First of all, is melafix harmful to perfectly healthy fish?? I am treating a platy with a fungal problem but I have moved her into a 5 gallon tank temporarily. If I was to leave her in the 25 gallon with the other fish and treat her would this be harmful to them??
If it is not harmful to other healthy fish, I was just curious if melafix can be used on a routine basis, say once every 2 months, or once every 3 months. or whatever is safe and efficient. Just to help prevent problems like this and others it helps to cure, or it this pointless?
If it does help, how often would I do this, once every couple months like I suggested? More often then that? Less then that??
i am not aware of Melafix being harmful to fish, but it must be remembered that it is an anti bacterial. there are two important things to remember when using one. first both your fish and your filter rely on bacteria. the fish for digestion, your filter for converting waste. the second is the fact that bacteria are very good at becoming immune to anti bacs.
fish and filter first: though it is small, Melafix will have a detrimental effect on all bacteria in the tank, if you have ever taken anti biotics, you will be aware of the effect some can have on your stomach. well fish dont drink, well in the way we think of drinking anyway, so the chance of bad tummys in the tank is not that high. but it will soak into any food, and therefore some will find its way to your fishes belly. this possibility would indicate that caution be used. your filter colony will also be affected, though it would seem not to any great extent. but if it is used on a consistent basis, being a med based on oil, it is likely to be caught and build up in the filter media. if it is used on the odd occasion, this is no problem as the med will, for the most part, be removed when you clean your filter. but if used on a consistent basis, it could build up and, just possibly, become a problem.
now mutant bacteria: feedind small amounts of anti bac to a colony of bacteria, over a period of time, unless all the bacteria is killed, will cause, what is known as a "stress effect" in those bacteria left. this causes/helps the bacteria to become immune to the treatment. effectively, mutating into new, though related critter. we all have bacteria, both good and bad, in our tanks. if your fish are healthy, the amounts of bad bacteria will be very small, however if they become immune, through constant exposure. when you get a problem fish, or suffer some form of stress in the tank. these immune bacteria could multiply and thrive, but you would need to use different anti bacs, often both more expensive and damaging to your stock.
so is it safe? as a treatment, yes. as a "just in case" remedy for a scraped/nipped fish, yes. as a prophylactic, perhaps not, the possible down side, makes that something to be careful of.
i hope this helps
If I remember correctly it doesn't mess up your biological in your tank either. Good luck I hope your platy makes it.
