API Melafix

[wantsummora acropora]

I recently purchased a powder blue tang in bad shape. After a week his dorsal fin had two full length tears. I bought melafix which touted several benefits including fin rot. I don’t know how it works but both tears were healed in 24hours. The powder blue tang is healed up and putting on weight. That is the good part. The bad part is i cannot tune my skimmer. I’ve done a bigger water change than suggested and still no luck. On top of that the main ingredient, tea tree oil, does not go away. I’m making more water for a major water change. I would use this product again but not really happy with the extra water i have to make and the residual odor.

 

[siege]

1. Add new, washed activated carbon in your filter system, replace every few days until smell subsides.
2. Consider adding Purigen if not already in use for organic compounds.
3. Add a polyfilter pad in the sump or a high-flow area - these are really good at pulling out oils.
4. Clean your skimmer THOROUGHLY - it is assuredly coated in oil now. I would suggest vinegar, as it is good at breaking down oils and washes away cleanly with no residue.
   1. After cleaning, keep it running, even if it overflows or produces excessive foam, but go ahead and run it at a lower airflow to prevent flooding. Let it do its job as best as it can.
5. Do more small water changes, not big ones. Maybe 10% - 20% a day.
6. Add a surface skimmer if you don't already have something doing the job (I'm guessing you do, but worth mentioning).
7. Tea tree oil can interfere with oxygen levels in the water: add an air stone temporarily to promote gas exchange and reduce odor - though this may cause other chemistry changes, like lower pH, depending on the amount of CO2 in the environment.
8. I probably don't have to tell you this, but, worth mentioning, go slow, and don't overreact. Any combination of these measures done thoughtfully should speed up the process of getting the crud out without harming the tank.