Feeding kanaplex+focus in display tank

[BigJohnny]

Recently one of my blue star leopards developed some discoloration/reddish spots on his body. I initially tried to catch the fish but failed miserably after several attempts. During that time I started adding extra selcon to the food and feeding extra live blackworms vs frozen and it was able to heal itself after about a week. This was about 2 months ago, I think.

Today, I saw similar spots on the same fish, and since i can't catch her my plan is feed food soaked in kanaplex+focus 1x/day for 10 days. I have a few questions:

1. Which would be the best food to soak: LRS fish frenzy or Hikari Spirulina brine. That is all it will eat besides live blackworms which i assume would not work....

2. Is it ok to prep 10 days worth then refreeze and feed like that, or would that degrade the antibiotic? Since LRS contains probiotics would that interfere? (i doubt it but just making sure)

3. Very concerned about leaching kanaplex into the tank and effecting corals, do you think using 2 scoops of focus per tablespoon of food would help prevent that?

4. I never run carbon on my reef tank, and every single time i have in the past I experience some stn or rtn on at least one acropora. How important is it to run carbon just in case the focus does not bind completely?

5. has anyone had any side effects to their tank when dosing kanaplex or metroplex binding with focus.

Thanks!

 

[cracker]

I'd like to know more ,here is a bump

 

[deedubz]

When I use focus/metro I use pellets and freeze to preserve. I'm sure if you were to thaw enough to mix and refreeze once it'd be ok. As long as the temp doesn't go over 46° or whatever that magic number is. Then just take what you need each morning. I have no idea if freezing degrades the meds, but I've had no issues with reoccurring parasites

When I fed metro/focus to my dt in the past I didn't know to use carbon.. Huge LTA, 4 BTAs, and a handful of corals and none of them seemed to notice

 

[BigJohnny]

i recently met an aquatic vet who said they were researching feeding food soaked in kanaplex or neomycin to corals with stn/rtn/brown jelly etc. Id imagine if you can treat corals that way it can't be that big of a deal, but everyone always warns that you could harm your corals. Would love to know if there are any actual examples of this occuring, or if its just a myth essentially. I know the invert risk is legit but the corals im not so sure, maybe it depends on the corals.

 

[deedubz]

I've read of people using metro for dinos too. IDK... Ask 10 people a question and you'll get 8 different answers..

 

[BigJohnny]

I've read of people using metro for dinos too. IDK... Ask 10 people a question and you'll get 8 different answers..

Yup, good ol forums. Gotta sift through it all.

 

[BigJohnny]

OK also confused as the treatment options sticky recommends 1 scoop focus to one scoop antibiotic but the focus bottle recommends 5 scoops focus to one scoop antibiotic......

 

[deedubz]

1:1 is fine

 

[BigJohnny]

1:1 is fine

but is 5:1 safer? lol, if so, i dont mind

 

[deedubz]

Read second post by @Humblefish . 1:1 is the standard. I honestly didn't know 5:1 was even a thing
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/metronidazole.298762/

 

[Reefer40b]

side note.. easy reefs masstick is a wonderful food to mix meds in with, every kind of fish i own eats it no problem.

 

[BigJohnny]

Read second post by @Humblefish . 1:1 is the standard. I honestly didn't know 5:1 was even a thing
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/metronidazole.298762/

Right that's what I said, he says 1:1 but the bottle says 5:1

 

[BigJohnny]

side note.. easy reefs masstick is a wonderful food to mix meds in with, every kind of fish i own eats it no problem.

Funny, none of my fish like it, but I can definitely see how it would be great for that purpose.

 

[BigJohnny]

@Humblefish
@melypr1985

Any idea why focus recommends 5:1? Are you sure 1:1 is sufficient in binding the meds? Such a large difference.

 

[Humblefish]

@Humblefish
@melypr1985

Any idea why focus recommends 5:1? Are you sure 1:1 is sufficient in binding the meds? Such a large difference.

It used to be 5:1, but then Seachem changed their directions for using Focus:

Dosing in Food
Stir together the medicated food mix (recipe below) before feeding. Feed the fish once daily as much as they can consume in about 1 minute. Treatment periods will vary but it is recommended to treat for at least a week. This medicated food can be refrigerated or frozen between feedings.

• 1 scoop of medication if choice
• 1 scoop Focus™
• 1 tbsp food (preferably pellets or frozen food)
• A few drops of water if using a dry food

Source: http://www.seachem.com/focus.php

 

[BigJohnny]

It used to be 5:1, but then Seachem changed their directions for using Focus:


Source: http://www.seachem.com/focus.php

Weird, I have a brand new bottle and it still says 5:1.

Thanks bud

 

[Humblefish]

Weird, I have a brand new bottle and it still says 5:1.

Thanks bud

They might have changed the formulation on the newer bottles of Focus. Your older bottle might still fall under the 5:1 rule. I would call Seachem Tech Support to find out for sure.

 

[BigJohnny]

They might have changed the formulation on the newer bottles of Focus. Your older bottle might still fall under the 5:1 rule. I would call Seachem Tech Support to find out for sure.

My thoughts exactly. Thanks again.

 

[BigJohnny]

I found what appeared to be new at my lfs and they said 5:1, although very possible they have been sitting there for a long time. Exp 2021. Still going to talk to seachem but just sayin.

 

[Humblefish]

I found what appeared to be new at my lfs and they said 5:1, although very possible they have been sitting there for a long time. Exp 2021. Still going to talk to seachem but just sayin.

I just checked my bottle (bought recently) and it says the same thing: 5:1. Let me know how Seachem explains the discrepancy.