I recently posted a question regarding what turned out to be hemorrhagic septicemia. I researched the disease further and found that it can be self-limiting if water parameters are corrected etc.As per suggestions from this forum I ordered an antibiotic that is gram positive and gram negative. It of course requires the use of a hospital tank. Since then the Tang is not showing any signs of worsening (in fact he seems somewhat better--less blotches) I have since found a product called "melafix" sold by Foster-Smith and recommended for this disease. It is an all natural product and supposedly reef safe. I would prefer this type of treatment that can be done in my main tank rather than stressing the fish by chasing him and putting him in a 20 gallon tank. Anyone have any experience with this product?
effectiveness of "Melafix"
- Thread starter g. mcclean
- Start date
I have used it in my reef to treat alot of things. From ICH to velvet. It is all natural and the fish seem to like it. Just remember to do the water change I think after a week of use. Good Luck
I was told it was a good treatment for fin damage, and my clown fish gets tears on his tail fin from time to time. I've tried using melafix and I've let the tears heal by themselves. Either way and they heal at the same rate.
So... in my case I've never seen any results. Maybe the person that said it was good for fin damage type injuries didn't know what they were talking about though.
So... in my case I've never seen any results. Maybe the person that said it was good for fin damage type injuries didn't know what they were talking about though.
When used properly it does help healing . I seems to give a soothing relief to fish. I know alot of people who is it also when introducing new fish or after netting.They swear by it . SO I guess its just try it and if you like it use it .
I like it alot and use it for FW and SW. If you have a skimmer though, make sure you turn it off before you use it.
No it isn't, not so far as the fish are concerned. Personally, I'm disturbed by the recent trend in bombarding our fish with herbal extracts, be they tea-tree, garlic, or whatever, especially given the lack of hard scientific data on what these chemical compounds actually do, or whether they even have any benefit. There is a tendency to imagine that because something is "natural," it cannot do any harm. But it's a question of how we want to define natural. I've been to a few reefs around the world, and personally, I don't remember seeing any tea-trees or garlic plants growing on any of them. As far as the fish are concerned, the herbal extracts are no more natural than copper sulphate or tetracycline, or whatever -- and their actual effect and interaction are far less understood.
This is not to say that the product doesn't work; of that their is very little evidence one way or another beyond the anecdotal. However, it does suggest that one should use caution in the application of such chemicals in an environment where the interactions of it are poorly studied or understood. This will no doubt get a few people cranky at me (I seem to be good at that
), but it is worth bearing in mind that these products are not as natural as we may assume them to be, may not be as safe as we imagine, and may in fact be more detrimental than the treatments we are trying to avoid -- we simply dont know.Hi Alastair,
You bring a valid point at the fact that these are not so natural as we make it out to be. I think when people use the word natural they are leaning towards a chemical free alternative. If I had a choice between tea tree oil or tetracycline I will be more willing to try the naturally grown alternative then the man made option.
Simply because a certain species of trees are not found in the ocean it doesn't make it un natural. yes you are correct that garlic doesn't grow in the ocean but sugar canes nor coffee beans grow in my back yard neither, they are both foreign substances that my country can not produce but it doesn't mean that once the by product of these plants are introduced into my diet that it makes it un natural.
You bring a valid point that caution should be exercised when treating any fish using a natural or a chemical medication.
We have no concrete evidence that any of these natural practises save fish nor do we have some that are to contradict these practises. We can only base our own experiences on wether or not something is safe and this is how many new ideas or products are introduced. I still question wether or not Aloe Vera in my tank affects anything at all. Just cause it's good for me what makes it right for my fish having this stuff pass through their gills.
Jc
You bring a valid point at the fact that these are not so natural as we make it out to be. I think when people use the word natural they are leaning towards a chemical free alternative. If I had a choice between tea tree oil or tetracycline I will be more willing to try the naturally grown alternative then the man made option.
Simply because a certain species of trees are not found in the ocean it doesn't make it un natural. yes you are correct that garlic doesn't grow in the ocean but sugar canes nor coffee beans grow in my back yard neither, they are both foreign substances that my country can not produce but it doesn't mean that once the by product of these plants are introduced into my diet that it makes it un natural.
You bring a valid point that caution should be exercised when treating any fish using a natural or a chemical medication.
We have no concrete evidence that any of these natural practises save fish nor do we have some that are to contradict these practises. We can only base our own experiences on wether or not something is safe and this is how many new ideas or products are introduced. I still question wether or not Aloe Vera in my tank affects anything at all. Just cause it's good for me what makes it right for my fish having this stuff pass through their gills.
Jc
Wow, bravo Frazin.. I have been using it along time and it has never given me any reason to stop. My corals dont even shrivel, so I will continue using it.
melafix
wow! I love it when the debates get going. It gives one many more insights into a practice and that is what I think this forum is all about. Thanks to all for their input. Obviously my concern is stressing the fish by putting him in a 20 gallon hospital tank, letting "nature" take its course and see if this problem is indeed self-limiting, or using a "natural" product. As of today the blotches seem to have faded even more, so I plan to let "nature" take its course and carefully observe. Again thanks for the input.
wow! I love it when the debates get going. It gives one many more insights into a practice and that is what I think this forum is all about. Thanks to all for their input. Obviously my concern is stressing the fish by putting him in a 20 gallon hospital tank, letting "nature" take its course and see if this problem is indeed self-limiting, or using a "natural" product. As of today the blotches seem to have faded even more, so I plan to let "nature" take its course and carefully observe. Again thanks for the input.