Maracyn 2

[baobao]

Lee,

I have fish exibiting fin rot. I think this stems from bacterial infection. I would like to treat with Maracyn 2. Should I concurrently use Maracyn? Do you use double the dosage for the first couple of days? If so, when do you swtich to the normal dosage? Also, how often do you do water changes while medicating?

Thanks!

[leebca]

The general bacterial infection group known as 'fin rot' is a topical or surface infection. Many different antibiotics will work for the treatment of this. The usual antibiotic is one that attacks/affects Gram Negative bacteria. That would be Maracyn Two for Saltwater fishes. Just treat with that and use only the recommended dosage.

The water in the QT needs changing whenever it exhibits a measurable pollutant such as ammonia or nitrite. If the biological filter is doing well and you are diligently removing uneaten foods and wastes from the water, then change the water in the QT every two or three days and no less than 40%. Change the water more frequently and in a higher percentage if you detect ammonia and/or nitrites.

[baobao]

When I change the water, I guess I will need to replenish the water with sufficient Maracyn 2 to bring the concentration back to what it would be with no water change?(ie if I on to add 1 pill/day, and on 3rd day, I do 50% of water, then I need to make sure that the freshly prepared water has 1 pill diluted into it; then I proceed) Is that right?

[baobao]

Also, are there circumstances when you would medicate at double the recommended dosage? ( If possible, I would prefer to avoid doing this as this may compromise the water quality).

[leebca]

When a water change is performed during any medication treatment to the water, the new water has to contain the same concentration of the medication that was originally in the treatment water.

So if you change the water, you add water back that has the same original concentration of the medication. Water replaced is medicated water; new water is medicated water.

The cases to double the concentration of Maracyn 2 is when the infection has gone systemic.

[baobao]

What do you mean by systemic?

[leebca]

An internal infection, like blood poisoning. Some bacteria can overcome the fish's defenses and live in the blood stream.

[baobao]

Ok - How do I tell whether infection has become systemic?

[leebca]

Blood samples are the definitive method, together with culturing the blood.

In the case of fin rot, they are topical infections. Some 'spot' infections are also topical but can be deceivingly systemic.

Those that are systemic often display over a large area of the fish, much like septicemia.