PIMAFIX and MELAFIX Review

I had read many positive reviews about Aquarium Pharmaceuticals PIMAFIX and MELAFIX and decided to try it out when I noticed one of my barbs had an odd red area on its side which hadn't seemed to be getting any better. After treating my fish for 3 days the spot had recovered and my fish seemed good as new. This product has a nice menthol scent to it and it even makes the water smell better. I'd recommend this product to others, you can see the results for yourself!

This product is also supposed to help with fin rot as well as other ailments and I'm hoping that some of my guppies will have improvement in that department, I'll post the final results later on.

><>Guppy-Guide<><

Guppy-Guide Comic Ep2

Guppy-Guide Comic Ep 1

The first series of my guppy comic and my first attempt at really creating a comic...sorry if it was terrible! hah. Click the images for better viewing, these are all photos I took of my fish, some are actually pretty nice if I do say so.

More = Merrier

I found a recent news article which states that fish in groups of 10 or more are less stressed and happier than just a single lonely fish, a pair or even 5 kept together. Fish are more likely to demonstrate natural behaviors when kept in larger numbers.To answer this articles question "how many fish you should put in an aquarium to create the best environment for them" it's usually 1 inch length of a single fish is equal to 1 gallon of water. So if you have 2 fish in your tank that are each 2 inches in length, you'll need at least 4 gallons of water, perhaps more if the fish aren't full grown (my personal suggestion). So if both your 2 inch fish grow up to 5 inches each, you'll need at least 10 gallons of water in order to provide a healthier fish environment.

Now you ask "why are Betta's often sold in small amounts of water", I've yet to discover this answer fully but I do find it slightly inhumane myself. It's no wonder why Betta's AKA Japanese Fighting Fish are aggressive when together after reading the above article and why they seem so sad when living alone. The same question should be asked to pet stores that keep too many fish stocked in a single tank at one time. You could debate that pet stores do this because there selling rate and providing a big selection for buyers, or you could debate that the fish you're getting from these fish stores aren't as healthy as they may appear. I believe if you want healthier fish that are kept in these conditions then go to a store where people actually come and purchase the fish and if you see dead fish in the tank with them at the time of purchase, chances are they may not be THAT healthy.

On the other hand I somewhat feel schooling fish or more non-active fish will do okay in a tank that may perhaps be a tad too tiny for them. Just insure your fish have plenty of room to swim and they're not living fin to fin.

><>Guppy-Guide<><

About Guppy-Guide

The Origin Story: From "Fish Killer" to Hobbyist

I didn't start with the answers. Back in 2009, I was just a college student with a dream and—admittedly—a lot of dead fish. It got so bad my local pet store actually started calling me "The Fish Killer." That label stung, but it was the catalyst for everything. It drove me to stop "guessing" and start actually studying the biology and chemistry of the hobby. I realized the internet was full of hit-or-miss advice, so I built Guppy-Guide to be the resource I wish I’d had: a place for high-accuracy, technical aquarium care rooted in real-world experience.

The Evolution of the Blog

What started as a small project about guppies has grown into a deep dive across the freshwater spectrum. Over the years, I’ve transitioned from those early struggles to managing diverse community tanks and fine-tuning my own setups. My background in Visual Communication and New Media makes me a stickler for detail, and that carries over into every post, species-specific guide, and custom fish food blend I create.

I treat my aquariums as a constant experiment—there is always something new to try, use, or learn. Whether I’m working with a 75-gallon community setup or focusing on a certain aquatic species, I’m always trying to find, create, or share innovative ideas—from custom decor setups to re-designing typical filtration systems to make them more efficient.

What You’ll Find Here

I created this blog to debunk the "bowl + water = happy fish" myth. I’ve seen what happens when people lack the right info, and I’m dedicated to making the fish community a better place by sharing what actually works. When you read a post on Guppy-Guide, you’re getting:

• Technical Accuracy: I prioritize high-quality data. If I recommend a process or a product, it’s because it’s survived my own tanks or has been proven successful by others in the hobby.
• Total Transparency: I share the failures (like my attempt at breeding Mollies) just as much as the successes. You'll see the "what not to do" right alongside the "how-to."
• Personal Experience: This isn't just theory—it’s 15+ years of hands-on trial and error.

To My Readers

Whether you're in the US or reading from halfway across the globe, I’m glad you’re here. It’s been amazing to see this blog grow from a small hobbyist page into a resource for keepers all over the world. Thanks for being part of this journey.

Future Goals and Updates

The journey is far from over. I'm still working toward the dream of traveling back to Japan to visit the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and exploring the massive freshwater arrays in Singapore. I’m constantly looking for ways to improve the hobby and maybe, one day, I'll turn all this experience into a book. In the meantime, I’m focused on keeping the science and aquarium knowledge front and center. 

As of 2026, I started updating my most aquarium-relevant posts as so much information in the aquarium community has evolved with the times, all while also creating new posts in the process. This shift also included leaving my WordPress blog to rebuild Guppy-Guide into the more streamlined resource it is today.

Got a question? Drop a comment.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or currently stuck in your own "Fish Killer" phase, I’ve got your back.

This post was last updated in April 2026.