My Experience with Bactocide 1

[For100]

Quick summary,

Sunday
- Bought 4 new fish from the same “breeder” at a Houston store.
- 30G tank was cycled with water from display tank and few Corys, temp 83/84F
- Fish showed signs of cross contamination within 24hrs after I placed them in QT tank, Sunday morning.
- Started Bactocide 1 + salt (1 tbsp / 5G) on Sunday morning. First lesson learned, instructions and description are very generic, no active ingredient and reference to side effects, etc.

Monday
- Big water change in the morning, 24hrs after first dose, found 1 dead cory and I did not make much of a deal out of it.
- Fish looked lethargic, clamped fins, heavy slime coat and patches, etc. Some at the surface, one at the bottom.
- Found second cory dead early afternoon, raised a red flag immediately. Tested for NH4 and NO2 as precaution, both came above zero. Added prime and 70% water change. Second lesson learned, there is not reference in the instructions but it kills biological filter quickly.
- Kept same dose of salt and bactocide 1, started water testing and two >60% water changes daily, early morning and late evening. NO2 close to zero and NH4 below 1ppm
- Lower the water level to help fish laying at the bottom of the tank.

Tuesday/Wednesday
- No changes

Thursday
- Fish started to look better. Staying in the water column and moving around a bit.

Friday
- Fish acting more active and peaking order started. Not 100% out of the wood just yet because fish have not eaten yet and some slimecoat patches in one fish.

Overall, I think Bactocide 1 helps keep bacterial infections at bay but I did not see any magical effect after started using it. It took about 5 days to see some improvement.


Hope this helps.

[Willie]

Re: My Experience with Bactocide 1

This is an excellent reason to stay away from aquarium medication that does not at least label the active ingredients. I look for those that list the content of each ingredient as well.

Let's not encourage all the "magic elixirs" that plague this hobby.

[For100]

Re: My Experience with Bactocide 1

Don’t get me wrong, I am not promoting it.
Just happened to be an impulsive buy when I was picking up my fish and I wanted to share my experience using it for the first time (hope the last one too)


It is not a magic cure much less I would skip QT as claimed by others, but to be fair it helped me heal the cross contamination issue with the new fish.

[brewmaster15]

Re: My Experience with Bactocide 1

Freddy, Im with Willie.

How do you know that it helped? most cases of cross contamination resolve themselves with clean water and maybe some salt. Thats the role of an immune system.. Think about any cold or virus you have ever had. That it took 5 days to see an improvement falls in that window.
The only way to tell if these herbal remedies work is really in a lab setting. Not saying it does or doesnt work I have never used it and unless I see hard science I never will.

glad your fish are better though.

[bluelagoon]

Re: My Experience with Bactocide 1

Discus X a big discus exporter uses and sells that stuff and they claim it works. I have never used these plant remedies on fish but I have applied some on humans while I was a nurse from instructions from a Dr. for skin treatments like dandruff but I keep an open mind. When you live in a country where you can't get antibiotics, folks tend to use what they can get.

[brewmaster15]

Re: My Experience with Bactocide 1

When you live in a country where you can't get antibiotics, folks tend to use what they can get.

I can understand that... and desperate people are taken advantage of all the time.

Discus X a big discus exporter uses and sells that stuff and they claim it works

That Discus X is a big discus exporter and claims it works apparently is effective marketing...

I find it so odd that people will spend mega bucks on discus and yet use products that have no scientific testing behind them. It happens all the time. No offense meant Freddy, its a generalization on my part.

I guess my real question is why did you choose to use this product when you have access still to scientifically proven ones..

[For100]

Re: My Experience with Bactocide 1

Answering Al’s question, laziness on my part for not being prepared to bring new fish home. I bought it when I was there (impulsive buy) and I did not have anything else handy at the time. I started using it just because it was there.

Would I use it again? I don’t think so, it messed with my biological filter and recovery was not any faster than water changes and salt put together.
after seeing the medication first hand (just an observation), it is yellowish/brown powder.
I have a hunch it is a compound of acriflavine with other stuff, no scientific proof behind it.

[Willie]

Re: My Experience with Bactocide 1

All of us have done this. The learning usually happens after the first disaster.

[Argentum]

Hi everyone,

Amgad from DiscusX here – thanks again to Fred for the honest report and to all for the thoughtful discussion.

A few points I'd like to address directly:

1. Scientific backing Every ingredient in Bactocide 1 (Usnea lichen, Terminalia catappa, gingerols, Echinacea purpurea, + supporting phytochemicals) has peer-reviewed studies showing antibacterial, antifungal, and immune-support properties in fish and other animals. We didn't just mix random plants – this formulation came from years of controlled trials on Discus at our farm. We tested combinations, dosages, and synergies specifically for ornamental fish health. The result works where many traditional antibiotics now fail due to widespread resistance in the industry.
2. Proven results Until today, DiscusX has spent zero dollars on paid marketing. Every customer, every reorder, every testimonial came organically – from hobbyists and breeders sharing their real experiences. That growth doesn't happen by accident. It happens because the product consistently delivers when other options don't.
3. Our farm philosophy We run a completely medication-free breeding facility. No antibiotics, no routine treatments. Bactocide 1 was developed precisely to let us safely combine stock from multiple sources in one central system without outbreaks. It’s the tool that made our “no-med” model possible.
4. “Magic cure” claims We never use terms like “magic” or guarantee instant recovery. Results depend on infection stage, fish health, water quality, and proper protocol. Some users see dramatic improvement in 24–48 h (we have plenty of those reports), others take 5–7 days – exactly like Fred experienced. The important part: it works with the fish’s immune system, not against it.

Fred’s bio-filter issue is a perfect reminder: always use a hospital tank (bare-bottom, no bio-filter) for strong treatments. The red caution warning on every bottle is there for a reason, it clearly mentions that the product will partially or completely kill BB.

Full protocol + dosing guide available on our website.

Happy to answer any questions.

Best regards,
Amgad
Co-founder/MD
DiscusX

[bluelagoon]

That makes sense to me; if it kills the filter bacteria, it should kill other bacteria. Not all antibiotics even the correct one doesn't cure the disease in a lot of cases. Folks fork out a lot of money on antibiotics and sometimes won't work; that happens even in humans. One day soon when the States band antibiotics we'll begin to see who's using what for treatments besides salts and heat. We have known for a long time how powerful these plant tannins can be that are even found in the waters of the amazon. The only thing that I can find is malachite blue, formalin, methylene blue and plant extracts.

[brewmaster15]

Hi everyone,

Amgad from DiscusX here – thanks again to Fred for the honest report and to all for the thoughtful discussion.

A few points I'd like to address directly:

1. Scientific backing Every ingredient in Bactocide 1 (Usnea lichen, Terminalia catappa, gingerols, Echinacea purpurea, + supporting phytochemicals) has peer-reviewed studies showing antibacterial, antifungal, and immune-support properties in fish and other animals. We didn't just mix random plants – this formulation came from years of controlled trials on Discus at our farm. We tested combinations, dosages, and synergies specifically for ornamental fish health. The result works where many traditional antibiotics now fail due to widespread resistance in the industry.
2. Proven results Until today, DiscusX has spent zero dollars on paid marketing. Every customer, every reorder, every testimonial came organically – from hobbyists and breeders sharing their real experiences. That growth doesn't happen by accident. It happens because the product consistently delivers when other options don't.
3. Our farm philosophy We run a completely medication-free breeding facility. No antibiotics, no routine treatments. Bactocide 1 was developed precisely to let us safely combine stock from multiple sources in one central system without outbreaks. It’s the tool that made our “no-med” model possible.
4. “Magic cure” claims We never use terms like “magic” or guarantee instant recovery. Results depend on infection stage, fish health, water quality, and proper protocol. Some users see dramatic improvement in 24–48 h (we have plenty of those reports), others take 5–7 days – exactly like Fred experienced. The important part: it works with the fish’s immune system, not against it.

Fred’s bio-filter issue is a perfect reminder: always use a hospital tank (bare-bottom, no bio-filter) for strong treatments. The red caution warning on every bottle is there for a reason, it clearly mentions that the product will partially or completely kill BB.

Full protocol + dosing guide available on our website.

Happy to answer any questions.

Best regards,
Amgad
Co-founder/MD
DiscusX

Amgad, Where are these studies documented and published? Please post them.Where are they peer reviewed? Where are the studies that were done with your product using controls that demonstrate this product actually works? The term "peer reviewed" and "scientific backing " are not being used correctly here.The ingredients you are using may have some effectiveness individually against some things but to claim that means they can be combined and safely used to treat a whole host of discus diseases that you haven't identified specifically and tested is not correct. I have no idea if your product does what your company claims or not but personally I find it very troubling how many people will believe product claims with out seeing any research at all. I will also warn you that if the USDA/FDA "notices" your product and claims it will cause headaches for your sellers..

You are claiming your product isn't an antibiotic but that it does what antibiotics do, which if true means its an antibiotic and acts like a drug. IF your product really does what it claims then it should be tested scientifically and put through the same rigorous testing as other products . In the United States that info and process is here.... if you are interested.

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/idea-marketplace-journey-animal-drug-through-approval-process

Please note in the link how drugs are defined

"

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) defines the term “drugs” to include, among other things, “articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in man or other animals” and “articles (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals.”

I would be extremely happy if herbal formulas like yours were proven to work .. It would be a huge benefit to hobbyists. I have seen no published proof this is the case though. If your product has been vetted scientifically please share those studies.

Regards,
Al

[brewmaster15]

That makes sense to me; if it kills the filter bacteria, it should kill other bacteria. Not all antibiotics even the correct one doesn't cure the disease in a lot of cases. Folks fork out a lot of money on antibiotics and sometimes won't work; that happens even in humans. One day soon when the States band antibiotics we'll begin to see who's using what for treatments besides salts and heat. We have known for a long time how powerful these plant tannins can be that are even found in the waters of the amazon. The only thing that I can find is malachite blue, formalin, methylene blue and plant extracts.

Mervin the hobby is full of products that non specifically/indescriminately kill bacteria good and bad.

Formalin
malachite green
hydrogen peroxide
chloramine X
potassium permanganate.

I don't see how that its an herb makes it any better or worse.

[bluelagoon]

yes, I know that chloramine and pp is harsh so is bleach. but For100 also posted that he put salt in with the scaleless corys and lost two. Good old Malachite green works for my needs for external infections. I have used H202 recently to get rid of cyanobacteria. It worked.