Aquarium Solutions/Hikari Ich X can be used to treat ich and other fish diseases. API Melafix can be used to treat fin rot and other bacterial infections. So, can you both of these products be added to your fish tank at the same time?
You can find out in this guide at Aquarium Blueprints.
Quick Summary
You should not Ich X and Melafix at the same time.
If you need to use both products, then we recommend using Ich X first. After treating your fish with Ich X, remove it from your tank water so that you can safely use Melafix afterwards.
What does Ich X treat?
Ich X uses formaldehyde, methanol and malachite green chloride to treat Ich, which is known as Ichthyophthiriasis in freshwater and Cryptocaryonaisis in saltwater. It can also be used for Saprolegniasas, Trichodiniasis and Velvet (which is also known as Gold Dust).
What does Melafix treat?
Melafix contains a tea tree extract with cajeput oil that will help repair damaged fins, open wounds and ulcers. It should also be helpful against eye cloud, pop eye, body slime fungus and mouth fungus.
Can you use Ich X and Melafix at the same time?
Aquarium Solutions/Hikari does not recommend using Ich X with Melafix or any other treatment solutions at the same time.
How to use Ich X and Melafix to treat your fish
If your fish is suffering from multiple issues simultaneously, then we recommend using Ich X first. After treating your fish with Ich-X, you can remove the treatment from your fish tank and then start adding Melafix.
For more specific instructions as to how you can use Ich X first and then Melafix, you can take the following steps:
1. Remove any carbon if you have it in your filtration system.
2. You can then dose 5 mL of Ich X for every 10 gallons (or 38 liters) of water in your fish tank.
3. Wait for 24 hours.
4. After 24 hours have passed since the previous dose, do a major water change of at least 33%.
For water changes, avoid using sulfur or sulfinite water conditioners like Seachem Prime if you are using tap water. Instead, you can use an Ich X compatible product like API Stress Coat.
5. You can then add another dose of Ich X (5 mL for every 10 gallons or 38 liters) to the aquarium.
6. You need to repeat steps 3, 4, and 5 until there are no visible signs of the disease you are trying to treat with Ich X.
7. After you see no signs of the disease, keep repeating steps 3, 4, and 5 for three more days to make sure that the infections don’t come back.
8. Once you are done with the Ich X treatment, try to remove as much as the solution from your fish tank as possible.
You can do so by doing water changes every day for several days. You can also add carbon to your filter and then wait for several days.
9. Once you remove Ich X from your fish tank, you can then start dosing Melafix.
Make sure you remove carbon from your filter if you used it previously to remove Ich X.
For Melafix, you need to add 5 mL for every 10 gallons or 38 liters in your fish tank.
10. Continue to add Melafix daily for 7 days.
11. After one week of dosing Melafix, you need to do a 25% water change.
Melafix should be compatible with all aquarium water conditioners.
12. If you still see visible signs of diseases that you are trying to treat, then you can continue adding Melafix daily and then do a 25% water change every 7th day until the sickness go away.
