I wanted to compile a quick reference of the most common aquarium
medications we use, and provide dosing guidelines/ranges for each. Below you will find information pertaining to
both aquarium brand medications and related generics. Generally speaking, using generics (
I buy from here) is preferred because they are more pure and contain less fillers. However, you will need to use a
small digital scale to accurately measure generic medications. Also keep in mind that some medications (especially
antibiotics) will have ranges listed - lowest to highest tolerated therapeutic range. It's best to use the low range when treating species that are known to be sensitive to medications (e.g. anthias, dragonets, wrasses, scaleless fish, etc.) However, sometimes the only way to overcome a virulent infection (or similar) is to treat at maximum therapeutic.
** Antibiotics **
Ciprofloxacin: 1-2 hour bath treatment @ 250mg per gal. Repeat every 24 hours for 7 days.
Methylene Blue can be added to increase efficacy.
Enrofloxacin: 9.5 - 19 mg/gal daily for 7 days; can be used both in a QT or as a 5 hour bath treatment.
Erythromycin (for eye infections): 12.5 - 25 mg/gal every 24 hours with a 25% water change before each treatment. Treat for 10-14 days.
Aquarium Brands: E.M. ERYTHROMYCIN (1 packet per 10 gallons) or Maracyn (1 packet per 10 gallons).
Kanamycin Sulfate: 25 - 37.5 mg/gal every 48 hours (24 hours for severe problems) with a 25% water change before each treatment. Treat for 10 - 14 days.
Aquarium Brands: Seachem Kanaplex (1 scoop per 5 gallons) or
AAP Spectrogram 1 capsule per 10 gals (Kanamycin/Nitrofurazone synergistic combination, which can also be used with
Metronidazole.)
Neomycin Sulfate: 25 mg/gal every 24 hours with a 25% water change before each treatment. Treat for 10 days. For fish tuberculosis, use for up to 30 days.
Aquarium Brands: Seachem Neoplex (1 measure per 2 gallons. Repeat this dose every 7 days to a maximum of 3 weeks.)
Nitrofuracin Green Powder: 1/4 teaspoon
* per 20 gallons every 24 hours with a 25% water change before each treatment. Treat for 10 - 14 days.
* This works out to 1 gram per 20 gallons OR 50mg per gallon for in-tank treatment.
** NFG dosage is 100mg per gallon if doing just a 30 minute bath (thank you
@Dierks).
Nitrofurazone: 10 - 25 mg/gal every 48 hours (24 hours for severe problems) with a 25-50% water change before each treatment. Treat for 10 - 14 days.
Aquarium Brands: API Furan-2 (1 packet per 10 gallons) or
AAP Spectrogram 1 capsule per 10 gals (Kanamycin/Nitrofurazone synergistic combination, which can also be used with
Metronidazole.)
Sulfa drugs (Sulfamerazine, Sulfamethazine, Sulfathiazole): 25 mg/gal every 48 hours (24 hours for severe issues) with a 25% water change before each treatment. Treat for a minimum of 10 days.
Aquarium Brands: API Triple Sulfa (1 packet per 10 gallons) or Seachem SulfaPlex (2-3 measures per 10 US gallons. Repeat this dose every 72 hours for a maximum of 3 weeks.)
** Copper Products ** (therapeutic level) and dosage required to achieve this
Copper Power (2.5 ppm): 1.48ml per gallon (or use
this dosing calculator discovered by
@HarleySt)
Copper sulfate pentahydrate (0.20 ppm):
More info here
Cupramine (0.50 ppm): 4 drops (0.2ml) per gallon
OR 1ml per 5 gallons
Cuprion (0.20 ppm): 1 drop per gallon
* Both Coppersafe and Kordon Copper Aid (2.0 ppm) can be used; however follow the directions on the label
AND confirm reading via
Hanna High Range Copper Colorimeter HI702. Actually, I would use the Hanna checker on
all of the above as you may still need to dose a little extra in order to achieve full therapeutic.
** With copper never reach therapeutic all in one dosage! It's best to take
at least 4-5 days (longer is ever better), dosing small amounts several times per day.
** Dewormers ** (External)
Fenbendazole: 12 hour bath treatment at 25 mg/L (95 mg/gallon)
** Bath must be repeated in about a week. Use this treatment calendar to determine when is the best time to do the SECOND bath:
Marine Parasites
Hyposalinity: 15 ppt (1.011 SG) for 5 days eliminates juvenile and adult flukes + eggs.
Praziquantel: 9.5 mg/gal (not easily water soluble so mix in a cup using a few drops of vodka before dosing)
Aquarium Brands: API General Cure (1 packet or scoop per 10 gallons) or Prazipro (1 teaspoon or 5ml per 20 gallons)
** Must be dosed at least TWICE, usually a week apart. Use this treatment calendar to determine when is the best time to add the second dose:
Marine Parasites
** Dewormers ** (Internal)
My recipe for food soaking deworming medications can be found below:
Using a shot glass:
1 Tbsp food (preferably pellets or frozen food)
1 scoop (~ 1/8 teaspoon) of medication (API General Cure
or Fenbendazole
** + Metroplex)
1 or 2 scoops Seachem Focus (this makes it reef safe + binds the medication to the food)
A pinch of Epsom salt to help expel dead worms/parasites
A few drops of saltwater or fish vitamins
Stir until a medicated food slurry has been achieved.
Feed after soaking for 30 mins.
Refrigerate or freeze any leftovers for future use.
You can feed this mix 1-2 times per day. Not recommend to exceed 2 feedings per day with medicated food.
** There have been some reports that Fenbendazole doesn't always bind well to food, even when using Seachem Focus. Fenbendazole also doesn't appear to be as "reef safe" as praziquantel, metronidazole - the two active ingredients found in General Cure. Therefore, caution must be taken when using it in a tank with corals.
** Misc. **
Acriflavine: Best to use
Ruby Reef Rally @ 1 teaspoon per gallon in a 90 minute bath.
Chloroquine Phosphate: 40-60 mg/gal for 30 days (or 14 days and then transfer to a sterile observation tank at least 10 feet away)
DMSO: Aids in dissolving
praziquantel,
fenbendazole and other not easily water soluble medications. The following ratios were provided by
@Dierks:
- 1 ml of DMSO is required to dissolve 10mg of Fenbendazole
- 1 ml of DMSO is required to dissolve 15mg of Metronidazole
- 1 ml of DMSO is required to dissolve 20 mg of Praziquantel
Formalin (37% formaldehyde):
- In-tank treatment: 1 milliliter (ml) per 10 gallons, or 2 drops per gallon daily in a bare aquarium.
- Bath treatment: 30-60 minutes @ 0.6 ml per gallon, or 12 drops per gallon.
Freshwater Dip: No longer than 5 minutes (
more info)
Hydrogen Peroxide: 20 ml of 3% H2O2 per 1 gallon of saltwater for 30 minutes
Methylene Blue: Best to use an aquarium product such as
Kordon or
Fritz.
- 30 min bath (preferred): 1 teaspoon (5 ml) per 5 gallons.
- In a quarantine tank: 1 teaspoon (5 ml) per 10 gallons every other day for 10 days with water changes before each treatment.
Metronidazole: 12.5 - 25 mg/gal every 48 hours (24 hours for severe problems) with a 25% water change before each treatment. Treat for 10 days.
Aquarium Brands: Seachem MetroPlex (1-2 measures per 10 gallons. Repeat this dose every 48 hours for up to 3 weeks or until symptoms disappear.)
** You can use MS-222 Tricaine for both sedation and euthanasia:
Tricaine-S
The spreadsheet for determining both dosages can be downloaded here:
https://pentairaes.com/media/docs/treatment_calculator_excel_2010.xlsx
