Abrassion/swelling on puffer...?

I would try to get a reactor first or put a lot of carbon in the sump in the highest flow spot you can find. The BRS reactor is nice, big, and sturdy, but not necessary. The plain old TLF Phosban reactors actually work really well and are cheaper. Just be sure to zip-tie the fittings in place. Of course, that is up to you. If it were me, I'd probably spring for the nicer BRS reactors--but I already had my TLF ones.

Selcon will be fine with the kanaplex and should help immune response, etc., if not just keeping its health up in the process.
 
I would try to get a reactor first or put a lot of carbon in the sump in the highest flow spot you can find. The BRS reactor is nice, big, and sturdy, but not necessary. The plain old TLF Phosban reactors actually work really well and are cheaper. Just be sure to zip-tie the fittings in place. Of course, that is up to you. If it were me, I'd probably spring for the nicer BRS reactors--but I already had my TLF ones.

Selcon will be fine with the kanaplex and should help immune response, etc., if not just keeping its health up in the process.

My friend that I'm going to his house today to pick up some carbon from (he buys it in bulk...55 pound bags) actually has the double BRS reactor and he's going to sell it to me. Hopefully I can pick it up today if he's got his custom reactors that are being made for him ready and set up.

The highest flow area in my sump is where the pipe from the overflow pours water onto the filter pad...the rest of the sump is pretty stagnant I would say. I currently run a pouch of Kent nitrate sponge in that area...I will just switch it out for carbon in the meantime.

What do you mean by "a lot" of carbon? Also, how often should I be changing the carbon?
 
This is a response I got in another forum...even though I prioritize your advice, I wanted your take on this response as well.

"I suggest highly against using this drug (kanaplex) in your reef tank. It will not do any good ingested internally, you have an skin/external problem. You can boost your fish's immune system by adding garlic to it's food though & also by vitamin C dosing (described in the marine tank forum as a sticky).

It has been discovered that strontium is not a good thing to add more of into a reef system. I suggest switching to Reef Crystals for your reef tank (next time you purchase salt), IO is for a FO system. Then you shouldn't have to add anything extra."

Here is the link to the thread if you're interested...(they wouldn't let me use mcsassy because it has the word "***" in it. :huh:

http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=19483

Edit: I know that dogs are administered antibiotic tablets even for skin infections...so I don't see how this would be different...the bottle even says to put it in its food for it to be more effective...it says its to be absorbed by the fish...doesn't say anything about it being strictly topical.
 
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It's recommended to use Kanamycin as a bath here...what do you think?

I don't understand what it means by bath though...a dip in it or a hospital? Usually when I read bath, I think like a freshwater dip type of procedure.

http://www.novalek.com/aquavet/kanamycin.htm

Edit: Is methylene blue effective to use as a bath in this situation along with the medicine?
 
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Not sure what they are getting at and some of the info is flawed. There is absolutely no evidence that suggests garlic boosts any immunity.

Strontium has been implicated in a number of things and isn't necessary for calcification or health, however, Reef Crystals has more of it than Instant Ocean (pers. comm. with customer rep, though years ago). There is nothing wrong with using Instant Ocean.

As far as the potential risk of adding the kanamycin to the food and consequently into the tank, there is potential risk, as with anything. The best thing I can tell you to do is to do what I mentioned above, maybe invest in getting a skimmer (which would be very effective at removing it), and have water ready for water changes. Adding any sort of antibiotic is my last choice (and certainly to a reef tank) but this is the safest way to do it short of having a hospital system and you won't be adding it directly to the water at full dose. The food method is more of an "at your own risk," though I think when done properly and carefully, you can minimize a lot. Seachem has another product called "Focus" that is supposed to be a binder. I would highly recommend you try this in conjunction with everything else if you still want to try this. Beyond that, a bath approach for skin issues would arguably be slightly more effective than orally, but oral administration works for all but the most stubborn infections. Again, a hospital tank is always the best and safest approach, but I think you already knew that adding it even just to feed isn't without risks.
 
Not sure what they are getting at and some of the info is flawed. There is absolutely no evidence that suggests garlic boosts any immunity.

Strontium has been implicated in a number of things and isn't necessary for calcification or health, however, Reef Crystals has more of it than Instant Ocean (pers. comm. with customer rep, though years ago). There is nothing wrong with using Instant Ocean.

As far as the potential risk of adding the kanamycin to the food and consequently into the tank, there is potential risk, as with anything. The best thing I can tell you to do is to do what I mentioned above, maybe invest in getting a skimmer (which would be very effective at removing it), and have water ready for water changes. Adding any sort of antibiotic is my last choice (and certainly to a reef tank) but this is the safest way to do it short of having a hospital system and you won't be adding it directly to the water at full dose. The food method is more of an "at your own risk," though I think when done properly and carefully, you can minimize a lot. Seachem has another product called "Focus" that is supposed to be a binder. I would highly recommend you try this in conjunction with everything else if you still want to try this. Beyond that, a bath approach for skin issues would arguably be slightly more effective than orally, but oral administration works for all but the most stubborn infections. Again, a hospital tank is always the best and safest approach, but I think you already knew that adding it even just to feed isn't without risks.

Okay, so I will go back to that LFS and see if they sell "Focus" as well. I think with the large water volume (80 gallons), the risk of it seeping into the water column with adverse effects is much smaller especially since it is only going to be dosed in a small amount for food as well.

So, you don't recommend the Melafix Marine? If you do, I will just pick that up as well while I'm out at the LFS as to save additional trips.
 
They didn't have Focus at the LFS...should I buy it online and just wait for it to come?

I picked up a bottle of Marine Melafix anyways because I didn't get a response yet...haven't opened it yet though...will wait on your response.
 
Never been a fan of melafix. I haven't seen it actually treat anything in SW yet. FW is a different story.

Try to get the Focus if possible. If things begin to look worse and you want to try the food method without it, then try. Just do what I said above and watch for any obvious signs of problems with everything else. I don't think you'll have any, but just to be sure.
 
Never been a fan of melafix. I haven't seen it actually treat anything in SW yet. FW is a different story.

Try to get the Focus if possible. If things begin to look worse and you want to try the food method without it, then try. Just do what I said above and watch for any obvious signs of problems with everything else. I don't think you'll have any, but just to be sure.

I got the melafix saltwater variant as it was recommended and I returned the kanaplex to the LFS...I will give that a test drive through the weekend and if it's not showing any positive effects, I will order both the focus and kanaplex from marine depot over the weekend (more cost effective to get both from one place with shipping) and it should be at my house pretty soon since they are based in CA and I live in Los Angeles...last time I got something from them, it came the next day.

Thank you for all your help and time Amp. Such a big help...you should get incentives!
 
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