Medicine chest

[FEJ]

I set up a 380 gallon FOWLR tank (never will keep corals) at the start of the year and I'm having a steep, and oftentimes painful, learning curve. Having kept freshwater systems for some 37 years, running a saltwater system would be a piece of cake, right? Oh so wrong. The most important lesson I've learned, and I think I read it in this forum, is that all processes in this hobby are very slow...except catastrophe. I introduced Marine Velvet disease into my display tank; that was when I found out that copper medication cannot be sourced on my island or even within driving range on the mainland. I bought some online but, by the time it arrived, all my fish were dead. Second important lesson I learned, always quarantine new arrivals and don't listen again to those who say you don't have to. Henceforth, I shall be following the quarantine protocol as advised by Jay Hemdal and David Scarborough.

So, with that said, I am compiling a medicine chest to, hopefully, combat any ailments that might affect my fish in the future. Here is a list of medications that I have assembled and I would be grateful for any advice on medicines/ailments I have missed.

Copper Power - Ich and Velvet

Prazipro and Prazicleanse - Flukes and tapeworms

KanaPlex - Systemic (internal) broad-spectrum bacterial infections

Metroplex - Internal parasites, Brooklynella, and Uronema

Focus - Polymer binder for oral treatments

Ruby Reef Rally Pro - Emergency antiseptic bath for Brooklynella, Velvet, and sores

Ueno Fine Yellow Powder - Emergency external broad-spectrum antibiotic

Methylene Blue - Emergency respiratory support, cyanide/nitrite poisoning

Cuprisorb - Emergency copper removal

Prime - Emergency ammonia neutralizer

For back up (not all the above are easily obtainable in the short-term) I have stock of Neoplex, Paraguard, sachets of Praziquantel, and tubs of Metronidazole powder. I have a gallon of Copper Power so should have plenty of time to re-order from the US before that runs out.

So, am I missing anything, other than a fat wallet?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I set up a 380 gallon FOWLR tank (never will keep corals) at the start of the year and I'm having a steep, and oftentimes painful, learning curve. Having kept freshwater systems for some 37 years, running a saltwater system would be a piece of cake, right? Oh so wrong. The most important lesson I've learned, and I think I read it in this forum, is that all processes in this hobby are very slow...except catastrophe. I introduced Marine Velvet disease into my display tank; that was when I found out that copper medication cannot be sourced on my island or even within driving range on the mainland. I bought some online but, by the time it arrived, all my fish were dead. Second important lesson I learned, always quarantine new arrivals and don't listen again to those who say you don't have to. Henceforth, I shall be following the quarantine protocol as advised by Jay Hemdal and David Scarborough.

So, with that said, I am compiling a medicine chest to, hopefully, combat any ailments that might affect my fish in the future. Here is a list of medications that I have assembled and I would be grateful for any advice on medicines/ailments I have missed.

Copper Power - Ich and Velvet

Prazipro and Prazicleanse - Flukes and tapeworms

KanaPlex - Systemic (internal) broad-spectrum bacterial infections

Metroplex - Internal parasites, Brooklynella, and Uronema

Focus - Polymer binder for oral treatments

Ruby Reef Rally Pro - Emergency antiseptic bath for Brooklynella, Velvet, and sores

Ueno Fine Yellow Powder - Emergency external broad-spectrum antibiotic

Methylene Blue - Emergency respiratory support, cyanide/nitrite poisoning

Cuprisorb - Emergency copper removal

Prime - Emergency ammonia neutralizer

For back up (not all the above are easily obtainable in the short-term) I have stock of Neoplex, Paraguard, sachets of Praziquantel, and tubs of Metronidazole powder. I have a gallon of Copper Power so should have plenty of time to re-order from the US before that runs out.

So, am I missing anything, other than a fat wallet?

That list looks pretty good.

You should have a Hanna HR meter to measure the copper.

I prefer Amquel over Prime for ammonia control (search prime here to read what others say about it).

I don’t use methylene blue - it’s benefit is way overrated.

If you use Focus for oral meds, be sure you measure the drugs accurately, I have an article on that:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/proper-dosing-of-medicated-foods.765689/

 

[W31Olds]

And a couple of Seachem Badges and an Ammonia Test Kit.

 

[FEJ]

That list looks pretty good.

You should have a Hanna HR meter to measure the copper.

I prefer Amquel over Prime for ammonia control (search prime here to read what others say about it).

I don’t use methylene blue - it’s benefit is way overrated.

If you use Focus for oral meds, be sure you measure the drugs accurately, I have an article on that:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/proper-dosing-of-medicated-foods.765689/

Thank you. I bought a Hanna HR Copper Checker along with the Copper Power from Amazon so I'm good to go on that. All other tests are performed using Salifert test kits other than ammonia where I have Seachem badges and test with the API kit.

I use Methylene Blue with the freshwater systems I run so liked I could use it on both systems, not that I've had need of it in a long, long time.

I'll check out Amquel and consider that when I need to replace the Prime.

And thanks for the tip on the use of Focus, I'll check out the article.

 

[FEJ]

And a couple of Seachem Badges and an Ammonia Test Kit.

Thanks. I have Seachem badges and test with an API test kit. Once that runs out, I'll probably switch to Salifert.

 

[MnFish1]

I set up a 380 gallon FOWLR tank (never will keep corals) at the start of the year and I'm having a steep, and oftentimes painful, learning curve. Having kept freshwater systems for some 37 years, running a saltwater system would be a piece of cake, right? Oh so wrong. The most important lesson I've learned, and I think I read it in this forum, is that all processes in this hobby are very slow...except catastrophe. I introduced Marine Velvet disease into my display tank; that was when I found out that copper medication cannot be sourced on my island or even within driving range on the mainland. I bought some online but, by the time it arrived, all my fish were dead. Second important lesson I learned, always quarantine new arrivals and don't listen again to those who say you don't have to. Henceforth, I shall be following the quarantine protocol as advised by Jay Hemdal and David Scarborough.

So, with that said, I am compiling a medicine chest to, hopefully, combat any ailments that might affect my fish in the future. Here is a list of medications that I have assembled and I would be grateful for any advice on medicines/ailments I have missed.

Copper Power - Ich and Velvet

Prazipro and Prazicleanse - Flukes and tapeworms

KanaPlex - Systemic (internal) broad-spectrum bacterial infections

Metroplex - Internal parasites, Brooklynella, and Uronema

Focus - Polymer binder for oral treatments

Ruby Reef Rally Pro - Emergency antiseptic bath for Brooklynella, Velvet, and sores

Ueno Fine Yellow Powder - Emergency external broad-spectrum antibiotic

Methylene Blue - Emergency respiratory support, cyanide/nitrite poisoning

Cuprisorb - Emergency copper removal

Prime - Emergency ammonia neutralizer

For back up (not all the above are easily obtainable in the short-term) I have stock of Neoplex, Paraguard, sachets of Praziquantel, and tubs of Metronidazole powder. I have a gallon of Copper Power so should have plenty of time to re-order from the US before that runs out.

So, am I missing anything, other than a fat wallet?

The one thing is that many of these things expire. So if you want to maintain them, make sure you pay attention to those dates. Second, Methylene blue is not-needed, since nitrite poisoning doesn't occur in marine aquaria, and a water change would be better. Prime may not be a good 'ammonia neutralizer' - see the research on the site. Emergency copper removal is done by a water change. Cuprisorb can be used for more slow removal. I don't think you need ueno - if you're going to have metroplex, kanaplex. Note - kanaplex is not good for oral administration, and metroplex is difficult to dose orally. I would not use paracleanse (it's a combination of prazipro and metronidazole). Otherwise it's a good list. I would make sure you're storing them according to directions to maximize shelf life.

 

[FEJ]

The one thing is that many of these things expire. So if you want to maintain them, make sure you pay attention to those dates. Second, Methylene blue is not-needed, since nitrite poisoning doesn't occur in marine aquaria, and a water change would be better. Prime may not be a good 'ammonia neutralizer' - see the research on the site. Emergency copper removal is done by a water change. Cuprisorb can be used for more slow removal. I don't think you need ueno - if you're going to have metroplex, kanaplex. Note - kanaplex is not good for oral administration, and metroplex is difficult to dose orally. I would not use paracleanse (it's a combination of prazipro and metronidazole). Otherwise it's a good list. I would make sure you're storing them according to directions to maximize shelf life.

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it. I realise the issue with expiration dates but I have no choice but to carry stock. Most of the medicines have to be bought from Amazon and the delivery cannot always be relied upon to reach me. When deliveries do happen, it can take a month or more. For instance, it took three attempts to finally get an order for Prazicleanse and Prazipro to me. That took over two months. Methylene Blue is used in my freshwater tanks so I included it in my list as it is on hand. I note your opinion of Prime and will check out the research. Ueno is kept as an emergency backstop as it is available here by mail from China. Even so, two weeks away so best to keep on hand.

The quarantine tank has already save the fish in my main tank. Since my original post, I bought four fish and put them in the qt, a Naso Tang, Scopus Tang, Coral Beauty, and a Bicolor Angel. I intended to start copper treatment on day two of the fish entering the qt, but the Coral Beauty had an abrasion on its back and the Naso Tang was stressed out so I delayed treatment to let the CB heal and the Naso destress. By day four the abrasion was all but gone and the Naso had settled and was feeding so I decided to commence treatment the following day. By day five, I went to the tank to find the Coral Beauty and Bicolor covered in Velvet and the two tangs looking the worse for wear. I put copper in to reach 1.7ppm with a view to increasing that to 2.3ppm on day six. Day six, all four fish were dead.