'd explain how all this started for me.

If anyone else has any input or experiance please chip in


Can't find it on ebay anyone know where to get some? is Melaleuca cajuputi the same but diffrent spelling?

 

[SuperColey1]

Melafake is tea tree oil or Cajeput Oil. Cajeput Oil is the actual oil theat Melafix uses but Tea tree oil can be one of many of the Melaluca family.

Either way for a couple of quid you can get Cajeput on ebay.

Pimafix uses Pimento Racemosa Oil (Bay leaf oil) in the same quantities as for the Melafake.

Formulin can be made with Formaldehyde(40%) diluted 1:12 with DI water

Melafake = 1ml Cajeput, 499ml DI water, dose 5ml per 50 litres
Pimafake = 1ml Pimento Racemosa, 499ml DI water. dose 5ml per 50 litre
FormFake = 40ml Formaldehyde(40%), 460ml DI water, dose 5ml per 10 gallons once a week max.

Regards
AC

 

[anon02]

I get essential oils from oils4life.com

 

[Abyss]

Just want to add that I make my own supafix (melafix/pimafix combo) using oils bought from ebay.

Found them to be just as affective as the genuine Melafix/Pimafix at literally a fraction of the cost.

Just make sure they are mixed well, it doesn't froth like the bought stuff.

I buy my oil here:

http/stores.ebay.co.uk/The-Pennine-Collection

For people with larger tanks, it is much easier on the wallet.

edit: wow, sorry, just seen this thread is over a year old, I saw September and assumed 2011!