22. Medication and Treatment

While medication and treatment are important, we cannot stress the importance of purchasing your fish from a reputable dealer, observing fish carefully at regular intervals, and testing your water frequently for problems. By doing this, you will start your pond off on the right foot by introducing them as healthy as they can be. There are times, however, that medication and treatment are necessary in helping them to recover, whether it be from injury, bacteria, or contaminants. Below is a medications that we carry and recommend in order to get your fish back on a healthy path, and hopefully save their lives and the rest of your livestock.

AquaLife Kanamycin

Kanamycin effective against red streaks in fins, hemorrhaging, dropsy, fin and tail rot, inflamed gills, skin ulcers, and some fungal infestations. It can be used in small ponds but treatment in a quarantine tank is best. Dose Kanamycin at 1/4 teaspoon Kanamycin per 20 gallons of water. Treat every 24 hours with a 25% water change before each treatment. Continue to feed medicated food. Treat for 5 to 7 days.

AquaLife Kanamycin Sulfate, treats 200 gallons
AquaLife Kanamycin Sulfate, treats 1000 gallons

AquaLife Praziquantel

Effective against external parasites, flukes, flatworms, Turbellaria, and tapeworms. Can be used in fresh or saltwater. Product is much safer than other anti-parasitic medications. Do not stop filtration, but remove activated carbon and stop foam-fractionation (protein skimming) and UV sterilization. Any water used should first be conditioned with AquaLife Complete Water Conditioner. Repeat as necessary, but no more than once every 3 to 5 days. May be used as a preventative, at the standard dosage, when disease is likely. Do not use with other drugs or disease treatments. May cause temporary foaming. Non-toxic to commonly kept aquarium animals or plants. Freshwater or saltwater use.

AquaLife Praziquantel, treats 250 gallons
AquaLife Praziquantel, treats 2000 gallons

AquaLife Nitrofurazone

Nitrofurazone is the medication and treatment of choice for advanced ulcer disease in Koi, goldfish and other pond fish. Treats red areas and body streaks, body slime, open ulcers, wasting away, bacterial infections, and ammonia exposure. Ideally, treatment should be carried out in a separate tank. Standard dosage is one capsule per 10 gallons of water every other day for 3 to 5 treatments. Continue to feed medicated food. Repeat the full treatment after 3 days if necessary.

AquaLife Nitrofurazone, treats 200 gallons
AquaLife Nitrofurazone, treats 1000 gallons

Pond Salt

Use AquaLife Aquarium Pond Salt to maintain good electrolyte balance. It promotes general fish health and to inhibit disease, while acting as a medication and treatment for the livestock in your pond. Electrolytes facilitate oxygen uptake and the release of carbon dioxide and ammonia through the gills. AquaLife Aquarium Salt contains the proper balance of electrolytes to maintain healthy gill function. Salt added to the aquarium reduces the effort the fish must expend in eliminating excess water from their tissues. The saved energy from eliminating excess water is then available for use by the fish’s immune system to take care of other potential problems. Salt also affects the internal fluids of some pathogens that cause fish disease by disrupting the organism’s internal pressure and reducing its ability to complete its disease cycle. The presence of salt also helps counteract any nitrite toxicity.

AquaLife Pond Salt 10 lb. bag with seal
AquaLife Pond Salt 20 lb. bag with seal

We cannot be responsible for fish loss due to treatments outlined on this site. We encourage you to buy healthy livestock from reputable dealers, observe fish carefully at regular intervals
and test your water frequently for problems.

•• Prevention is always your first line of defense against disease. ••