What Meds To Buy?

[kevthefish]

I'm going to the huge pet store near me on friday (payday) and i'm looking to spend some money on important
med's and treat ments for my tank. I was just wondering which kind are best?
Like should i buy plant food, and white spot med's???

Thanks.

 

[Colin_T]

I would invest in a clean bucket and a gravel cleaner. If you keep the water quality good then the fish are unlikely to get sick and won't require medicating. You could also invest in a quarantine tank to put new fishes in. Then if they are fine and healthy after a few weeks in the quarantine tank you can put them in the main tank.

Plant fertiliser is good if you have live plants. Get an iron based fertiliser.

 

[RedeyesUK]

Personally, I don't see much point in stocking up on meds, unless there is a specific need (although admittedly my LFS is literally 2 minutes away from me, so emergency trips are not an issue). In 7 years of fishkeeping, I've only now needed to buy any meds (swim bladder treatment), as I've never really had any diseases to deal with.

Maybe I've been lucky, but I believe that if you keep your tank in the best condition possible, quarantine any new fish before adding them to your tank, and give your fish a good variety of food, then diseases and the need for meds should be few and far between. I also prefer a natural approach, and really shy away from dumping chemicals into a tank unless I have to (water conditioner aside, of course!). But maybe that's just me.

If you've got money to burn (lucky you!), then I would suggest you get the following, if you don't have them already:

Spare heater & filter (Sods law, if your main ones fail it'll be on a Sunday just after the shop has closed....)
Quarantine tank (around 5 gallon or so)
Aquarium salts (a lot of meds go together with this, and has a lot of use by itself)
Spare air pump, hoses and airstone
Decent liquid testing kit

 

[kevthefish]

Personally, I don't see much point in stocking up on meds, unless there is a specific need (although admittedly my LFS is literally 2 minutes away from me, so emergency trips are not an issue). In 7 years of fishkeeping, I've only now needed to buy any meds (swim bladder treatment), as I've never really had any diseases to deal with.

Maybe I've been lucky, but I believe that if you keep your tank in the best condition possible, quarantine any new fish before adding them to your tank, and give your fish a good variety of food, then diseases and the need for meds should be few and far between. I also prefer a natural approach, and really shy away from dumping chemicals into a tank unless I have to (water conditioner aside, of course!). But maybe that's just me.

If you've got money to burn (lucky you!), then I would suggest you get the following, if you don't have them already:

Spare heater & filter (Sods law, if your main ones fail it'll be on a Sunday just after the shop has closed....)
Quarantine tank (around 5 gallon or so)
Aquarium salts (a lot of meds go together with this, and has a lot of use by itself)
Spare air pump, hoses and airstone
Decent liquid testing kit

Wow thanks Redeyesuk That's very helpfull, as a matter of fact i did see a small tank (about 5 G's) for £14.99 with 40% off I think i'll have to buy it.

I was also thinking a gravel cleaner was something i would have bought on friday, as they are a god send in my opinion.

Thanks for your help again, and if there is anything else you or anyone wants to add, please feel free.

 

[ALEXF]

i would like to add that i would reccommend a tank big enough for your largest fish at adult size. If you have angels then your going to want to have something bigger than a 5 gallon even if it is temporary. Most people reccommend 10 being the minimum size but if all you keep are small fish then a 5 would be fine. buying bigger saves you money in the long run.

 

[Colin_T]

a 10gallon tank can also be used as a breeding or fry rearing tank when it isn't being used to quarantine fish

 

[fry_lover]

yes regardless of what others say, get some meds, best to be on safe side

whats brands of meds does your LFS stock and i will advise further

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, fry, wasn't there a thread some time back just like this and a few meds were identified that have long shelf-lives and are among the more common ones called for or are more effective when administered quickly?

 

[ALEXF]

i know i asked this same question, and i was recommended pimaflex, and meliflex

 

[kevthefish]

MY local fish shop has a wide range of med's and treatments avilable, i can't remember them all but here is a list of what i can remember.

Aquarium treament
King british
API
Esha
Myxazin

there are more but as i say i can't remember them off the top of my hear sorry.
I do get very confused when it comes to what brands are best, so any help would be apresiated.

thanks

 

[fry_lover]

yep this threads about meds, lets make that clear, that not saying the other advice isnt useful but we could end up having a whole debate on fish keeping here, sometimes diease comes, doesnt matter how many times you hoover the carpet lol

 

[ALEXF]

the 2 i mentioned are by api i believe.

 

[kevthefish]

i know i asked this same question, and i was recommended pimaflex, and meliflex

What r they for? what do they treat?

 

[fry_lover]

i been doing quite a bit of research, in this order of priority for general tropical fish keeping i would keep

Waterlife Myzaxin and Protozin, the difference is basically Myxazin has Acriflavine and Protozin has Copper

Interpet Anti Internal Bacteria

Thats what i'd like to have in stock at all times, as it will work on ich, velvet, fungus and a lot of bacteria infections you may have

You may also want to consider Interpet Anti Fungus and Finrot as it contains an ingredient Waterlife do not use which claims to work better on columnaris problems

Also Interpet Anti-White contains a very high dose of Formaldehyde combined with some Malachite Green, so any parasite problems that doesnt appear to resond to the above meds may respond the to the Interpet Anti-White spot

Interpet Anti Slime, has a high level of copper which can be useful in fighting parasites.

And if you really want to get some insurance, Water Life Parazin P is for anchor worm and lice etc

Melafix can be useful for damaged fins and tissue and as a kind of "herbal aid" but i wouldnt trust it as a first line disease cure.

 

[kevthefish]

Sorry i forgot to mention i have shrimp in my tank, so anything that contains copper is a bit NO NO. Isn't it