Dear Humblefish, Nitrofuracin-Green vs Furan 2 question

bigfish1152 · Mar 14, 2020

Hi Humblefish, was about to get some Nitrofuracin-Green and that stuff is $100 for 250 grams! Of course you want to save your favorite fish, but, with that price, I quickly gravitated back over to Furan-2, which is pretty close. How much slumming and injustice would I be doing sticking with Furan 2 instead of using Nitrofuracin-Green?

Gareth elliott · Mar 14, 2020

@Big G @HotRocks @4FordFamily

What symptoms is your fish currently displaying?
You can increase the spectrum of furan-2 by mixing it neomycin and kanamycin. This will safely mix together without as much effect biofilter, like some other broad spectrum abx like doxycycline or tetracycline.

Because of the appetite and immune suppression of antibiotics, I would not treat without indication of an infection though.

Big G · Mar 14, 2020

NFG powder combines (Nitrofurazone, Sulfathiazole Sodium) with Methylene Blue, and behaves like Furan2 on steriods. It works quicker and more comprehensively than Furan2.

NFG is the antibiotic to use if you have tangs or butterflies. They get these "red sores" on their sides that are bacterial in nature, looking somewhat like uronema. Those red sores can go sideways really quickly. And quite honestly, if you don't have NFG ready to treat those red sores, survival of the fish is grim.

Humblefish · Mar 15, 2020

If you're going to use Furan-2, combine it with Kanaplex + Metroplex to cover a wider spectrum of bacterial diseases.

bigfish1152 · Mar 15, 2020

Gareth elliott said:
@Big G @HotRocks @4FordFamily

What symptoms is your fish currently displaying?

No symptoms..............yet. I need to order some meds and just planning ahead.

Big G said:
NFG powder combines (Nitrofurazone, Sulfathiazole Sodium) with Methylene Blue, and behaves like Furan2 on steriods.

And quite honestly, if you don't have NFG ready to treat those red sores, survival of the fish is grim.

For $100, it better serve me breakfast!!

Humblefish said:
If you're going to use Furan-2, combine it with Kanaplex + Metroplex to cover a wider spectrum of bacterial diseases.

Would API GC cover that, or, are we still talking about a wimpy solution compared to NFG?

Man, I remember when I was getting Quieniedsulfate(sp) from them for just $35 a bottle. Dont know what happened, supply n demand???

Thanks all for the reply's....

Humblefish · Mar 15, 2020

bigfish1152 said:
Would API GC cover that, or, are we still talking about a wimpy solution compared to NFG?

GC contains metro but not kana. It also contains prazi, which I wouldn't dose on a fish every 48 hours. You can safely dose metro & kana every 48 hours. Furan-2 every 24 hours, and you can align the treatments to dose all three at the same time every 48 hours. Which increases efficacy.

Gareth elliott · Mar 15, 2020

For stockpiling,
Also to keep in mind if your not dealing with a lot of fish shipments. Abx do not have the longest expiration dates. So its very possible to buy a container and never use any and have to throw away. For the average hobbyist furan and seachem offer prices that are easier to swallow.
Do not use expired antibiotics, some become ineffective some increase their potency to dangerous levels.

pbenjbear2 · May 13, 2020

Following the above info: @Humblefish @BigG
I have seen discussions of running constant copper and Nitrofuracin powder in your QT water to keep bacteria from building up and to perform a thorough QT on new fish in combination with any needed medications. How can you perform this correctly while not annihilating the needed good bacteria?

Big G · May 13, 2020

I don't recommend keeping a tank running long term with copper and or meds.

I do recommend running a fully cycled (about 30 days or so) QT with the following in the QT to maintain good water quality. I seldom have to do water changes during QT.

1. HOB filter with a foam pad and a mesh bag with either Seachem Matrix or Fluval BioMax that has either been soaking in my DT sump for at least 30 days or soak them with BioSpira, etc. over night and then add the liquid to the QT.
2. A bubble filter with the foam pad treated the same as above.
3. A small powerhead aimed up at the surface so it's actively rippling the water's surface to increase O2 in the water column.
4. A Seachem Ammonia Alert badge, just to keep an eye on things.
5. heater
6. QT tank with end and back wall painted black or dk. blue to keep the fish calm.
7. Pieces of PVC and plastic aquarium plants to keep the fish calm.
8. Prime ready just in case (but this is only with chelated coppers like Copper Power or Coppersafe.

Antibiotics: NFG powder for tangs, angels, butterflies, especially; for the rest, Spectrogram

Copper: Copper Power is the most consistent and reliable. Hanna Copper Checker.

pbenjbear2 · May 13, 2020

Big G said:
I don't recommend keeping a tank running long term with copper and or meds.

I do recommend running a fully cycled (about 30 days or so) QT with the following in the QT to maintain good water quality. I seldom have to do water changes during QT.

1. HOB filter with a foam pad and a mesh bag with either Seachem Matrix or Fluval BioMax that has either been soaking in my DT sump for at least 30 days or soak them with BioSpira, etc. over night and then add the liquid to the QT.
2. A bubble filter with the foam pad treated the same as above.
3. A small powerhead aimed up at the surface so it's actively rippling the water's surface to increase O2 in the water column.
4. A Seachem Ammonia Alert badge, just to keep an eye on things.
5. heater
6. QT tank with end and back wall painted black or dk. blue to keep the fish calm.
7. Pieces of PVC and plastic aquarium plants to keep the fish calm.
8. Prime ready just in case (but this is only with chelated coppers like Copper Power or Coppersafe.

Antibiotics: NFG powder for tangs, angels, butterflies, especially; for the rest, Spectrogram

Copper: Copper Power is the most consistent and reliable. Hanna Copper Checker.

Thanks so much - Got the set up pretty nailed down to what you have listed above! I really like the recommendation for soaking the filters in BioSpira - We have BioSpira added to the system, but soaking the sponges is smart. Do you change out the filters at any time?