fluconazole and algae

[karimwassef]

Does anyone know why or how fluc would eliminate algae?

I'm seeing multiple testimonials but I don't understand the underlying chemistry or biology...

[tmz]

I don't know why fluconase would have an effect on algae. It's a steroid for allergy relief, which works by reducing swelling in the nasal passages with variety of potential side effects. I'd be cautious about using it in a reef tank.
Do you have a link or two to any information onit's use in a reef tank; anecdotal or otherwise.?

[karimwassef]

Sure. I'll link a few:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2643810

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25149818&highlight=fluconazole#post25149818

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25144811&highlight=fluconazole#post25144811

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25143571&highlight=fluconazole#post25143571

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25125405&highlight=fluconazole#post25125405

And with dinos:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25127087&highlight=fluconazol+dinos#post25127087

Brown algae:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25130705&highlight=fluconazole#post25130705

[sde1500]

Pretty sure you mean fluconazole

As for how it works, from another source:
: How does Fluconazole work?
A: Fluconazole blocks the enzymatic pathway for the production of ergosterol. Ergosterol is essential for maintaining the cell wall integrity of plants. Ergosterol (ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol) is a sterol found in cell membranes of fungi and protozoa, serving many of the same functions that cholesterol serves in animal cells.

[karimwassef]

Here's the published content from one source:

https://www.payless-petproducts.com/site/mobile?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.payless-petproducts.com%2Ffluconazole200.html#2691

Fish Fluconazole (Fish Flucon)

Ingredients
200 mg Fluconazole

Fish Fluconazole is an antifungal medication used to treat topical and systemic fungal infections in fish. Is for use in aquariums for treatment of fungus susceptible to Fluconazole like Ichthyophonus hoferi and Saprolegnia fungus. There has been some success with the elimination of Bryopsis Algae .


Directions:

Add 1 pre-dissolved capsule ( 2 00 mg) into aquarium for every 10 gallons of water to be treated. Repeat every 24 hours for 5 consecutive days. It is suggested that a partial water change be made between treatments. Discontinue use if no improvement is noted after 5 days.

Costs $1 per pill per day for 5 days for 10 gallons. So 1000 gallons = $500 fix.

[karimwassef]

Pretty sure you mean fluconazole

As for how it works, from another source:
: How does Fluconazole work?
A: Fluconazole blocks the enzymatic pathway for the production of ergosterol. Ergosterol is essential for maintaining the cell wall integrity of plants. Ergosterol (ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol) is a sterol found in cell membranes of fungi and protozoa, serving many of the same functions that cholesterol serves in animal cells.

So it kills plants, algae, fungi and protozoa but no effect on corals or inverts?

[karimwassef]

Pretty sure you mean fluconazole

As for how it works, from another source:
: How does Fluconazole work?
A: Fluconazole blocks the enzymatic pathway for the production of ergosterol. Ergosterol is essential for maintaining the cell wall integrity of plants. Ergosterol (ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol) is a sterol found in cell membranes of fungi and protozoa, serving many of the same functions that cholesterol serves in animal cells.

Yes... misspelling on my part. Can a moderator fix it please :D

[Dan_P]

Do corals contain alga?

[karimwassef]

They contain dinos = zooxanthelle

Those are the farmers for the coral animal but corals also eat food directly.

But maybe being tucked away inside the corals protects the dinos?

[sde1500]

yea there are some huge threads out there with basically no one reporting adverse results for corals. Looking into trying it myself for some GHA my tank is happily cultivating.

[Kremis]

i treated my 28 gallon and 20 gallon frag tank both with tons of corals inverts fish etc and no loss. i did it to eliminate bryopsis. it didnt really do much for film algae and hair algae, but all bryopsis was gone in 5 days

[tmz]

There are actually two medications; fluconase for alergies and flucanozole for fungal infections. I'll let the op said fluconase.

[djbon]

FLUCANAZOLE works great on bryopsis. No side effect for me, and I didn't even did a WC for months after treatment.

[djbon]

There are actually two medications; fluconase for alergies and flucanozole for fungal infections. I'll let the op said fluconase.

Maybe it's a typo on OP title, as anything "nase" in my pharmacy are for allergies and flu as well.

[bertoni]

Spelling fixed. :) Fluconazole it is.

[FullBoreReefer]

I dosed my tank on 1/27/17. Wiped out the small bit of Bryopsis, and all my gha. Tank is looking great, full mixed reef with no issues to corals, inverts, fish, etc.

[karimwassef]

Spelling fixed. :) Fluconazole it is.

thanks!

[karimwassef]

So.. with no side effects and killing algae and protozoa ... this is the magic pill?

I'm not a believer in miracle pills, so something must give.

[Mrs. Music]

it is pretty much a miracle, but I think dealing with the die off presents challenges that need to be managed. I should have increased water changes and changing out carbon and phosguard. My sprigs of neomeris turned into a plague and then I had problems with dinos. Been reefing for 11 years and got dinos for the first time.

[karimwassef]

But aren't those also algae?

[BrandonFlorida]

I dosed my 180 gallon tank and I only run a skimmer and ATO. I had zero problems with any thing in my tank. everything survived and I even left it in the tank for 4 weeks.

I did do a water change after the four weeks and still no algae in my tank

[Ron Reefman]

Where are you guys getting Fluconazole? I find it's a prescription only med.

[karimwassef]

Pet medication for dogs

Found the fish version here

https://www.payless-petproducts.com/site/mobile?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.payless-petproducts.com%2Ffluconazole200.html#2691

[sde1500]

DFS sells some too

[Useful_Idiot]

It is a one time dose OP.
And I think it's one pill per 20 gallons for byropsis treatment but I'm not sure.
5 day dosing at 10 gallons per pill is for fungal infections in fish. There's a lot of info if read up some more.

[karimwassef]

Still silly expensive for big tanks... basically cost $ = tank volume / 2

No problem at 40 gallons...

I don't need it - just curious why and how it would work... and what it would work on.

[karimwassef]

Anyone reporting it working on anything else

[bertoni]

I don't remember it working on much besides claims for Bryopsis and hair algae.

[Ron Reefman]

Pet medication for dogs

Found the fish version here

https://www.payless-petproducts.com/site/mobile?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.payless-petproducts.com%2Ffluconazole200.html#2691

karimwassef, the link didn't work, but I got the idea. Thanks.:beer:

[karimwassef]

try this:

https://www.payless-petproducts.com/fluconazole200.html

you can also google "payless pet products" and search for fluconazole

[Ron Reefman]

Got it, thanks.