When adding new fish to an already established aquarium, we recommend that you put the fish in a quarantine tank beforehand. This is because the new fish may carry parasites, even if they appear to be healthy, that may end up spreading to the rest of the community.
You can take a look at this guide to see how you can use API General Cure in a quarantine tank in order to prevent any infectious outbreak when adding new fish.
1. Before we begin, make sure that the quarantine tank if fully cycled. You should also make sure you have an air stone or filter to help aerate the water. Last but not least, you may also need to add a heater if your new fish prefer warmer waters.
2. Once you have the quarantine tank properly set up, you can then add your new fish to it.
3. After adding new fish, you can start dosing API General Cure.
In terms of dosage, you need to add 1 packet for every 10 gallons or 38 liters of tank water .
If you have bulk powder version of General Cure, then you need to add 5 mL for every 20 gallons or 75 liters.
To see how you can calculate your tank water volume and the recommended dosage amount, then you can take a look at this article.
4. API also suggests adding aquarium salt and/or Melafix.
Aquarium Salt will help lower the stress level of your new fish in addition to help maintain their salt level balance.
Melafix will take care of any secondary bacterial infections.
5. After dosing General Cure, the next step is to simply wait for 48 hours.
6. After 48 hours have passed, you need to re-dose API General Cure. The dosage amount is the same as before.
7. After adding General Cure to your tank for a second time, you then need to wait for 48 hours.
8. After waiting for 48 hours, you should be done using General Cure.
9. At this point, you can add the new fish to your community tank or keep them in quarantine to treat for other potential parasites.
If you want to add another medication in the same quarantine tank, then you need to do a major water change, add activated carbon and then wait for around a week in order to get rid of General Cure from the tank water first. Otherwise, combining different medication may cause the water to become toxic as well as other issues.