Blue spot puffer infection/irritated skin?

[mcsauce]

Sometimes stronger isn't always necessary/better. Especially where puffers are concerned. Just be sure you use exacxtly according to directions. I did look up Kanaplex & it does say it's safe for boilogical filtration but I'm not sure I'd be willing to take a chance on a reef tank. Melafix is totally natural--made from tea tree oil--so it's not really an antibiotic, like the rest of the meds out there. You can also try the other 2 natural sugestions I offered.

It says to dose 5 ml per 10 gallons...I dosed 35 ml today. (My tank is 72 gallons, plus the volume of the sump). My whole house smells like a mentholated steam room now haha.

If it's not an anti-biotic, then what does it do? I hope it works.

[Pufferpunk]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/a ... atId=11269

[Dadof4]

Sometimes stronger isn't always necessary/better. Especially where puffers are concerned. Just be sure you use exacxtly according to directions.

Something to keep in mind with puffers is that being scaleless fish they have a higher systemic absorption rate of chemical from external sources through their skin than a fish with scales. That's why Melafix is the safer, although possibly slower option, IMHO. It's all natural and poses less risk to inverts, corals, and fish. Second thing is that external treatment is the best choice for skin issues for any fur less creature. When antibiotics are taken internally they are processed by the liver before they go out systemically, this is called first pass effect, and the systemic drug amount is actually decreased because of this. Another part that plays in to oral antibiotics is that once it is systemic, it's penetration rate varies by compound. What this means is that at the capillary bed, where antibiotics are moved to the tissues, there can be limited penetration in to the tissue itself inhibiting its ability to reach the skin and the organism causing the infection. I'm going to pull random numbers out of a hat here so please don't rely on these numbers but, say penicillin moves from the capillary bed to the tissues and it has a penetration rate of 0.01 mm and the tissue you are trying to reach is 0.015 mm, the effectiveness is going to be slight to nil. Another aspect of this is that as the antibiotic moves through the tissue it does disperse and dissipate, so that by the time it makes the skin it is again, possibly irrelevant.

[Pufferpunk]

You always explain that stuff sooooooo much better than I can. Thanks Nursydad!

[mcsauce]

Sometimes stronger isn't always necessary/better. Especially where puffers are concerned. Just be sure you use exacxtly according to directions.

Something to keep in mind with puffers is that being scaleless fish they have a higher systemic absorption rate of chemical from external sources through their skin than a fish with scales. That's why Melafix is the safer, although possibly slower option, IMHO. It's all natural and poses less risk to inverts, corals, and fish. Second thing is that external treatment is the best choice for skin issues for any fur less creature. When antibiotics are taken internally they are processed by the liver before they go out systemically, this is called first pass effect, and the systemic drug amount is actually decreased because of this. Another part that plays in to oral antibiotics is that once it is systemic, it's penetration rate varies by compound. What this means is that at the capillary bed, where antibiotics are moved to the tissues, there can be limited penetration in to the tissue itself inhibiting its ability to reach the skin and the organism causing the infection. I'm going to pull random numbers out of a hat here so please don't rely on these numbers but, say penicillin moves from the capillary bed to the tissues and it has a penetration rate of 0.01 mm and the tissue you are trying to reach is 0.015 mm, the effectiveness is going to be slight to nil. Another aspect of this is that as the antibiotic moves through the tissue it does disperse and dissipate, so that by the time it makes the skin it is again, possibly irrelevant.

Bravo.

I have a question though...how come they don't have pimafix marine? Is the melafix marine that I'm using a mix of both?

[Myaj]

I'm not sure if Pimafix foams up like Melafix does (the main reason there's a freshwater vs marine version)?

[mcsauce]

I'm not sure if Pimafix foams up like Melafix does (the main reason there's a freshwater vs marine version)?

Well, there's a pimafix and melafix freshwater version, but only a melafix marine...not pimafix marine. So, I don't know.

How long does it usually take to show signs that it's starting to work by the way?

[Dadof4]

You always explain that stuff sooooooo much better than I can. Thanks Nursydad!

You're welcome! Sorry to go all pharmacokinetic on ya but I hadn't had my first cup of coffee yet and could hold it in!

I'm not saying that antibiotics given orally have no place in treating skin infections, they do, but they are not nearly as effective as topical treatment. Usually they are used in conjunction topical antibiotics to help contain the infection. Some also do have great penetration in to tissue and can be used by themselves but most wouldn't be safe for use in fish.

I looked deeper in to the use of Kanamycin and it is effective against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. That means it will kill your good bacteria in the tank (most are gram-negative) and should only be used in a bath, not in the main tank.

[mcsauce]

You always explain that stuff sooooooo much better than I can. Thanks Nursydad!

You're welcome! Sorry to go all pharmacokinetic on ya but I hadn't had my first cup of coffee yet and could hold it in!

I'm not saying that antibiotics given orally have no place in treating skin infections, they do, but they are not nearly as effective as topical treatment. Usually they are used in conjunction topical antibiotics to help contain the infection. Some also do have great penetration in to tissue and can be used by themselves but most wouldn't be safe for use in fish.

I looked deeper in to the use of Kanamycin and it is effective against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. That means it will kill your good bacteria in the tank (most are gram-negative) and should only be used in a bath, not in the main tank.

Okay thanks. That's my next and last resort I guess...I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the melafix marine works.

[Pufferpunk]

You could contact the makers & see if Pimafix is good for SW. But you said you don't have a skimmer anyway?

[mcsauce]

You could contact the makers & see if Pimafix is good for SW. But you said you don't have a skimmer anyway?

Yes, my skimmer broke actually...it was a hand me down from a friend. I'm in the market for a solid one. Checking out the Deltec mc500 (only thing that will fit in the empty space that I have in my sump)...I need to find a good price and jump on it because it's absurdly expensive retail.

[Pufferpunk]

Check the Used Equipment forum at Reef Central.

[mcsauce]

Definitely doing nothing good...shouldn't there be signs of it working by now? Seems to just be getting worse and clouding the water.

[Pufferpunk]

Maybe that stuff is made to wrek with a skimmer? Since you don't have one, you could try the FW Melafix or if it's getting worse, QT & use something stronger--quick!