From: jan@bagend.uucp (Jan Isley)
Subject: Re: Blue-green 'algae' are DEAD!
Organization: This space for rent.
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 17:50:27 GMT

wmack@en.ecn.purdue.edu (William J Mack) writes:

>I dont wish to dispute Jan, and for all I know the addition of
>Maracyn in all of her (his?) friends tanks really did cause the
>ammonia and nitrite levels to shoot off scale within 3 days
>and kill all of Jans friends fish......................

I am a his, not a her. :)

The last postmortum I was called to do was a very established, stable
70 gallon saltwater tank with 3 tangs; one 4" naso, one 3" yellow and
one 2" sailfin tang, and a 3" paddlefin wrasse.  It had a crushed coral
UG with two powerheads and an eheim cannister.

All fish died on the third day of treatment.  On day 0 the pH, amonia,
nitrite and nitrate per seatest was 8.2, 0, 0, << 10.  On the evening
of day 3, the amonia read about 0.2 and nitrite was 8-10 ppm.

The tank was treated because the sailfin tang had what appeared to be
a slight bacterial tail rot problem.  I wanted to remove the fish and
treat it in a hospital tank.  The fish's owner was afraid that such a
treatment was too stressful and would not be persuaded otherwise.

This was only one of several similar experiences.  Each case involved
an established (years) stable aquarium with no other problems.

>It is usually a rare occasion when I add antibiotics to my water (fortunately)
>and I would tell anyone that casual use of them is a waste of money and also
>dangerous.

Very good advice.

>I would also advise someone to carefully pay attention to their
>ammonia and nitrite levels when using antibiotics.

YES!  But let me quote from the Maracyn instructions:

     Maracy Tabs are a specially compounded broad spectrum
     antibiotic (erythromycin) developed for complete but
     gradual dissolution in both fresh and salt water.  It
     is not necessary to adjust pH, water temperature or to
     change water before, during or after treatment.  Even
     at ten times dosage, Maracyn has not been shown to be
     toxic.

Joe Average Aquarist, who may not have any test kits anyway, after
reading that probably would not worry about testing the water...?

>But Maracyn a death sentence for your fish.....probably not.

Further down the page, Mardel says:

     BIOLOGICAL FILTRATION NOT AFFECTED BY MARDEL PRODUCTS
     Nitrobacter and Nitrosomonas are recognized as the primary
     beneficial bacteria in the biological filtration system of
     every healthy aquarium.  Some drugs which treat fish diseases
     and parasitic infestations are harmful to these "good" bacteria.
     When the biological filter is upset there is a build-up of
     ammonia and nitrite concentrations resulting in fish distress
     and death.  Mardel Products have been tested with know strains
     of these useful bacteria with no deleterious effects noted;
     they do not interfere with the nitrogen cycle.

Well, I submit that this is bull, and combined with the previous
statement regarding no need for water changes, is a prescription
for disaster for the unsuspecting aquarist.

>By the way, Mardel is not the only
>company to sell e...mycin as an aquarium antibiotic either.  Shall we sue
>all the others too?

They are all equally guilty of false/misleading advertising, I am
sure.  I just have personal experience with Mardel products.
-- 
Jan Isley   jan@bagend.uucp   gatech.edu!bagend!jan   (404)434-1335
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria,alt.aquaria