stress from meds
- Thread starter mister ben
- Start date
You need to decide what is worse - the illness you are treating verses the possible stress of the med - if used as directed, I have never really had a major problem with meds - if the ailment is low key, always go for the big water change first - improve the water quality. Use the med with the least side affects for the fish you have that will treat the specific ailment. Dose per actual gallons - take into account rocks, gravel, etc. Good luck!
Kasakato said:
I completely agree and would just add and depends on the med as well.
Keep in mind that the med (especially anti-bacterial) will play havoc on your biological stability of your tank as well. Especially if that med has never been introduced to the tank before.
As well as the stress of the med you now have the potential of having to deal with minor (or major) spikes of ammonia and nitrite if the med starts to kill off the "good" bacteria that runs your tank.
That being said the maracyn products 1, 2 and plus don't seem to be too bad if used as recommended.
Others such as sulfa, neomicyn, kanacyn, metronidazole and ampicyllin tend to really do a number on the tanks bacteria bed. Also tend to be quite stressful to the weaker fish in the tank.
From the tank as a whole perspective. A hospital tank should be a must for any aquarist.
I agree with you 100%. A QT tank is one of them most inportant thing you can have, its as important as your filter. You can not only save money because it is smaller than your main tank, but you can watch and contain the illness. But I would advoid meds as much as possible. There is normaly another way to treat the illness. Examle: ich can be treated with heat and salt.
I will hopefully be acquiring a pair of 29 gallons tanks soon, at which point I will be able to have a 20 gallon QT (which may be a little over-kill) if I don't just steal my g/f's 10 gallon 
.
Thanks for the advice folks.
.Thanks for the advice folks.