Dosing tetracycline in food and PH

[Alyssum]

I cannot seem to find any information on how to dose tetracycline into food for fish to consume. I read it is more effective this way and if you have a PH above 7.6 tetracycline is no longer effective. With my API test kit it says "7.6" for the regular PH test and "7.4" for the high PH test. I am uncertain which one I should be trusting and I don't want to treat into the water if it is going to be ineffective. I was treating with a different medication (metroplex by Seachem) by mixing one tablespoon of water, a crushed up wafer, a level scoop of metro and a level scoop of focus, then soak for 20 minutes. Would this scoop I use for metro work for tetracycline? I don't know what the appropriate dosage should be. I am treating 3 sterbai cories. I would be buying tetracyline from API which comes in packets. Thanks.

 

[Matt68005]

Im assuming you mean Oxytetracycline?
Yes it is better mixed in food, especially in high PH environment.
IDK why you would mix it yourself, when you can buy it premade for $1.50 a pound.
What exactly is your question/the problem?

 

[Alyssum]

I am not sure where I would buy premixed food medicine. I've looked at several fish stores and have not seen that. I feel that I am running short on time because my fish are getting more ill and if I order online it might take a while. My question is mixing it the same way I did metro safe? I don't know if higher concentrations would be deadly because they are two different medications. This is what I have:

http://www.apifishcare.com/product.php?id=638#.VIUZ7pO2vcs

 

[Matt68005]

Well, your gonna have to do the math on that one. normally, they mix Oxytetracycline in food. Tetracycline is a gram positive antibiotic, what exactly is wrong with your fish, hopefully i can help before you loose more and spend more money. Pictures with a good description of the disease along with brief summary of your tank setup would get us on the right track. But i will try to find you a link. Thats great that you can mix it yourself, but here Ken's Premium Sinking Pellets with Oxytetracycline 2.5mm
you can get it for $1.50 per half pound and this is Oxytetracycline, a much more appropriate choiced drug for gram-negative fish diseases.
This link is the best direction i can point you in. DailyMed - TERRAMYCIN 200 FOR FISH- oxytetracycline hydrochloride powder
Click on mixing and dosing instructions.