Bleach to sterilize

[GTR]

What sodium hypochlorite ppm is required to eliminate most diseases and parasites in a system?

 

[Dmorty217]

I have always used 3 parts water to 1 part bleach.

 

[GTR]

I don't think that's practical in a large system.

 

[Dmorty217]

I don't think that's practical in a large system.

Not sure i follow? Make it up in 5g buckets and wash down the surfaces, when it dries completely the diseases will be no longer. Same principals as TTM when cleaning the tank you just transferred from. I washed down my 7ftx6ftx2ft 625g like this. It will take time and elbow grease but practical for sure. What not practical is buying 15-20g of bleach to over clean a tank that only needs a 3 to 1 ratio to accomplish what you want

 

[GTR]

Bleaching as in adding bleach to a running system then using sodium thiosulfate to neutralize. I'm not sure what the ppm requirement is to eliminate all life stages of parasites.
I know it takes a higher level to kill animals with an exoskeleton than it does a fish. Not sure why that's true but I've had it happen unintentionally.

 

[andy01748]

What sodium hypochlorite ppm is required to eliminate most diseases and parasites in a system?

According to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa164 a concentration of 60 mg/L Chlorine over 24 hours is effective against ich cysts. Not sure about all the other parasites/diseases you are asking about.

 

[GTR]

WOW!!!
Thanks for that link. Not sure how I'd maintain that level without starting considerably higher. IIRC 16 oz in one system gave me a 1.5 ppm reading after 3 hours. 7 hours later it was near undetectable.

 

[andy01748]

WOW!!!
Thanks for that link. Not sure how I'd maintain that level without starting considerably higher. IIRC 16 oz in one system gave me a 1.5 ppm reading after 3 hours. 7 hours later it was near undetectable.

Common problem is that as hobbyists we need to apply available research from other sources. I don't have access to the original paper, so I don't know if lower concentrations or times were tried and unsuccessful, or if the listed conditions were just the concentration and time that were tested. Maybe lower concentrations or lower exposure times would work, but I haven't seen such information, so the conservative recommendation is to go with those conditions which have been proven effective.

 

[Dmorty217]

Bleaching as in adding bleach to a running system then using sodium thiosulfate to neutralize. I'm not sure what the ppm requirement is to eliminate all life stages of parasites.
I know it takes a higher level to kill animals with an exoskeleton than it does a fish. Not sure why that's true but I've had it happen unintentionally.

Not sure i follow? Make it up in 5g buckets and wash down the surfaces, when it dries completely the diseases will be no longer. Same principals as TTM when cleaning the tank you just transferred from. I washed down my 7ftx6ftx2ft 625g like this. It will take time and elbow grease but practical for sure. What not practical is buying 15-20g of bleach to over clean a tank that only needs a 3 to 1 ratio to accomplish what you want

Oh I see I didn't realize you wanted to run bleach thru the whole system, I though you meant just for cleaning... Sorry

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Since you are talking bleach I take it there is no life in there.
Saltwater bacteria will not live in freshwater -SO drain & refill fresh.
Run it for as long as you want & let it dry out.
That should do it.

 

[GTR]

Maybe the success I've had with a 2.0 ppm treatment has just been from a reduction of parasites, not elimination.

Vinny, a 100% water change comes with a $1080.00 price tag.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

How about Copper?

 

[GTR]

Well that might work if all the parasites were treatable with copper. When I turn to bleach it's usually a last resort and I prefer to get the must bang for the effort.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

A thought here- How about pool tablets of chlorine?