penicillin and water changes: when to add more?

[REEF-n-Chicago]

I am dosing penicillin in a 20 gallon hospital tank. Directions say to dose it every other day.
My question is if I do a 5 or 10 gallon water change do I still wait to add the penicillin or add one more tablet?
Doing the water changes often to keep the nitrates at 0.
I am battling a kidney infection. Any help is appreciated. Just do not want to add to much or to little

 

[billsreef]

Penicillin is a pretty worthless antibiotic for fish. The vast majority of bacterial problems in fish are gram negative, penicillin is only effective on gram positive bacteria. Additionally it is not particularly well dissolved or absorbed by fish. You'd be better off switching to either Nitrofuran, Kanamycin, or Mardels Maracyn 2.

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

I did not know that... well that is to bad I will do some penicillin research.
Do you have a favorite from the medicines you listed?
I was told it was a bacterical infection (red around fins) does this sound correct? Is this a gram negative bacteria?

Don't want to treat him for the wrong thing!

Jordan

 

[billsreef]

Redness around the fins could be bacterial or water quality related, sometimes both. First thing to do is test your water for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH and alkalinity. Of the three antibiotics I mentioned, I usually go with nitrofuran as my first choice.

The only reason you see penicillin sold in the LFS is because it sells. Only reason it sells is that everyone has heard of it so they buy it when they don't know better.

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

Thanks for the penicillin info. I had heard "great things" about it
I have checked my water and everything is 0 and PH is 8.4.
I have been doing water changes everyday. That is why I was wondering how often to add medication if I am changing so much water.

Jordan

 

[billsreef]

Do a full dose after water changes

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

even if I are changing the water everyday?

 

[billsreef]

Yup, most meds suggest daily water changes

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

Thanks for the insight It is nice to have some medication info for future reference as well.