How to medicate

[Gracecat]

Let me preface this isn't an emergency. My fish are fine. I just wanted to make this purchase to have on hand in the event my local Petsmart is out of stock or I'm unable to make a run into town.

I was reviewing different medications. They all seem pretty straight forward for a moderate sized tank. I have 150 gallons.

I was leaning towards the Mardel brand Maracyn and Maracyn-2 tablets but it'll take several boxes to treat my 150 gallons. So I looked at the API Pimafix and Metafix because it's liquid and treated more gallons than the Mardel tablets.

But I started wondering, it has to be quality here. Why is API's bottle able to treat so much for so little when Mardel is much more expensive.

Anyway I didn't buy either one of them. But I would feel comfortable to have something on hand and I'd be interested in a discussion towards treating 150 gallons. If Mardel is the preferred, I don't have any problem with spending that much for medication. But I'm not sure if tablets would be as effective since the packaging wasn't designed for much over 40 gallons. However the much smaller price per gallon break-down from API causes me to pause as well.

So 150 gallons, medicated. What's the best way and in AC's collective experience, some of the best brands?

 

[TerenceBoyle]

I prefer Maracyn + for antibiotics

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4833

I like Maracide for Ick, etc.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4615+4723&pcatid=4723

Both are liquid and play nicely with bio filters and inverts.

Also keep some aquarium salt around it works well without the chemicals and also read up on tempatures (many people raise the temp to 85-88 when treating Ick)

If you don't have plants and inverts you can consider products like cupramine and copper safe as well - but for me the two above (and salt) are what I have had the best results with.

 

[msjinkzd]

i talked to you in chat, but i would just implement good qt practices so that you never have to treat the 150g. Its much cheaper to treat a small tank and preserves the biofilter of the large tank, and any plants etc. I would worry about expiration dates with just buying to have. But the maracyn products are good.

 

[Star_Rider]

the expiration date is great marketing scheme if you ask me.
if meds are kept in air tight dark containers(like the foil pouche you find them in commonly) they should last for quite some time.
the expiration date is for the most effective use of the medicine. they actually degrade on half life which can actualy be extremely long.
many of the medications removed from pharmacy shelves are packaged and shipped to needy countries.
the meds are still effective but the dosage may vary over time.

which meds you keep is entirely up to you.
I keep :
parasite clear
levamisoleHcl in dry container in dark cabinet
maracyn
I have the parasite meds as some of the speciies I get are coming from out of country. so I treat them for internal parasites while in QT.

 

[Gracecat]

Yup, you did Jinkxd. I appreciate it because I was going about it the whole wrong way. I can medicate a 10g very easily. I guess I should have asked if I need to worry about medicating my main 150g after qt practices before worrying about what to buy and how much. Since I've been educated a bit more, and qt and wc will do away with any necessary reasons to medicate that 150....

Since that's no longer a worry, I won't have to worry about how or what to buy for a 150. Petsmart always has enough medication on hand to treat smaller doses or fungal problems. I won't have to buy anything to have on hand. I was worried about the right things being in stock in an emergency since we don't have a dedicated LFS.

I knew some things came on from a dirty aquarium. I assumed all things could spring up regardless how old the tank was.