Unclear Directions - Mela- & Pima-fix

[Chrisk-K]

Directions say, "Dose 5 ml per 10 g for 7 days. After 7 days, do a 25% water change."

Does this mean that I should NOT do partial water changes while using Mela- & Pima-fix for 7 days?

My other medications, according to their directions, require/recommend a 25% water change between dosages.

 

[Dr. Awkward]

It doesn't matter either way. Melafix and Pimafix are garbage. Using them is like shooting a gun with your eyes closed, you might hit the target but you probably won't.

What illness are you fighting? I'm sure you can find an effective medication that will work way better than the Melafix/Pimafix snake oil.

 

[excuzzzeme]

A quick fix is to dump them down the drain.

 

[Chrisk-K]

I'm not fighting a specific disease. I've read that Mela & Pima can prevent bacterial diseases. So, I'm thinking about using them on 3 corys that I recently got while they are in a QT.

 

[archer772]

I would never treat a fish unless it shows problems and the try to target the problem for treating

 

[gmh]

You can do as many water changes as you want. Simply add more pimafix in the new water as to bring the concentration back up to the original level. I would probably not bother with it if the fish look healthy and the fins are undamaged.

 

[iLunar]

Agreed, if you dose to soon w/o the fish being sick or ill the bacteria/virus that causes the ilness will evolve and be immune to that antibiotic

 

[jptjpt]

I don't know if they're garbage or not, but I would not use them to treat any fish with visible signs of disease such as ich spots, cotton wool fungus, etc... It seems like they're not strong enough and not disease-specific. I do use them, though, for new fish that I'm quarantining and I see that they have torn fins with no signs of disease. I think it does help the fins heal quicker.

 

[Just Prince]

If you use either one make sure you add an air stone. Melafix sucks the oxygen out of the water. I killed to fish trying to heal them before I found this out.

 

[Anna Robinson]

You add the Melafix/Pimafix once daily for 7 days, then do a 25% water change at the end of the 7 days, then continue to treat if necessary. I believe the reason for the daily dosage is that these substances break down quite quickly in the aquarium.

Agreed, if you dose to soon w/o the fish being sick or ill the bacteria/virus that causes the ilness will evolve and be immune to that antibiotic

That's true in general, but it would be very difficult for a pathogen to evolve resistance to plant-based medications like Melafix and Pimafix, as they work in multiple ways. They are not like synthetic medications in that respect. I would agree that medications should never be used without a good reason though.

If you use either one make sure you add an air stone. Melafix sucks the oxygen out of the water. I killed to fish trying to heal them before I found this out.

Although common sense suggests it might, Melafix definitely does NOT reduce oxygen levels - this was tested during its development using oxygen probes. There must have been some other reason for the problems you experienced.