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The use of antibiotics in aquariums
Most aquarists have some understanding of the nitrogen cycle in an aquarium. Fish create ammonia, and a series of oxidation processes are performed on the ammonia to create nitrate in the end state. The efficient performance of this process (commonly called the 'cycle') is critical to the health of aquarium fish. In the US, and in many other countries, antibiotics for aquariums is readily available over the counter at local fish stores and online retailers. The major problem arises when an aquarist identifies an illness. Most recognizable tropical fish illnesses are either bacterial or fungal. So, the diligent aquarist buys the antibiotic that appears to treat the symptom she is seeing and begins to treat the aquarium. Most antibiotics available are broad spectrum - they kill bacteria pretty indiscriminately. Including the bacteria that process ammonia. So, we have an already sick fish exposed to some powerful medicines. At the same time, we being to quickly degrade the quality of the water. Ammonia is no longer processed and begins to burn the tissues of the fish. Existing infections counter intuitively begin to worse after the start of treatment. The aquarist may use more medicines in a futile attempt to help the fish, which further harms the fish by exposing it to dangerous levels of medication. This scenario plays out hundreds of times a day across the world. It nearly always ends up with dead fish. So, how can that be avoided? It is true that fish sometimes do need to be treated with antibiotics. First, is to avoid the infection completely. Quarantine new fish for at least 2 weeks in a separate tank. This will prevent infections from the fish store and new fish from entering the primary aquarium. Second, ensure that you keep the environment the fish live in clean. This means not overstocking the tank, performing weekly water changes (10% to 50% depending on the situation) and ensuring the species of fish are compatible. Third, if you must treat a sick fish, move the fish to a quarantine or hospital tank. Treat the fish in quarantine. Typically, this is a much smaller tank that will allow you to perform large daily water changes to offset the ammonia build up. Alternatively, the QT can be a heavily planted tank with high lighting. The plants will quickly absorb any available ammonia or other nitrogen compounds. |
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May, 2012
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