Does over dosing a tank with Melafix have a negative effect on fish?

[arkmann]

Some of the inhabitants of my 100 gallon have cloudy eye. Well I'm not even sure if its cloudy eye but my NTT and my NGT's eyes have a white film over it. I assume the cause was poor water quality because I left my FX5 unplugged for a couple of days thus just having the two AC 110 on. I think the filtration was insufficient because I have an over-stocked tank. I noticed all this on Saturday and I immediately did a 50% water change and bumped up the temperature.

This morning, I dosed the 100 gallon with about 7 capfuls of the 8oz bottle of melafix. The temperature was around 88F. I was planning to do a 50% water change later today.

The deal is when I dosed the tank with Melafix, my fishes started breathing heavily. Although the Melafix label does say that it is safe even for the most sensitive fish, I'm afraid I may have over dosed the tank.

So what do you guys think? Does Melafix over-dosing have negative effects on fish? Am I being overly paranoid? I'm at work right now and I want to make sure that all my fish will be alive when I return later. I mainly have datnoids, a pbass, ff, and an arowana in the tank. They all seem hardy fishes but I'm not that knowledgeable with Melafix.

Thanks.

 

[chefjamesscott]

well ill share my experience

I have a 45g 5 side corner tank that I thought was 60g, I had some ick and fungus show up as I had just planted the tank and put the temp up and put ferts in(which started it all off since I overdosed the ferts)

Well the next day I notice my tank aint lookin so hot a few fish with ick and a couple with fungus and some fungus on the driftwood, I attribute it to the upped temp in the tank.

So I dose the tank for ick, never had this before so it's my first tank I have ever had to dose and first time with fungus too so I dose for that too. Did 2 days treatment of the tank and then they start to die. I went to the ac chat room and someone there knew the particular tank and they tell me its only 45g. I lost 75% of the fish in the tank and I chalk it up to over dosing the tank for sure, because at the end of the second day I did massive consistant water changes for the next 4 days and the remaining fish survived.

Moral of the story you don't need to up the temp for plants and medical treatments can be harmful if overdosed and water changes are all that.

I really hope your fish dont die as your stock definitely sounds nice

 

[knifegill]

Too much of anything is bad, and Melafix is supposed to 'stimulate slime coat production', which I assume means it's mildly irritating. Melafix is neutralized by light within 24 hours, so I'd just wait and let it work.

Did you turn the unplugged filter back on without cleaning it?

 

[BarroomHero]

Some of the inhabitants of my 100 gallon have cloudy eye. Well I'm not even sure if its cloudy eye but my NTT and my NGT's eyes have a white film over it. I assume the cause was poor water quality because I left my FX5 unplugged for a couple of days thus just having the two AC 110 on. I think the filtration was insufficient because I have an over-stocked tank. I noticed all this on Saturday and I immediately did a 50% water change and bumped up the temperature.

This morning, I dosed the 100 gallon with about 7 capfuls of the 8oz bottle of melafix. The temperature was around 88F. I was planning to do a 50% water change later today.

The deal is when I dosed the tank with Melafix, my fishes started breathing heavily. Although the Melafix label does say that it is safe even for the most sensitive fish, I'm afraid I may have over dosed the tank.

So what do you guys think? Does Melafix over-dosing have negative effects on fish? Am I being overly paranoid? I'm at work right now and I want to make sure that all my fish will be alive when I return later. I mainly have datnoids, a pbass, ff, and an arowana in the tank. They all seem hardy fishes but I'm not that knowledgeable with Melafix.

Thanks.

Meds can reduce the oxygen content of the water I believe, especially at that high of a temperature. Do you have an extra powerhead or anything that you could use to increase the aeration?

 

[arkmann]

well ill share my experience

I have a 45g 5 side corner tank that I thought was 60g, I had some ick and fungus show up as I had just planted the tank and put the temp up and put ferts in(which started it all off since I overdosed the ferts)

Well the next day I notice my tank aint lookin so hot a few fish with ick and a couple with fungus and some fungus on the driftwood, I attribute it to the upped temp in the tank.

So I dose the tank for ick, never had this before so it's my first tank I have ever had to dose and first time with fungus too so I dose for that too. Did 2 days treatment of the tank and then they start to die. I went to the ac chat room and someone there knew the particular tank and they tell me its only 45g. I lost 75% of the fish in the tank and I chalk it up to over dosing the tank for sure, because at the end of the second day I did massive consistant water changes for the next 4 days and the remaining fish survived.

Moral of the story you don't need to up the temp for plants and medical treatments can be harmful if overdosed and water changes are all that.

I really hope your fish dont die as your stock definitely sounds nice

Holy crap... I only dosed it this morning though and I am planning a 50% water change later tonight. Will a 12-hour period have the same effect in my tank? This makes me want to go home at lunch today and do a water change...

 

[arkmann]

Did you turn the unplugged filter back on without cleaning it?

Now that you mentioned it, yes I did....

Should I brace for your response?

 

[arkmann]

Should I go home and do a water change as soon as possible? Trust me when I say that you'd be crying if I lose one of my fishes...

 

[knifegill]

How long was the filter media sitting there rotting before it poisoned your tank? After 20 hours, the beneficial bacteria are dead and anaerobic decomposition begins. The toxic byproducts, if present, are now circulating through your tank. 90% water change recommended if this is the case.

added: My mom did the same thing, but I was able to stop her before turning it back on. It really reeked, though, and I'd think it would be hard to ignore an odor like that. So if it didn't stink too terribly, you can probably save your fish.

 

[irishfan]

^haha

 

[arkmann]

How long was the filter sitting there rotting before you poisoned your tank?

Ouch...

The filter was unplugged for a day, two at the most.