Melafix = Tea tree oil?

Cichmagnet

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Oct 30, 2002, 4:27:58 AM10/30/02

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I can't find melafix here. I was thinking that if the active ingredient is
tea tree oil, that I could figure out the dilution and just add "human" tea
tree oil to my tank if I get minor infection problems.

Anyone have a bottle of it laying around that says the amount of tea tree
oil in it? Are there other important ingredients in it (such as an ionizing
agent to enable it to mix with water better)? How much is supposed to be
used, and how long is the treatment used? Anyone think this is a terrible
idea?

Hunter

Dinky

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Oct 30, 2002, 8:12:16 AM10/30/02

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"Cichmagnet" <Hunter...@spam.me.not.hawaii.rr.com> wrote in message
news:yCNv9.51072$X9.15...@twister.socal.rr.com...
: I can't find melafix here. I was thinking that if the active ingredient is

:
Buy it online. The package says 1%, but there is a long number after it,
indicating to me that there are prolly many different types of Melaleuca, and
making medicine for you fish doesn't seem wise. I typed "Melafix" into google
and got tons of hits for buying it mail-order.

Eric Hanson

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Oct 30, 2002, 2:41:50 PM10/30/02

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I have a 64oz bottle of MelaFix for ponds that Aquarium
Pharmaceuticals produces. The label describes MelaFix as using "the
antibacterial power of Melaleuca (Tea Tree) extract for the treatment
of bacterial infections."

It contains:
Melaceuca CAS# 8008-98-8 5.0%
Inert Ingredients 95.0%
TOTAL 100.0%

I am fairly certain that the pond version of MelaFix has a more
concentrated active ingredient (5.0%) than the normal home aquarium
version (1.0%).

This is all the information that I am able to give. The bottle label
does not indicate any other information that pertains to your
question. Good luck.

--
Eric Hanson

"Cichmagnet" <Hunter...@spam.me.not.hawaii.rr.com> wrote in message news:<yCNv9.51072$X9.15...@twister.socal.rr.com>...

Cichmagnet

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Oct 30, 2002, 3:31:14 PM10/30/02

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Thanks Eric! If you have it, what is the suggested rate of use per gallon
and the duration of treatment?

"Eric Hanson" <eha...@pobox.com> wrote in message
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Cichmagnet

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Oct 30, 2002, 3:36:03 PM10/30/02

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Thanks Dave. Yeah, the shake well instruction seems to indicate that it is
just the oil in water. Considering that it is patented, I imagine they
won't tell me what the exact ingredients are.

"Dave" <da...@spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:Xns92B754E2050F...@216.168.3.44...
> In news:yCNv9.51072$X9.15...@twister.socal.rr.com, "Cichmagnet"
> <Hunter...@spam.me.not.hawaii.rr.com> empowered us with this mighty
> blow against the Patriarchy:

> I found this but after scanning it am not sure how useful it is:
>
> http://www.aquariumpharmaceuticals.com/techref/aquarium/apb11.htm
>
> You could send an email to AP with your questions ... I usually get a
quick
> response from them.

Cichmagnet

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Oct 30, 2002, 3:43:13 PM10/30/02

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Yeah, I could buy it online. OTOH, shipping is a huge expense for me (to
Hawaii), and why would I if I can get it here way cheaper? It's like buying
Seachem's "Tanganyikan Buffer" vs. Baking soda to me. The manufacturers
want you to believe that you have to buy specialty aquarium products when
often it is a waste of money, IMO. I could use that money for more
fishtanks! I'll test it on some feeders once I figure out the mixture and
dosing instructions. I'll post the results for those interested.

"Dinky" <vince...@nospamattbi.com> wrote in message
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Velvet

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Oct 30, 2002, 4:15:34 PM10/30/02

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Be aware if you try this, that tea tree extract may not be tea tree oil.
Also, if it IS the oil, different suppliers of the oil will have different
degrees of purity. Some may have traces of pesticides, too.

Velvet

350X_Rider

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Oct 31, 2002, 1:40:34 PM10/31/02

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is there a MSDS for it? If there is, it'll list every single ingredient and
it's ratio... I think?

"Cichmagnet" <Hunter...@spam.me.not.hawaii.rr.com> wrote in message
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Cichmagnet

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Oct 31, 2002, 2:21:03 PM10/31/02

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MSDS?

"350X_Rider" <I_Dont...@so.com> wrote in message
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Victor M. Martinez

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Oct 31, 2002, 2:58:58 PM10/31/02

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Cichmagnet <Hunter...@spam.me.not.hawaii.rr.com> wrote:
>MSDS?

Material Safety Data Sheet
http://www.ilpi.com/msds/

--
Victor M. Martinez | The University of Texas at Austin
mar...@FAKE.che.utexas.edu | Department of Chemical Engineering
http://www.che.utexas.edu/~martiv | Austin, TX 78712
If we knew what we were doing it would not be called research, would it?

Eric Hanson

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Nov 1, 2002, 12:46:39 AM11/1/02

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Cichmagnet,

Here are the instructions right off the bottle. Remember, this is for
the POND version...

=====Begin instructions=====
DIRECTIONS FOR USE: SHAKE WELL BEFORE USING. Remove activated carbon
and turn off UV and ozone-producing units during treatment period.

For Recent: wounds, fin damage, or infection: add one teaspoonful (5
ml) of MelaFix for every 50 U.S. gallons (190 L) or 1/4 cupful (60 ml)
for every 600 U.S. gallons (2,280 L) of pond water.

When treating an advanced or chronic infection: add two teaspoonfuls
(10 ml) of MelaFix for every 50 U.S. gallons (190 L) or 1/4 cupful (60
ml) for every 300 U.S. gallons (1,140 L) of pond water.

In both cases, dose daily for seven days. Treatment may be continued
if necessary.

When adding new fish to the pond, or when netting and handling fish:
add one teaspoonful (5 ml) of MelaFix for every 50 U.S. gallons (190
L) or 1/4 cupful (60 ml) for every 600 U.S. gallons (2,280 L) of pond
water. Repeat dose daily for 3 days.

NOTE: A slight foaming may occur during treatment.
=====End instructions=====

Once again, remember that this is for the POND version of MelaFix. The
active ingredient concentrations are different for the normal home
aquarium MelaFix.

--
Eric Hanson
http://www.pobox.com/~ehanson/aquaria.html

"Cichmagnet" <Hunter...@spam.me.not.hawaii.rr.com> wrote in message news:<mkXv9.223759$U7.63...@twister.socal.rr.com>...

brent

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Nov 4, 2002, 5:16:07 PM11/4/02

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"Cichmagnet" <Hunter...@spam.me.not.hawaii.rr.com> wrote in message

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The bubbles are another clue to the ingredients... Maybe there is some sort
of detergent to help emulsify the oil???

brent

Neil Winchell

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Nov 7, 2002, 4:33:59 PM11/7/02

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On Wed, 30 Oct 2002 20:36:03 GMT, "Cichmagnet"
<Hunter...@spam.me.not.hawaii.rr.com> wrote:

>Thanks Dave. Yeah, the shake well instruction seems to indicate that it is
>just the oil in water. Considering that it is patented, I imagine they
>won't tell me what the exact ingredients are.
>

If it's patented, you don't need to ask them what the ingredients are,
just look it up in the patent office website.

The side of the bottle tells us that it is U.S. Patent # 5882647, so
go to the search page below and read the complete details of the
product...

http://164.195.100.11/netahtml/srchnum.htm

Hope that helps

In case anybody can't stand the suspense, Melafix is composed of:

1% cajeput oil
1% emulsifier (Crovol PK-70 nonionic emulsifier)
0.2% defoamer (FG-10 by Dow Corning)
97.8% deionized water

An aqueous solution without emulsifier and defoamer can be used, but
the mixture must be shaken vigorously for 1-5 minutes first.

Neil

(don't bother replying to the email address included in the message
headers, it's bogus)

G. A. Christian Bilou

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Nov 7, 2002, 8:06:15 PM11/7/02

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I was under the impression that "Melafix" was so named because the
active/main ingredient was Melaleuca extract?

G. A. Christian Bilou

"Neil Winchell" <donteve...@yahoo.com> wrote in message

Will

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Nov 7, 2002, 8:42:23 PM11/7/02

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Google knows!

Cajeput is the common name for a Melaleuca species.

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_profile.cgi?symbol=MELI7

Will
--
ROT13 email address to reply. Or just use the NG.