Real Garlic or Garlic guard

blakeorme · 01/10/2009, 10:24 AM

Is it necessary to buy garlic guard or will use real garlic be fine. I was going to just mash some up add water and soak the food/nori/brine in that solution. Would that be equivalent?

Logzor · 01/10/2009, 10:30 AM

So long as it is the fresh stuff I think it would be fine. I would stay away from the pre-made with all of the preservatives in it.

Also, I am not aware of correct dosing for garlic or any ill effects of putting in too much. I am not sure there is not much science behind the "aquarium specific" stuff in the bottle.

blakeorme · 01/10/2009, 10:49 AM

Yeah, I was just going to buy a bulb of garlic and mash it up.

E.intheC · 01/10/2009, 10:50 AM

I've heard from numerous sources that adding garlic is more of a gimmick and doesn't really do anything.. what ocean has garlic in it?

blakeorme · 01/10/2009, 10:55 AM

True... However, my rabbit fish every few weeks gets, at most, 1 or 2 small spots of ich, and I figured it wouldn't hurt to soak some food in garlic.

tmz · 01/10/2009, 11:45 AM

Garlic may or may not have a positive effect on marine fish immunity overall. It will not cure ich and is not a substitute for proven treatments.

The active ingredient in garlic credited with immuno enhancement is allicin. This only remains viable for a few hours after a fresh garlic is squeezed. It is the result of a chemical response by the garlic to ward off infection when it is bruised or cut(part of it's immune system). So fresh garlic is likely to have useful allicin. Preserved garlic is likely to have none.

klepto · 01/10/2009, 01:39 PM

Good to know Tom- thanks.

01/10/2009, 10:24 AM	#1
blakeorme Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 350	Real Garlic or Garlic guard Is it necessary to buy garlic guard or will use real garlic be fine. I was going to just mash some up add water and soak the food/nori/brine in that solution. Would that be equivalent?

01/10/2009, 10:50 AM	#4
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	I've heard from numerous sources that adding garlic is more of a gimmick and doesn't really do anything.. what ocean has garlic in it? __________________ -Eric

01/10/2009, 11:45 AM	#6
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	Garlic may or may not have a positive effect on marine fish immunity overall. It will not cure ich and is not a substitute for proven treatments. The active ingredient in garlic credited with immuno enhancement is allicin. This only remains viable for a few hours after a fresh garlic is squeezed. It is the result of a chemical response by the garlic to ward off infection when it is bruised or cut(part of it's immune system). So fresh garlic is likely to have useful allicin. Preserved garlic is likely to have none. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

01/10/2009, 01:39 PM	#7
klepto Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Monterey, California Posts: 1,955	Good to know Tom- thanks. __________________ Everything you do can be done better from a place of relaxation. Stephen C. Paul

01/10/2009, 10:30 AM	#2
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	So long as it is the fresh stuff I think it would be fine. I would stay away from the pre-made with all of the preservatives in it. Also, I am not aware of correct dosing for garlic or any ill effects of putting in too much. I am not sure there is not much science behind the "aquarium specific" stuff in the bottle.

01/10/2009, 10:49 AM	#3
blakeorme Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 350	Yeah, I was just going to buy a bulb of garlic and mash it up.

01/10/2009, 10:55 AM	#5
blakeorme Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 350	True... However, my rabbit fish every few weeks gets, at most, 1 or 2 small spots of ich, and I figured it wouldn't hurt to soak some food in garlic.