Need Treatment Advice

[wayneski100]

Im just about (this minute) to treat my tank for Flexibacter sp. (mouth fungus) and the treatment advises me to remove the carbon and zeolite filter media, this is fine but what do I do with the filter media? Does it have to be kept in tank water (which I will have to remove from my tank)? If yes, is ths safe or will the tank water contain deadly fungus? And finally, hoe long can the filter media survive out of the filter? AARRGHHHHHH.....

 

[emmsy]

Okay, when I treat my tank, I take the carbon out and put it in a bucket of water to keep any bacteria alive. Carbon will just filter the med. Is it just the one fish you are treating in a Qtank, or the whole tank?

What is the name of the med you will be using?

Emma

 

[wayneski100]

Okay, when I treat my tank, I take the carbon out and put it in a bucket of water to keep any bacteria alive. Carbon will just filter the med. Is it just the one fish you are treating in a Qtank, or the whole tank?

What is the name of the med you will be using?

Emma

Thanks for the quick response...
I only have the one tank so it is in there, the sick fish is a male platy, and there are 2 female platys and a mini sucking loach in there.
The medicine is Interpet (number 8) - anti fungus and finrot, it is all i could come accross at this time off day.
Also a question on the water to place the removed tank media in, should it be some of my tank water or tap water that has been treated with de-chlorinator?

 

[emmsy]

Use tank water if you can. If there is anyway of setting up a Qtank, no matter how small, would be the best action. Basically, it is not necessary to treat healthy fish for a condition that one fish has,but if you can't then you will have to treat the whole tank.

Your med is fine, as it seems you have identified it early enough.

Emma

 

[wayneski100]

Thank you again Emma
I'm just about to start hoping that all will go well, lets hope the fish are fine...
Ill update with results soon...

 

[emmsy]

Thank you again Emma
I'm just about to start hoping that all will go well, lets hope the fish are fine...
Ill update with results soon...

Please keep us updated

Emma

 

[wayneski100]

Well the tank has been treated but I have questions...
Can / should I do a water change in the near future or just leave the med to get on with it?
How long will be filter media survive out of the filter (it is in tank water)?

 

[emmsy]

Well the tank has been treated but I have questions...
Can / should I do a water change in the near future or just leave the med to get on with it?
How long will be filter media survive out of the filter (it is in tank water)?

A small water change you can do, and the carbon bucket, do the same otherwise you will have a bacterial soup.

Emma

 

[WILDER]

I would throw the carbon away as it only works for todays anyway.
When you preform a water change during meds you just add the correct amount of med to the water removed.

You only remove black carbon from the filter you don't touch the filter sponges.

 

[fry_lover]

keep bacteria alive on the carbon? that's new to me!

dont forget to follow them Interpet instructions about the meds to the letter.......

 

[WILDER]

You do a 30% water change and add new black carbon to your filter to remove the meds, after finishing the treatment.

 

[emmsy]

It is a practice I have done on all my tanks forever. You are not trying to keep the bacteria alive on the carbon, by putting it in the bucket, I like to simulate it still being in the filter. I do buy new carbon every 3 months though anyway.

Emma

 

[WILDER]

Using black carbon all the time is a complete waste of money, you only need it to remove meds.
Most manufactures say to replace it every six weeks, but the carbon only works for about 2 to 5 days.

 

[emmsy]

Using black carbon all the time is a complete waste of money, you only need it to remove meds.
Most manufactures say to replace it every six weeks, but the carbon only works for about 2 to 5 days.

Blimey Wilder, I never knew that. I always kept it as part of the filter setup, and replaced every 3 months....As we said yesterday, live and learn.

Emma

 

[WILDER]

Written by tolak

Carbon is only effective for a few days to a week before it is full of the sort of impurities it removes. Most everyone runs it to remove medication, as it is excellent at chemical filtration. Beyond this your water contains little if any chemicals, the most commonly found in tap water is chlorine & chloramine. These are more easily dealt with using a good water conditioner, as opening up your cannister once or twice weekly is not needed for maintenance, and is more trouble than using a good water conditioner.

Save the carbon for when you may need it, most probably for removing meds. As far as what to replace it with, that depends on the fish you are stocking, and the stocking density