API has two similar products with Melafix and Pimafix. So, can you use both of these treatments together to help your sick fish recover?
You can find out in this guide at Aquarium Blueprints.
Can you use Melafix and Pimafix at the same time?
Melafix comes with an anti-bacterial mixture that contains 1% Melaleuca while the anti-fungal Pimafix comes with a mixture that has 1% Pimenta Racemasa.
For the most part, these solutions treat the same sickness as both can be used for the following:
- Fin Rot
- Tail Rot
- Dropsy
- Malawi Bloat
- Bacterial Hemorrhagic Septicemia
- Eye Cloud
- Cloudy Body Slime
- Open Red Sores
- Mouth Fungus
- Saddleback Disease
According to API, Melafix and Pimafix can be used at the same time without any issues. In fact, dosing both simultaneously is recommended if you want to get rid of subclinical parasitic infestations.
How to use Melafix and Pimafix simultaneously
Based on the official instructions, you need to do a water change after the 7th day of continuous dosing for both Melafix and Pimafix.
Therefore, we recommend that you start dosing both on the same day if you plan on using these products simultaneously as the water change schedules will align. Otherwise, doing more than one water change per week during the treatment process for either Melafix or Pimafix will cause the solutions to be less effective when it comes to treating the aforementioned diseases.
For a more specific instruction, you can try taking the following steps:
1. Before you begin, it is very important that you remove any carbon media from your filter. Otherwise, these will suck up the Melaleuca and Pimenta Racemasa, making both less effective when it comes to treating your fish.
2. To start the treatment, you need to dose Melafix and Pimafix.
For Melafix, you need to add 5 mL for every 10 gallons or 38 liters in your aquarium.
With Pimafix, you also need to add 5 mL for 10 gallons or 38 liters in your fish tank.
To see how you can calculate the dosages for both treatments, you can take a look at this article for Melafix as well as this post for Pimafix.
These two products come with a cap that also double as a measuring cup if you need help measuring the recommended dosage amount.
3. Continue to add both treatments to your tank for at least 6 more days.
4. After 7 days have passed since you started dosing Melafix together with Pimafix, you need to do a 25% water change.
If you are adding tap water back into the tank, it is very important that you add a water conditioner so that chlorine and chloramine won’t harm your fish and the beneficial bacteria in your tank.
5. Keep adding Melafix and Pimafix daily until you no longer see any visible signs of the disease you are trying to treat. After every 7th day of dosage, you should also keep doing a 25% water change.
6. Once you no longer see any signs of sickness, you can stop dosing Melafix and Pimafix.
7. Both of these treatments will be removed from your tank water over time with water changes. To speed up this process, you can try doing bigger and/or more frequent changes.
8. We also recommend adding carbon in your fish tank to remove any remnants of Melafix and Pimafix.
