Nitrofurazone... use, effect on nitrification   2/14/08
Looked all over your site for the answer?
<You did?>
let me start at the beginning, I've seen collectors using Nitrofurazone (yellow water) to store recently collected fish. In some cases I've heard of wholesalers using it to fend off disease.
<Yes... not uncommon with FW...>
Question
Is this a good idea to use constantly in a quarantine tanks for all new arrivals
<Mmm, not IMO/E>
Will it affect the biological filter? (a little) (a Lot)
Fred
<Furan compounds generally do not affect nitrification (directly), but can do so in established, closed (e.g. hobbyist) systems. Bob Fenner>

Furan compounds - 03/14/2005
I must ask one question if I may.  Where does one fine Nitrofuranace?  I have looked all over the internet and I would love to have some on hand just in case it is needed.  I didn't know you had a post until just now, and I am not sure how to post on it if/when need to ask for advice.
Thank you again.
Lesley
<Ahh, search for either Nitrofuran or Furanace... or even "Furan compounds".
Bob Fenner>

Anemonefishes and furans  9/30/05
hi, Bob :)
When you have a chance... do you recall mentioning in CMA or on WWM that Anemonefishes were sensitive to Furans?
<Mmm, no... as a matter of recent experience, saw new wild-arrival amphiprionines being treated with such at SDC... last week when I was
visiting with Karl, EricC... delivering NMA bks...>
Steve Pro pointed to a BB thread where someone recited it and drew flak for it.
<Mmm, I'll cc Steve here... am sans ref.s out in HI... but would check
Noga... BobF>
We are looking for sources/experiences to support it.
grazie!

Re: Anemonefishes and furans  9/30/05
Noga simply says that in general Nitrofurans are carcinogenic, genotoxic, and mutagenic.  Additionally, catfish, loaches, and other scaleless fishes
are sensitive, but nothing regarding Clownfishes specifically. I believe the questions came from this article, http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clownfis.htm
"C) Chemicals: Last and least. Be careful. Clown fish are like "canaries in a cave". They tend to be sensitive to the same toxins as their host
actinarians (anemones). Copper, other metal salts, organic or metallic dyes, furan compounds, and organophosphate pesticides all have deleterious to
disastrous effects. These substances in various formulations, comprise most of the "medicine treatments" available and used in our aquatics interest.
They do have some limited, appropriate applications in bare marine treatment tanks. 'Nuff said?"
<Mmmm, must have believed/read this at some point/place... do agree that Clowns shy on the more sensitive than average side (often related to
organisms that cross phyla in symbioses) of fishes... Am out in HI, or I'd try to find where I got this. Cheers, BobF>

Sick Gramma - Fin Rot & Black Smudge
My Royal Gramma was in quarantine for 10 days, when she developed a case of fin rot on her tail. I tried several medications before I found one that worked, which was Furan 2. I gradually dropped the salinity in her tank from 1.022 to 1.018, and I followed the procedures for treating the fish, and even gave her an extra treatment since her case was so severe (which was part of the instructions). After her treatment was over I did a 25% water change and added activated carbon to the filter (part of the instruction for using Furan 2). The next day her tail fin was getting worse again and she had developed an area black on her side, that looks like an ink smudge. It does NOT look like little dots, but rather a large blob or area. I added MelaFix to her tank to for the fin rot and have no idea what to do from here. 
1. Do I treat the black blob? 
<Improved water quality and nutrition... this is environmental/stress in origin>
2. Should I start using Furan 2 again, or have the bacteria built up a resistance to it?
<Doubtful... could re-use>
Thanks for your help,
Thresa 
<Bob Fenner> 

Mixing Furan compounds and copper
Is it safe to mix a Nitrofurazone/Furazolidone cocktail with copper in a quarantine tank?  <Sharon in my experience most antibiotics can be safely mixed with copper. I caution you about putting copper in with a tang for a very long time. MacL> thank you

Using Fungicides and Antibiotics Together (10/31/04)
Hello. <Hi. Steve Allen tonight.> A general question on antibiotics/fungicides. <Are we talking FW or SW here?> If a fish has what looks like fungus on top of a swollen or reddish looking tissue, should it be treated with BOTH a fungicide (Methylene blue maybe?) <Not really useful as a fungicide, at least, not in SW, which is my area. You need a real fungicide labeled as such.> AND an antibiotic? <Fungal infections are often secondarily infected with bacteria due to the tissue damage they do, so treating together would be wise if there is damage like you describe.> As for antibiotics, by reading your FAQs I see that there are many you recommend: Nitrofuranaces, Maracyn, Kanaplex, etc. - are any of them ok to use? <All have their uses, depending on which bacteria one is trying to treat. When uncertain, one must use a single broad-spectrum agent or complementary narrower spectrum agents to cover the range one needs to cover (gram-positive vs. gram-negative, etc.)> I realize that by the time I feel I might want to treat with 2 medications, it is far along for the fish. Do I immediately treat for fungus whenever I see it, and then hope the underlying cause of the fungus will take care of itself? (of course keeping watch on water parameters). <Best to treat the infection when noted and address possible contributory factors at the same time. All chemical treatment really ought to be done in a separate hospital/quarantine tank. Plenty of info on these in the FAQs.> Or do I actively treat for both bacteria and fungus? <If there is an open, raw-looking wound, then bacterial infection is probable.> Lastly, can you recommend a book that deals with freshwater disease and includes LOTS of pictures, so I can read up and thus not panic when it actually occurs? <I really like The Manual of Fish Health, by Dr. Chris Andrews, available at Amazon for $17.46.> Confused and grateful for any response, Miriam Bender <Hope this helps.>

Mixing medications
Hello WWM crew-
I have 2 yellow tangs in a QT tank that I am treating with Cupramine. One tang has velvet and the other a red blotchy rash on a portion of his
body/fins.  I am doing daily freshwater/Methylene blue dips for 5 min., and vacuuming the bottom daily for a 10% water change.  The temp is 81 degree's
and the Spg is 1.018. Is it possible to treat the tank with  Nitrofurazone and Furazolidone (Furan-2) while treating with copper?  Any help is appreciated.  -Chris
<Umm, I would not mix the furan compounds, or use either of them for velvet. I suggest you look into adding Formalin to the baths/treatment along with the copper. Bob Fenner>

Re: Mixing medications
Hello WWM crew-
I have 2 yellow tangs in a QT tank that I am treating with Cupramine. One tang has velvet and the other a red blotchy rash on a portion of his
body/fins.  
<Egads!>
I am doing daily freshwater/Methylene blue dips for 5 min., and vacuuming the bottom daily for a 10% water change.  The temp is 81 degree's and the Spg is 1.018. Is it possible to treat the tank with  Nitrofurazone and Furazolidone (Furan-2) while treating with copper?
<Should be okay but I would be worried about all of these medications combined with Methylene/freshwater dips. Seems awful stressful to the fishes.  Are you sure this is needed? Have you checked our disease files at WetWebMedia?>
Any help is appreciated.  -Chris
<David Dowless>