mixing meds

Ok, Gretchen, not an expert, but I have been through fin rot. What I did and was successful was treat with Maracyn for 5 days, then Maracyn Two for 5 days, then Melafix for 5 days. I don't know if that's the best...it was recommended on another forum before I found this one...but it worked and all fish are well and beautifully finned again. I think mixing them all at once is alot of stress for the fish...the key is consistency in medicating (right dose, same time, etc...) Also, take out your carbon filter if you haven't already...it takes out the medicine and does no good. Replace it when you are done.

**I have learned recently if its a good filter, keep it in water while you are medicating so the bacteria colonized on it will be there when you put it back. Be sure the filter has oxygen flow for the bacteria...otherwise, you have no helpful bacteria when you replace with a new filter after medicating and go back through a new stressful "cycle" in your tank.**

I've cured fin rot with Maracyn 2 in a barebottomed 10 gallon tank with clean water. Its best when treating with an antibiotic to use just the anti-biotic though Maracyn and Maracyn 2 can be mixed. I would go with the Maracyn 2. Don't mix Melafix or salt as either of these can degrade the anti-biotic though I would be more worried about the Melafix since its an organic medication hence the foaming that occurs when you use it. Maracyn 2 is degraded by light so keep the tank in a low light area when you use it.

Expect very cloudy water when you use anti-biotics. I could not see my fish in my 10 gallon while treating with anti-biotics since the water got so cloudy. It did cure fin rot + an internal infection though which is what mattered most to me.