Question About A Preventative Med.

[Snake42490]

hey guys.. i have a quick question. i have a weekly medicine... that i put in my tank after every water change. its called Aqua Sol. Its a preventative ich / parasite med... do you guys think its worth using? ive had no problems with it but also dont want things to start showing up. any comments on those kind of preventative medicines please help! or any ideas. Thanks Seth

 

[Tolak]

It's copper sulfate, and a weak solution at that if you are using 10 drops per gallon. http/www.aquariumguys.com/aquasol.html

Copper will kill any invertabrates in your tank. I wouldn't be using copper unless absolutely needed, the effective dosage range is close to the toxic range. It will concentrate in algae, which will kill any algae eating fish.

 

[Snake42490]

do you think it is helping at all? or is it pointless to be using?

so if i stop would you recommend using any kind of preventative treatment or just nothing at all?

 

[andywg]

If ich is present, it is present and you can see it.

Ich does not have a dormant stage, so if you haven't seen any spots for the last 5-10 days, then stop using it. contrary to popular belief, stress will not cause ich to suddenly appear.

I would not want to be dosing my tank with copper unnecessarily.

 

[Sysiphus]

Aquairum are very funny about adding anything being a closed environment and all - especially chemicals that can slowly build up and at a certain point recombine to form other chemicals. Think about the chain reaction in the tank cycling - build up of ammonia, bacteria form, eat ammonia, produce nitrItes, bacteria form, eat nitrItes, produce nitrAtes, plants eat nitrAtes. produce oxygen and carbon dioxide etc... My operational theroy has always been less is best. I fiddle with things too much as it is, but try to never add chemicals unless I am certain I must.

 

[Snake42490]

ok well thanks! i will stop adding it. i wasnt doing the 10 drops per gallon. i was only doing 2 drops per gallon. so its not that strong in the tank. thanks for all of your help! Seth

 

[WILDER]

I wouldn't use it there no need.
Why not buy an uv light if youre worried.