Garlic :)

[Reef_kid]

so i have read a lot of different threads on people feeding garlic to cure ick or other diseases.
im a immunology/microbiology major so thought it might shed some light on how garlic works in the reef for diseases treatment and fish health

garlic contains many medical properties

Ajoene (E-, and Z- 4,5,9-trithiadodeca-1,6,11-triene 9-oxide)
this is a chemical compound found in garlic
a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent and antioxidant

Allicine (2-propene-1-sulfinothioic acid S-2-propenyl ester)
this is a chemical in garlic that when you cut it up
an enzyme in the garlic alliinase cleaves allicine into a new product
alliin this is a powerful antimicrobial and anti fungal agent

when you feed the oils or garlic mush to your fish
these "oils" will be dispersed into the body of the fish
just like antibiotics we take

hope that sheds light on garlic and why it works


cheers dave

[Salmon King]

Are you saying garlic kills ick.I have talked to alot of marine biologists and your local pet stores. They all said it was not a cure for ick .What bugs me is when somebody new in this hobby takes advice from people to use garlic and loses there fish.Are you garlic people going to buy him a new one.

[Reef_kid]

you have to remember that marine biologists are trained in a very different aspect of science. though immunology and microbiology may over lap
dosnt mean that those marine biologists know anything about chemical compounds or the nature of chemicals in a immunological or microbiological view
garlic has many chemical compounds that are used in medicine
and to treat infections. you have to also note that just because a fish is covered in white dots dose not mean it has ick. could be many other microbial organisms. just like when we have a sore throat or cold may be a bacterial infection such as S. pyognes or could be a yeast infestation

garlic has anti microbial agents as well as antioxidants and anti fungals
most of the time these are for protection of the plant itself but serves a purpouse in another aspect of the world just happens that it works in the fish tank on some micoorganisms

so yes garlic does have antimicrobial effects

[Salmon King]

Are tou saying garlic kills ich

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Salmon King

Are tou saying garlic kills ich

Nobody is saying garlic kills ich Rob. We're saying somehow it removes an ich infestation when fed to afflicted fish. But yes, it certainly does work. I'm not sure why you're so opposed to that being possible.

[michika]

Originally Posted by Reef_kid

you have to remember that marine biologists are trained in a very different aspect of science. though immunology and microbiology may over lap
dosnt mean that those marine biologists know anything about chemical compounds or the nature of chemicals in a immunological or microbiological view
garlic has many chemical compounds that are used in medicine
and to treat infections. you have to also note that just because a fish is covered in white dots dose not mean it has ick. could be many other microbial organisms. just like when we have a sore throat or cold may be a bacterial infection such as S. pyognes or could be a yeast infestation

garlic has anti microbial agents as well as antioxidants and anti fungals
most of the time these are for protection of the plant itself but serves a purpouse in another aspect of the world just happens that it works in the fish tank on some micoorganisms

so yes garlic does have antimicrobial effects

Well put!

[digital-audiophile]

I've never lost a fish to ich and garlic has always been my "snake oil"

[Salmon King]

Hey Reef Kid arnt you a first year student.I wonder why fish stores and fish farms dont use garlic to get rid of there parasites.You know I resd about garlic 10 years ago how it would cure ich in reef tanks.I thought I should market it.I did do reaserch and found it was a wise tale.How come when I have grilled all the pet stores about wether garlic works the all say no. They have delt with more ick then you would see in a lifetime.As I say are you garlic people going to pay for somebody new to this hobby that loses there fish because they used garlic to kill there ick

[michika]

Originally Posted by Reef_kid

you have to also note that just because a fish is covered in white dots dose not mean it has ick.

Not all white dots on a fish are ich. White dots could be indicative of more illness then just ich.

[SeaShell]

Hey.... Garlic repells my husband... should work on other parasites too....

JUST KIDDING!!!!