Pinsara Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Anyone know where to source some anti-bacterial remedies to control cyanobacteria infections (blue-green algae)? A thin membrane of algae is slowing spreading and covering my carpet plants. I've already tried all the home remedies (water changes, reduced lighting, algicide, etc) but with no success. If anyone know of a good source of anti-bacterial medicine, pl point me in the right direction. Thank you in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Erythromycin. Get it from your GP. Have to pay for a prescription though. I would offer you some but I have already given it all away (I work for a Dr). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 U gonna have to stock up then, a Caryl Lynda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinsara Posted March 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Thanks Caryl Can I use an alternative.... like say Amoxillin... in place of Erythromycin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Will have to wait until I am home to check that one Pinsara. I have a meds database on the home unit to compare the two. Will be home tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted March 14, 2006 Report Share Posted March 14, 2006 get some vodka, vodka will get rid of it. 5ml per 100L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted March 14, 2006 Report Share Posted March 14, 2006 And it's really fun to watch the fish start hiccuping and singing pub songs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freshwest Posted March 14, 2006 Report Share Posted March 14, 2006 I got erythromycin from the local vet . Cheep to around $1/500mg Took a bit of explaining though. I think i used 2.5 mg / 1L X 2 doses 2 days apart . Did an amazing job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 15, 2006 Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 Sorry for the delay Pinsara but I forgot to look the information up. Erythromycin is a macrolide for infections and infestations. This is a class of antibiotics characterised by molecules made up of large-ring lactones Most common is probably E-Mycin which is erythromycin ethyl succinate. Amoxycillin is most commonly prescribed as Augmentin (Amoxycillin is a generic name, Augmentin is a brand name,one of several. Different companies produce different brand names for the same thing). This is amoxycillin and clavulanic acid. It is a penicillin. Also for infections and infestations. Apo-Amoxi, Ibiamox and Ospamox are all just amoxycillin. Synermox and Augmentin are both amoxycillin and clavulanic acid. Clavulanic acid is aluminium hydroxide and used to reduce acidity in the stomach (ie. it helps the medicine go down ) I guess both would work but can't guarantee that. I have only ever tried erythromycin which worked well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feelers Posted March 15, 2006 Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 Surely that kill the bacteria in your filter too? Vodka seems less aggressive and actually makes your filter "better" by feeding the beneficial bacteria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanksman Posted March 15, 2006 Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 Feelers or Reef Can you use any brand of vodka? Which have worked for you? The rate is 5 ml / 100 litres - Is it a once off dose or more? How often do you need to dose it. How long do you reckon it takes to clear the cyano? It's certainly easier to get hold of than pills Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 15, 2006 Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 I would have thought the drugs would also kill the bacteria in the filter but I seem to remember an article somewhere refuting this. Something to do with them being different sort of bacteria so not affected. Whatever, I certainly had no trouble with mini cycles or spikes in my tank during, or after, treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinsara Posted March 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 Thanks very much Caryl. Very informative. Now what dosage should I apply? 250mg caps how many and how often? I am not sure about the vodka suggestion. Would it not be toxic to plants since alcohol is a poison which kills living tissue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feelers Posted March 15, 2006 Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 Tanksman, that's per day. Basicially vodka is an empty carbon source - like adding sugar(but without the problems that sugar causes). This provides engery for the bacterial population, so they divide and multiply, but still have the same amount No3/Po4 to spread among the increasing population. The increased populations will outcompete the cyano/algae for nutrients. In a saltwater tank there is an even bigger benefit, as the bacteria/nutrients get skimmed out. Its actually a popular method, and it has been used in europe for ages apparently. As reef said in a thread about the vodka method, no-one can make any money off it so it's not pushed like many other things. The 5ml/100L is equal to 0.00005ml/L, a very small amount, and safe. 5mL is a teaspoon I think? You can see how it goes, and slowly bring it up to 20ml / 100L over a week. It is still an incredibly small amount, but you are feeding the bacteria - which have quite small appetites It could be worth one sixth of a shot! (terrible I know) :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freshwest Posted March 15, 2006 Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 I checked the dose I used and it was defiantly 2.5mg/l followed by a repeat dose 2 days later. Mine were in tablet form so I had to grind it up to a powder and dissolve it in luke warm water before putting it in the tank. I had no problems with my bio/filter. But it would pay to keep an eye on the ammonia levels for a while. Any spikes could also be caused by the extra load put on the filter dealing with the dead cryno not the erythromycin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinsara Posted March 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 Thanks feelers and frechwest. Might try it if the amoxillin doesnt work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted March 15, 2006 Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 Is there something in the vodka or is it just a convenient form of ethanol, and if so would I be able to use half the dose of ethanol from my friends still before he gets out his bagpipes and turns it to whiskey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted March 15, 2006 Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 I am not sure about this bacteria but amoxillan can be used at 3-4 times the strength that other antibiotics are normally used at (1 : 100,000 or 10ppm I think) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feelers Posted March 15, 2006 Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 Vodka should be just pure ethanol (well with water). Unless you use the really cheap crappy stuff, which might have sugar (it will say this on the bottle though). The directions are for 40% ethanol /vodka, so adjust accordingly depending on what you get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanksman Posted March 16, 2006 Report Share Posted March 16, 2006 So as a carbon source would vodka also help plants grow like CO2? Worth a little ova a shot a week allright . I suppose that depends on how much water your treating! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMAZONIAN Posted March 16, 2006 Report Share Posted March 16, 2006 If you have the dreaded "Blue/Green" algae "cyanobacter" you have problem, and the cause has to be remedied BEFORE the cure is administered. Overfeeding, too much detritus on the tank floor, too much sun light, are all good aggravators to encourage the dreaded Blue/Green. As the Name implies it is a bacteria, and is Very Successfully treated with erethromycin in a couple of days. In even ends up looking like it's gone; but short of redosing after three days, IT WILL COME BACK. Your local pharmacist would probably be more than willing to let you have a couple of capsules....400mg, but make him aware that you want the capsules that you can pull apart. Pull ONE capsule apart and add it to 1/2 Litre of waterand sitr to dissolve then add it to a tank of up to 100Litres. TURN OFF ALL FILTRATION, but you can use an airstone or your hand to stir it through the tank. Leave it for three days and then redose exactly the same. At the end of the second dosing you can turn the filters back on again. Good Luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanksman Posted March 16, 2006 Report Share Posted March 16, 2006 TURN OFF ALL FILTRATION, but you can use an airstone or your hand to stir it through the tank. Leave it for three days and then redose exactly the same. At the end of the second dosing you can turn the filters back on again. Is that 6 days with your filter turned off? - it's gunna be dead then isn't it? May as well take any carbon out and leave it going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 16, 2006 Report Share Posted March 16, 2006 It does not necessarily come back. I got mine after adding some infected plants to the tank. Nothing I did worked until using erythromycin. That worked well and, as you will have noticed at the meeting since you were sitting next to the tank, it has not returned. It was dosed over 12 months ago. My pills were tablets, not capsules, and dissolved slowly in a small amount of water. I did not turn the filters off either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted March 16, 2006 Report Share Posted March 16, 2006 Small doses of hydrogen peroxide will often do the trick, but I have to admit I burned up some plant last time by adding too much, too quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMAZONIAN Posted March 16, 2006 Report Share Posted March 16, 2006 Drugs work in ways that the uninitiated dont know about or understand. They will work against some bacteria or viruses but not others in the same area. Carbon only "Strips" the smell and heavy ions from the water in a tank. It will not neccesarily strip out a drug. I suggest to people that when buying new plant that they quarantine it for a few days in a bath containing a small dose of "FORMALIN" this seems to work well by killing any snails that are present and also any obnoxious algaes that would be introduced to your tanks. That is "MY METHOD" and it works for me so I'll keep using it. You may choose to try it as well, it's up to you. From the conversation, I gathered that the Blue/Green appeared by itself. That is caused by a problem within the tank, not external forces. The cause of the problem must be remedied before any success at elliminating the bacteria will be effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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