Hi Carissa,

I have used Mardel products for many years with planted tanks to treat ick with no ill effects on the plants and good results for the fish.

The product name for ick is currently Maracide and a main active ingredient is malachite green.

I do not know about formalin and plants.......

I understand that corys are more sensitive to meds than others, so I dose about 80-90% since I have about 2 dozen of them...... they all come through fine.

I would at least feel safe recommending their other products based on this experience, but do not know if they have something specific to swim bladder issues. I wasn't aware that this condition is contagious?

What 'symptoms' did they display? Did they seem disoriented, or just twirling around?

Could the bloody barbells be more caused by the fish in distress and rubbing/hitting gravel,rocks,etc as it careens about the tank?

Have you changed your filter media recently? any disruption to the nitrogen cycle?

How old are your fish? I know we sometimes forget how long we have had them and the older ones will be more susceptible to disease.

Have you changed ANYTHING no matter how minor in the last 6 weeks?

Hope this helps.

P.S. On a completely unrelated note:

Merry Xmas to all!