The directions only say 5 days with no water changes but I find that to not really work...... TOLAK told me to do the 10 - 14 days with water changes and it worked magically...... To Quote TOLAK---->
As stated, 50% or better water change daily, redose daily with the full amount, 10-14 days.
The antibiotics in Maracyn & Maracyn II have a certain half life, this is the term used for a medication that loses half it's potency in a given time. Most antibiotics sit in the 12-48 hour range. This is the reason for the daily water change and remed. If the manufacturer of these medications were to use that as the instructions few people would buy them, as most aquarists are looking for something quicker & easier.
The length of time is common to most any living thing that is on antibiotics, dogs, cats rodents, humans, the medications all work the same against those specific bacterias. Once again, were aquarists told they have to medicate for that length of time, along with the daily water changes, they more often than not say forget that, and do not buy the product.
Antibiotic treatment regiments with erythromycin, which is what Maracyn is, or any of the cycline family of drugs such as tetracycline, which is what Maracyn II is, is pretty cut & dried. Most of our conversations revolve around drug resistant strains, ways os using meds tyo work around this, all sorts of things we get sidetracked on, racking up my cell phone bill.
If you have had any experience with antibiotics you will see that these antibiotics are prescribed for other species, including hunmans. Most all of the medications for aquatic issues do originate from drugs originally created for humans, the treatment of fish using these drugs is not a whole lot different. TOLAKs words not mine but #40## good advice...
