Treating Bacterial Infections in DT w/ antibiotics

[ROBONE20]

Is it possible to treat my display tank with anti-biotics. I understand a separate QT is best, but does anyone have experience doing this with good results?

The infections I'm dealing with stems from fin rot, septicemia, white patches on fins, and open sores. I don't have a QT big enough to house all my fish in, but it seems like most of my fish are battling this right now. My DT is the only thing big enough to house them all right now.

I was planning on dosing with either Furan 2 or Triple Sulfa directly in my tank, but any thoughts or recommendations? My tank is a 240 gallon FOWLR. I'm trying to avoid buying a new setup just to QT all my fish. I'd rather deal with dosing medications and conducting water changes...

 

[ROBONE20]

If I opted to treat my fish in a separate QT, what happens to the water in my DT? Would it still have "bad bacteria" in it that could get my fish re-infected? I'm just hoping that if I treat my fish back to 100% (in a QT) and then added them back into my DT, would they be getting bacterial infections again? Or would I have to treat my DT with something? Thanks in advanced...

 

[ROBONE20]

Still no response, huh? SMH...
I guess it's a dumb question.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

No, not a dumb question just complicated. Depending upon the severity and virulence of the bacteria there are a gammet of possibilities. It can range from draining and sterilizing the tank to doing several water changes. Treating and dosing the main is not recommended due to killing the nitrifying bacteria and properly diagnosing the bacteria (gram negative vs gram positive) can prove very difficult and very expensive especially in your case (240 gallons).
My recommendation is to put all the fish in a QT and treat with antibiotics. Get the fish very healthy by feeding vitamin enriched food and keeping stress down. In the mean time perform lots of water changes on the main. If you have a UV sterilizer use it. Once they are introduced back into the main they should be able to fight off what little bacteria , if any, that is in the main.

 

[ROBONE20]

Thanks for your reply Newsmyrna80. Really appreciate it. I'll start setting up a separate QT and go from there. But in the mean time I'll start conducting several water changes in the DT to improve water quality. I have started dosing Selcon and Zoe on the fish food, and the fish seem to respond well. Not as lethargic. I don't have a UV sterilizer, but I've been wanting to get one for the longest time. Now would be the perfect time to invest in one. I'll cross my fingers and hope the infections don't get much worse until I get the QT up and running. Thanks again!

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Glad to be of service