E.M. Erythromycin

[Gramazing]

I have decided to try this treatment for my tank as it's possible my zebra fish have a kind of Microsporidiosis (see my thread about Very Skinny Zebra Danio). I think I have another one that has it.

Has anyone else used this stuff? My concern is that the instructions say to remove filter cartridges from the tank. This makes sense as the activated carbon will take out the medication.

I have 2 concerns: 1. how do I keep the filter cartridges alive during that time (or do I even need to)and 2: won't I get an ammonia spike if I remove the filter cartridges? It takes 4 days for the treatment.

[BIO-Linist]

Open the cartridge and remove the carbon?

[Gramazing]

Of course I can take the carbon out but I'm worried about not having any carbon in there for 4 days. Wouldn't I lose a lot of bacteria? I have a Whisper 5 with two cartridges and when I change the carbon and rinse out a cartridge I only do one at a time so there is always one active cartridge. I would imagine that a cartridge with no carbon in it won't do very much besides mechanical filtration

Another question too: would it make sense for me to put the danios in another small tank and treat them there or should I treat the whole 55 gallon tank just in case the other fish might get it? If I do the 55 gallon tank I will need to get more of this stuff because it's one packet per gallon and I only have a 10 packet box, and you need 4 treatments.

[Crispy]

You should have some sort of sponge in your filter that holds the bacteria. Removing carbon isn't a big deal. If the sponge and the carbon are the same insert, then time for a better filter. Many people here do not use carbon at all (including myself) and have more biological filtration in our filters. It's the best way to go IME.

[Gramazing]

I have Bio Bag filters like the ones below. When I clean a cartridge I take one of the two out, open it and take the sleeve off and remove the carbon, rinse the whole thing in tank water, put in some more carbon, close it up and replace it. The bag itself is the mechanical filter I guess. It's just that everything I have read about the process has said that the majority of the bacteria live on the carbon because of its enormous surface area, so I am worried that if I take it out I will get an ammonia spike.

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[Wild Turkey]

Yes if the treatment takes four days, you will need a way to keep your bacteria alive outside of the tank during the treatment.

The best option by far is to put the fish in Q and then treat them there, dont treat the main tank at all.

If thats not an option, You could try running the filter on a bucket, and add ammonia to the bucket as needed (3-4ppm), but like you said your tank will probably have a mini cycle in that time.

I am actually about to use this med for killing cyano

[Gramazing]

I was considering putting the fish in a separate smaller tank and doing this, but now I'm wondering of the medication should be given to all my fish as a preventative measure.