Formalin Correct Usage

[baobao]

I am dosing formalin directly to a Fish Only tank at dosage of 1 ml per 10 gallons of water.

I'm planning on dosing once every 24 hours. How many times do I need to dose?

 

[oama]

every other day. for five treatments. total of ten days.

 

[baobao]

every other day? will that be enough to eradicate brookynellosis from my system? can i still feed normally?
(I am treating system with formalin because I suspect it may have Brook. Many have argued that formalin should only be used as a dip. However, if the system has brook and you cannot break it down, then I would think you have to treat the system - that is why I am dosing my system with formalin directly.)

 

[oama]

Can you remove all the fish to a Hospital/Quaretine tank and treat them there? And leave the DT fallow for 4-6 weeks.

You could treat the Q tank, smaller volume, as stated above. Or you could do daily baths on the fish and return them to the Q tank.
A link for bath treatments...http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/formalinbaths.html

In either case, increase air flow to the tank/bath as Formalin interfers with O2 uptake.

 

[baobao]

No, I am unable to remove them to a Hospital tank. Thus, I cannot leave DT fallow for 4-6 weeks.For all intent and purposes, the DT is a bare bottom tank now.

In light of the above, doing bath on the fish and then putting them back in the DT will do no good. It is necessary to eradicate whatever Brookynella may be in the DT.

So back to my question - are 5 doses(once every other day) of 1 ml/gal sufficient to achieve this purpose or do I need to be more aggressive? How will I know that I am successful?

Suggestions on feeding during this treatment? (I am planning on feeding very lightly).

 

[oama]

If you are not seeing really bad infections in the fish left, then 1:10 is just fine.

Note that the formalin will wack your biofilter. So monitor water quality and do large water changes (flush) before retreating. Feeding lightly will help also.

 

[baobao]

I've done three dosages. Can I add the carbon back temporarily? I do want to cleanse system of any possible protozoans, but I don't want the water quality to foul.

 

[oama]

Yes, you can. But remove and throw it away before retreating.
Also, the best thing to do for the water quality is Water Changes.

 

[baobao]

Oama, just to make sure I understand - the formalin treatments occur on day 1,3,5,7,9. I've completed days 1,3,5. Do I keep carbon on days 6,8, and then on day 10, complete a water change and replace the carbon?

 

[baobao]

bump, anyone else care to comment? can i use carbon while medicating with formalin, or is that just shooting myself on the foot?

 

[baobao]

bump?

 

[oama]

Throw out the carbon each time before you treat. Do not have carbon in the system when you add the meds. Or the carbon will remove the meds.