Handling medications

[Kodiak]

When I twist open those little capsules of medicants to add to our aquarium some of the powder gets on my fingers. Does it matter? Is it advisable to put your arm into treated water to reanchor plants? The directions on the boxes say: 'absorbed through skin'. People skin too?

Those box directions also say: 'twist open and add to tank water.' I've been adding it directly to the tank - and the fish keep trying to eat the powder before it dissolves. Is this a good thing? Should I put the powder into the filtration box on the back of the tank? Or should I be dissolving the stuff in water before adding to the tank?

[AquariumPro]

It depends on what medication you're talking about. The majority of fish medications are harmless to people unless ingested.

Unlike fish, we have a tough outer epidermis which prevents adsorption through the skin. I have never heard of any danger in handling fish medications, and no, in their diluted form in the aquarium, there is no danger.

The only truly dangerous fish medication, Chloramphenicol, was taken off the market years ago, and can now only be obtained through public aquaria and veterinarians. The other medication to look out for is Trichlorphon, which is a powerful anti-parasitic. It may be found in Paragon, Clout, Dyacide and other medications. You want to use caution handling that chemical.

Keep em out of the reach of children and wash your hands after use.

Happy fish keeping, and you may want to consider registering on this bulletin board. We don't give out personal info to anyone under any circumstances, and you'll have access to all of our forums.

[Kodiak]

Thanks very much for the great info. I will register as soon as I clear up an email overload problem. (I assume I've got to return an email to complete registration.)

[AquariumPro]

You're welcome, and no, you do not have to return an email to register. You pick your user name and password, and you should receive an email for confirmation.

[dan]

also remember that if you have 'new' carbon in your filtration it will remove your meds.
http://aquariumpros.com/ubb/frown.gif so dont change the carbon when you treat wth meds.

[Kodiak]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dan:
also remember that if you have 'new' carbon in your filtration it will remove your meds.
so dont change the carbon when you treat wth meds.

Thanks Dan,
I've heard carbon removes meds, and was told to filter with filters I'd removed the carbon from while medicating. I didn't know I could leave 'old' carbon in? How old is old enough to not be 'new'? If the carbon is 'old' enough to not remove meds, is it effective on anything else? Or are we talking 'should really be changed anyway'?