What's Your Favorite Cure-All?

[trianglekitty]

What's your go-to medication when you aren't sure what you're treating? I'm looking for the med that cures the widest range of things with the least adverse affects, if such a thing exists.

Clearly it's best to know exactly what you're treating, but with fish that's not always possible.

 

[fishguy2727]

Water changes. If ANYTHING is off at all water changes are the best first option. Unless the problem is caused by the water changes themselves (very rare) they will only help. IME most problems are helped by water changes. The best treatment is prevention. The two most important aspects of prevention are high quality food (I only feed NLS Thera+A) and high water quality (frequent large water changes, keep the nitrate under 20ppm).

For actual meds the two best IME are Melafix and Pimafix. These are both plant extracts. Melafix is a broad spectrum bactericide that also helps with healing. Pimafix is a fungicide. It can also be good to have aquarium salt on hand if needed as well. Other than that I may buy stuff for specifics, but these are good general use meds.

 

[nosoup4you]

As above, WATER CHANGES and a keen eye.

 

[Caprichoso]

It's true, it really is water! I haven't medicated in over 10 years except with water. With the exception of ridding my shrimp tank of planaria, I used Betel Nut extract. Boy that stuff worked great and no harm at all to shrimps!

 

[fishguy2727]

Prevention is the key. With my current water change schedule and the best food I haven't had any health issues since I can remember. And I can't remember what, if any, meds I actually have right now.

 

[scobie140]

I have a home made med made just from diluted tea tree oil, its basicly the same as either melafix or pimafix(Been a while sine i needed it so can't remember which one) only without the emulsifyer to keep the oil and water permanently mixed so just needs a really good shake before use. Have also read on other forums that indian almond leaves and banana skins have health benifits to the fish but i've no experiance with them so can't comment if they work or not. But as the others have said can't beat good water changes

 

[micko]

Water changes as said above.

Although I do have treatments for white spot and a few others.

 

[hanny93]

50% waterchange and then melafix 6 hours later if there is no change.
After that, quarantine.