Epsom Salt Dosing

[dartspi]

Hello all. I want to apologize up front if I am being redundant in this forum. I have searched for my topic and have only been mildly successful.

I have developed what I believe is a bacterial outbreak in my 20 gallon tank with 2 pair of apisto's. I am treating with E.M. Erythoromycin per the advice of my local and trusted Tropical Fish Hobbyist / Expert. He also indicated adding Epsom Salt. I have seen two doses,

1) 1 Tbsp per 5 gallons
or
2)1 Tbsp per 10 gallons

I would appreciate any feedback.

Thank you in advance,

dartspi

 

[Mike Wise]

Without knowing what the bacterial outbreak it really is, it's hard to say what to do. I will say this. Erythromycin is a gram-positive antibiotic and the vast majority of bacterial diseases in fish are from gram-negative bacteria. EM has almost no effect on them. Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulfate) will increase the hardness of the water considerably; not something you want to do to soft water fish.