I first used MelaFix following an outbreak of what appeared to be a bacterial infection in a 90-gallon aquarium containing assorted stony corals. The symptoms were a brown, jelly-like mucous covering the tissue of the corals and an associated lack of polyp extension. Two of the most heavily affected corals were two particular specimens of Turbinaria sp. One larger, convoluted Turbinaria was 90% covered with the slime. During the first 3 days of treatment the infection appeared to spread rapidly. After four days of treatment with MelaFix at recommended dosage there were no signs of improvement. Following the fifth day, the coral shed a mucous coat and revealed massive tissue necrosis over 40% of the coral. I performed a 25% water change on the tank and began treatment with MelaFix again. Two days into this second treatment the spread of the infection appeared to be arrested and the ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œjellyââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ had been shed completely. Five days into the second treatment the coral exhibited the first extension of polyps since the infection first appeared. At this point approximately 30% of the tissue was completely absent, but there was a distinct boundary between the skeletal areas and the perfectly healthy tissue. There was no evidence of any necrotic or even slightly unhealthy tissue. Twenty days after the initial infection, the coral exhibited full polyp extension. MelaFix was used once more at the 25-30 day period and after 40 days the coral had regenerated fresh tissue to cover all but perhaps 10% of the area that been destroyed. Polyp extension has been phenomenally robust.
The other specimen of Turbinaria recovered even more rapidly, looking completely normal only 20 days after the initial infection.
Two Trachyphyllia sp. and one Physogyra succumbed to the rapidly spreading disease within 48 hours of its first appearance (about the time of the first MelaFix dose.)
In conclusion, my extensive experience with maintaining stony coral aquaria in less-than-ideal retail environments led me to believe the affected corals had virtually zero chance of recovering from this disease. I can confirm there was a sudden halt to the rapid progress of the infection after the first dosing of MelaFix. I have never seen a disease arrested like this without the use of potentially toxic doses of antibiotics, Iodine, or other unnatural remedies. The speed of the healing and regeneration was nothing short of remarkable.
After this apparent success with MelaFix I decided to use it in a recovery and grow-out tank for propagated cuttings of Sinularia sp. While I have no concrete results regarding reduction of loss, the cuttings in the tank treated with MelaFix appear to heal and attach much quicker than those in the control tank.
My results have led me to plan to use MelaFix as a preventive medication in both my propagated coral grow-out systems and in quarantine systems for infection-prone corals such as Euphyllia sp which have poor tolerance of shipping stress.
[This message has been edited by Kirbster (edited 01-14-2000).]
The other specimen of Turbinaria recovered even more rapidly, looking completely normal only 20 days after the initial infection.
Two Trachyphyllia sp. and one Physogyra succumbed to the rapidly spreading disease within 48 hours of its first appearance (about the time of the first MelaFix dose.)
In conclusion, my extensive experience with maintaining stony coral aquaria in less-than-ideal retail environments led me to believe the affected corals had virtually zero chance of recovering from this disease. I can confirm there was a sudden halt to the rapid progress of the infection after the first dosing of MelaFix. I have never seen a disease arrested like this without the use of potentially toxic doses of antibiotics, Iodine, or other unnatural remedies. The speed of the healing and regeneration was nothing short of remarkable.
After this apparent success with MelaFix I decided to use it in a recovery and grow-out tank for propagated cuttings of Sinularia sp. While I have no concrete results regarding reduction of loss, the cuttings in the tank treated with MelaFix appear to heal and attach much quicker than those in the control tank.
My results have led me to plan to use MelaFix as a preventive medication in both my propagated coral grow-out systems and in quarantine systems for infection-prone corals such as Euphyllia sp which have poor tolerance of shipping stress.

[This message has been edited by Kirbster (edited 01-14-2000).]