Pimafix
Contents
About Pimafix[edit]
Pimafix is a commercial antifungal and antibacterial product made by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (API)
The company claims "Treats fungal infections and both internal and external bacterial infections. Will not adversely affect the biological filter, alter the pH, or discolor water. Safe for reef aquariums and live plants. For use in fresh or salt water. PimaFix has been formulated to work in combination with Melafix to enhance effectiveness against fish diseases."
PimaFix contains active ingredient 1.0% Pimenta racemosa (Bay or Bay Rum oil), water and an emulsifier (<5%) to blend the oil into the water.[1] According to the US patent office the bay oil is “selected from the group consisting of Pimenta racemosa and Pimenta dioica”[2]. Common names bay rum tree[3] and allspice[4] respectively.
Dosage[edit]
Use 5ml for every 40l of aquarium water. Repeat dose daily for 7 days folowed by a 25% water change or until problem has gone.
Notes[edit]
- See Melafix.
The use of PimaFix or MelaFix may cause a bacteria bloom (some bacteria feed on the oil) which can cause depletion of oxygen in the water and so seriously stress already ill fish.
So it is prudent to increase aeration of the water during treatment. Read article 'Melafix and Pimafix - How They Work and Don't Work' below for more detail.
API says that this product only kills certain species of bacteria and fungus. So at best this product could be said to be a 'weak' antifungal and antibacterial treatment. If you need a stronger treatment see the fungus article for alternatives.
Pimenta racemosa is reported to have antibacterial properties against such pathogens as e. coli[5]. It also kills Ae. aegypti and Cx. pipiens pallens (mosquito) larva in low concentrations[6].
References[edit]
- ↑ Product MSDS - English API 9 Nov 2005
- ↑ United States Patent 6,537,591 25 March 2003
- ↑ PLANTS Profile for Pimenta racemosa (Mill.) J.W. Moore bayrumtree USDA
- ↑ PLANTS Profile for Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. Allspice USDA
- ↑ Sara A. Burt and Robert D. Reinders (2003) Antibacterial activity of selected plant essential oils against Escherichia coli O157:H7 Letters in Applied Microbiology Department of Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands 36: 162–167
- ↑ LEE Hoi-Seon “Mosquito larvicidal activity of aromatic medicinal plant oils against Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens pallens” Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association vol. 22, no2 (2006): pp. 292-295