Natural Remedies

[Melody]

Here we will have a collection of natural remedies. If you have any to contribute, please feel free to post.

Thank you!

[Melody]

Usnea Lichen, Usnic Acid Aquarium Treatment
By Carl Strohmeyer (http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Carl_Strohmeyer)



Basics;

Usnea is a lichen of the family Parmeliaceae that grows in damp temperate woodlands and contains usnic acid. I have found it effective for bacterial (gram negative and positive), fungal and even parasites such ich. A natural antibiotic it has also proven effective against gram positive bacteria, such Mycobacterium tuberculosis (making usnea a great alternative to Isoniazid). Scientists believe that usnic acid works by disrupting cellular metabolism, either by preventing the formation of ATP which is the cells' energy source or by the stopping the action of oxidative phosphorylization. Usnea may also be a better choice than the drug metronidazole (as per human studies) for parasites and anaerobic bacterial treatments in aquariums. Usnea shows promise in the treatment of Hole in the Head in cichlids, especially when combined with seperate methylene blue baths.

More information about Usnea;

Test tube studies have suggested an anti-cancer and an anti-viral activity for usnic acid. This may also make Usnea useful for the hard to treat aquatic viral disease; Lymphocystis (which is usually not fatal in otherwise healthy fish).

Symptoms of Lymphocystis:

* Whitish patches or irregular growths on the fish most commonly on the tail and fins.
* These eventually become quite large and give rise to the name Cauliflower Disease.

This remedy is still in the testing phase, but early results are promising. The Usnea Lichen is proving to be the most effective natural remedy early in my testing. This lichen is boiled like a tea then added to the aquarium. The only dangers that have been established (in human studies) is in rare cases liver damage, which would make this a poor choice for dropsy.

Application:

I boil one small sprig in 6 oz. of water and add this to every 10-20 gallons of water every day until cure is effective +2 days.

By Carl Strohmeyer
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Medication.html
http://groups.msn.com/EverythingAquatic/
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Carl_Strohmeyer

[Melody]

I have heard various versions of this one but the following version is most consistently recommended:

1 Litre of boiled water, cooled
1/4 Ounce 100% pure Tea Tree Oil
Mix well
Keep in a cool place.

I purchased my Tea Tree Oil at Safeway. Its made by a BC company called Nutrivite (http://www.nutravite.com/nutravite-english/index.htm).

Please feel free to post other DIY Melafix 'recipes'. :smile:

[Melody]

I just found reference to a treatment for Ich that requires no salt or med's:

Temperature manipulation is also an effective way to control "Ich" in home aquariums. This technique is often not practical for commercial fish farms, but is advantageous for the hobbyist because expensive products do not have to be purchased and it is safer for some of the delicate species which are popular in community tanks. Water temperature can be gradually raised to 90°F, maintained there for 24 hours, and then gradually dropped to 70°F for 48 hours. The infective juveniles (tomites) will be killed while the water temperature is at 90°. When the temperature is dropped the adult organisms will fall off the fish and begin to reproduce. As the young begin to emerge 48 hours later, the temperature is again raised to 90°F, causing them to die. Repeating this process continuously (24 hours at 90° F followed by 48 hours at 70° F) for two weeks should control the disease. Cleaning the tank every second day will help remove cysts before they rupture and therefore help to prevent completion of the life cycle. If you decide to use temperature to control "Ich" in your home aquarium be sure that the type of fish in your tank can tolerate the temperature extremes involved.

~ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA006 (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA006)

You can also do a tank dance in which you keep move the infected fish from one tank to another until all of the Ich is gone, but that also has a stress downside.

Although technically an additive, personally I believe that using Aquarium Salt to treat Ich is the most effective and least stressful method, supposing all of your tank occupants tolerate Aquarium Salt well.

[blainep]

Added from another thread:

i could be wrong but i think i remember reading that corys and pleco's - any fish with skin rather than scales don't tolerate salt well - it burns their skin.
Please someone jump in if i'm wrong.

Correct, but if the level of salt is kept down to about 1 tablespoon to 5 gallons of water, it is enough to kill off ICH but shouldn't be enough to irritate scaleless fish.

Edit (Melody) - From the University of Florida's 'Freshwater Fish Parasites' (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=310) article:
Salt
Dip - 3%, Duration is species dependent.
Short-term Bath - 1%, 30 min to 1 hr, species dependent
Prolonged (indefinite) Immersion - 0.02--0.2%

[Melody]

I am sure you've seen various water conditioners which boast Aloe Vera as an additive. Aloe is one of the oldest remedies/treatments and apparently it has been tested & proven to be beneficial for fish.

Aloe Vera has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. These properties aid in healing and also treat inflammations, so its worth exploring.

Use pure Aloe Vera only. Measurements I can't help you with - I haven't tested it long enough and of course, I can only test it on so many species anyway. Use it at your own risk, starting with small amounts to treat something that is non-life-threatening, such as a mild fungus or in your quarantine tank as a preventative. Where you take it from there is totally your own decision.

I'd love to hear reports/experiences with this or any of the 'home remedies' in your tanks, so feel free to post both bad and good results. Thanks!

[Melody]

The Use of Salt in Aquaculture {PDF} (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/VM/VM00700.pdf)

Salt has many uses in modern aquaculture. Although FDA has not approved the use of salt as a "drug" to treat fish, the agency has designated salt as a compound of "low regulatory priority." Salt is inexpensive, readily available, and, when properly administered, safe for use in freshwater fish. Therapeutic uses for salt include parasite control, osmoregulatory stabilization, mucus production, and alleviation of methemoglobinemia in freshwater fish. Salt concentration should be based on intended use, duration of exposure, and tolerance of the species to be treated.

This thorough article regarding the use of aquarium salt in aquaculture includes treatment details, doseage and applications including parasites, shipping, and the treatment of nitrite poisoning.

In regards to theraputic use, the article cautions against using salt with some species:

Most fish can tolerate prolonged exposure to salt at these concentrations; however, tetras and fish that navigate by electrical field (e.g., elephant nose) should not be maintained in salt.

[Gobies et al]

I have found Potassium permanganate to be a useful tool in for the management of bacteria and external parasites. It has the advantages of bleach but is readily neutralized without the lingering chlorine! I would disinfect my lined pond with it as part of my spring cleaning before filling and restocking. It also came in handy when the large Koi became itchy and were starting to jump. One carefully administered dip treatment and all was well.

My main frustration was having to hunt for the research material before each use to confirm doses. The information was out there, but scattered.

The common uses and doses for Potassium permanganate are in the attached file. Use carefully!

[Melody]

Very well done! Thanks so much for sharing your research. :notworthy:

[jewels]

I have heard various versions of this one but the following version is most consistently recommended:

1 Litre of boiled water, cooled
1/4 Ounce 100% pure Tea Tree Oil
Mix well
Keep in a cool place.

I purchased my Tea Tree Oil at Safeway. Its made by a BC company called Nutrivite (http://www.nutravite.com/nutravite-english/index.htm).

Please feel free to post other DIY Melafix 'recipes'. :smile:

Is this to be used @ the same dosage as the store bought Melafix?

I have used -
Thursdays Plantation© - 100% pure Tea tree oil
Guaranteed 36% Terpinen-4-ol sourced from Melaleuca alternifolia

I have used one drop/day in a 20 gallon with only positive effects
The store bought is 1% by volume
I need a mathamagician to establish the concentration.

[Melody]

To be on the safe side, you can mix it just like Melafix does (9.23g/Litre) and then dose accordingly. I add it directly too but I've added too much before and they didn't like it - I did a waterchange as their behaviour seemed off. A little goes a long way with this stuff. Remember to take breaks from it so you don't produce resistant bacteria.