Medicating a tank?

[Jaster]

Being very new to this I've been doing some reading on what can hurt my new friends. Seems to be quite a bit and has me a bit nervous... So what I'm wondering is, on top of keep up with the tank (cleaning and water changes and such...) is there something I should regularly add to my tank to help keep everyone healthy? Like a vitamin type thing I guess. (Flintstones chewables for fish...lol) Or do I just medicate the tank if there is an issue?

 

[joy13]

You can actually get vitamins called vita chem. I really don't find it easy to use unless I use frozen food and put it on while the food is thawing. IMO it isn't worth it. There is also something called garlic guard. I haven't tried this because I haven't found it. If i find it and have the extra money I will have to get it just to see if it does anything.

I do know that blackwater extract is good for some fish I use it in my angelfish tanks it does color the water but I like the natural darker color. There is somethng out there called Atison's betta spa and I use that in my betta tanks. I think it does make a difference.

IMO for what it is worth.

 

[jsoong]

Personally, I would never medicate a tank chronically "just in case". Breeders do that to decrease the mortality in overcrowded conditions, but that ends up selecting for resistant bacteria & bugs & we the buyers end up with the problems <sickly fish, diseases that are resistant to treatment.> An example would be salt resistant ich in goldfish because breeders kept their stock in 0.3% salt to "prevent" ich.

So, no .... good clean water is the best IMO. If you want to give the fish vitamins, do it naturally & give them some fresh food <veggies, worms & bugs & the like, depending on your fish.>

 

[Zagz]

I agree, no reason to medicate the tank for prevention. Clean water and regular water changes are the best preventative you can have.

 

[timwag2001]

if you feel meds are needed i would recommend a hospital tank so that fish that dont need the meds arent affected and water isnt discolored or anything