[vaporize]

Hi LEE,

Hope everything is going well with you, while i am still struggling with Ms. High Maintaince (My acclimating clownfish... still), at least I am feeling a bit more comfortable that it is somewhat eating.. but that's another thread.

I came across this post regarding a seachem's approach to reef-safe way of treating ich, it has to do with using mixing metro+focus and mix into the food.

From reading the information, it claims that metro in a way can cure ich by working inside out (after ingested). Focus is mainly serve as a binding agent. I am wondering if metro as a medication can work this way to kill ich that is on skin.

What are your thoughts on this? (this method might have its bias as it was posted by a distributor, and method was suggested by the manufacturer)

Thanks, v

Aquaria Canada - Reef Safe Treatment For Ich

THIS IS AN EFFECTIVE REEF SAFE WAY TO TREAT YOUR FISH WITHOUT MEDICATING THE ENTIRE TANK


YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING AND ARE ALL AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL PET STORES

This is a treatment method that is overlooked by most people but is a great way to treat your sick parasite infected fish.

GarlicGuard™ is an appetite/flavor enhancer for freshwater and saltwater fish. GarlicGuard will help renew the interest of poor or finicky eaters. GarlicGuard contains the naturally derived, active ingredient found in garlic, allicin, which has been demonstrated to possess health promoting benefits. Allicin possesses strong anti-oxidant properties (similar to Vitamin C) which promote enhanced health through elimination of dangerous free radicals. For enhanced health benefits, GarlicGuard also contains Vitamin C. Freshwater and Marine. Reef safe.


Metronidazole is an effective and safe treatment for several protozoan and anaerobic bacterial diseases of fish (Cryptocaryon, Hexamita, Ichthyophthirius). It does not adversely affect the filter bed and is easily removed with carbon. There is little danger of overdosing. Usual dose is 125 mg/10 gallons.


Focus™ can deliver any medication internally by binding the medication to its polymer structure. The advantage is that the fish can be medicated without contaminating the entire aquarium with medication.

Instructions
Add 1 measure of Metronidazole to 1 measure of Focus™ per tablespoon of frozen food. Completely soak this food mix in GarlicGuard™, refrigerate, and feed once or twice daily for 1–2 weeks.

[weez1959]

Hi Vaporize,
I read the thread also and some of them seem to swear by it. What I'm wondering about this treatment is how it can work on the attached ich if they are only on the fish for a limited amount of time. How would this affect the free floating little buggers? I guess we'll wait for Lee on this one...

[leebca]

There have been other treatments used for Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) throughout the recent decades. It's a truly mean, rotten parasite that plagues the aquarist about as much as it plagues our fishes.

Some of these alternative medications include the meds used for human Typhoid (the quinine derivatives). They were successful, but unfortunately no longer available to hobbyists and no longer worth the effort since the other three methods are less stressful (for the fish) and just as successful. This is just an example of alternative cures that work but are not within the reach of the average hobbyist. There are others, too.

When something totally new comes along, I'll read the hype. But what bothers me is that even before you get to the hype, the ground work and introduction is full of myths, misrepresentations, and falsehoods.

So even before I get to the 'meat' of the information I read: GarlicGuard will help renew the interest of poor or finicky eaters. Untrue. Now how am I supposed to believe the rest?

Current medications kill the parasite when it is off the fish, as Louise pointed out. It is not impossible to kill the parasite on the fish, from an ingested product but that product goes through the digestive track and face the acids and chemicals there before it gets absorbed. That is why the effect treatments have not take this delivery course. Still the scientific community is looking for such a medication utilizing this delivery system for the ease of administering 'cures.' When this is found to be highly successful, it will make headlines.

Before it made those headlines it will need blind scientific studies verified by multiple independent researchers/testers. I'm unaware of anything that has gone through this and has shown itself headline worthy.

If this works, then the study should be done.

I'm amazed and how easy it is to say something on the Internet. There is no accountability. Yet it is truly easy to test such a new product or procedure to verify it works, on a scientific basis. We're not talking about some rare, obscure parasite here -- you can't swing a dead cat without hitting an imported fish with it. So, 'Where's the beef?' Have them show the studies.

[weez1959]

I would like to do the test on a few fish with ich since my LFS seems to sell only fish with ich but I have a hard time thinking of a fish as expendable

[leebca]

That's more than understandable. But most tests are not performed on ornamental sea fishes. Most are performed on marine food fishes -- bass, salmon, etc.

Considering the advances made in the tank breeding of marine Anemonefishes, they might be thought of like lab mice as far as experimentation is concerned -- no impact on the wild population, yet tests done on ornamental fishes.

Going back to the original quote, such statements like

GarlicGuard contains the naturally derived, active ingredient found in garlic, allicin, which has been demonstrated to possess health promoting benefits.

bug me. It's a half-truth. Allicin is an important bactericide. But then what isn't mentioned is that so far studies have shown such things like:
1) Allicin has a short shelf life (making it fresh is important to its efficacy, and by the time you get it off the shelf it may have no effect at all); and
2) Once it enters the fish's digestive tract, it is denatured (digested) by the fish's track acids (rendering it useless to fight internal bacteria).

But. . .who's going to complain to them? There are no FDA rules governing what is said about fish medications, home formulas, herbal cures, etc. Who's going to sue the writer?

After laying this erroneous, misleading, and half-truth information on me, I'm now asked to accept everything else that follows as truth? Can't do it.