Good source for Formalin?

[MatAndPatti]

After doing a bit of reading here about QT protocols, I'd like to pick up some Formalin, but I'm having trouble finding Formalin MS online... So that has me wondering, has it been discontinued?

Just trying to find a pointer to a good online source for some type of formalin. The only other alternative I can come up with is the lab grade formaldehyde on amazon, which is fairly $$.

Thanks!

 

[scuzy]

Good source for Formalin?

Fishvet formalinMS. You can get it from pet solutions.

 

[ThRoewer]

Amazon.com has Formalin MS as well

 

[scuzy]

Don't think they carry it anymore on amazon

 

[mattcoug]

Good source for Formalin?

It is just out of stock, likely will be back sometime. If you want it now from Amazon there are other brands of 37% formaldehyde available for a similar price... I see 1 gallon for $44 or 4 oz for $15.

 

[krullshards]

It is just out of stock, likely will be back sometime. If you want it now from Amazon there are other brands of 37% formaldehyde available for a similar price... I see 1 gallon for $44 or 4 oz for $15.

Formalin-MS on Amazon doesn't show up in a direct search for me anymore. I have seen it as a suggestion (what others have bought). The other way to get to it is to google search Formalin-MS and follow the Amazon link.

Once there though, the results aren't encouraging: Currently unavailable.
We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock.

I was staying away from the "Neutral buffered" stuff because I don't know what that means. Maybe it's all "buffered" but I steered clear.

Someone in a forum post mentioned ebay, so I picked this up from there:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271251494069

I didn't know about pet solutions, so thanks for that information.

 

[MelloW33]

Formalin-MS on Amazon doesn't show up in a direct search for me anymore. I have seen it as a suggestion (what others have bought). The other way to get to it is to google search Formalin-MS and follow the Amazon link.

Once there though, the results aren't encouraging: Currently unavailable.
We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock.

I was staying away from the "Neutral buffered" stuff because I don't know what that means. Maybe it's all "buffered" but I steered clear.

Someone in a forum post mentioned ebay, so I picked this up from there:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271251494069

I didn't know about pet solutions, so thanks for that information.

I just purchased Formalin-MS off Amazon two weeks ago. I'm sure it will be back.

 

[krullshards]

Also, Formalin's warnings are scary stuff. I think I smelled some in high school biology class. Literally the only thing that has ever, ever in my life, caused me to lose my appetite and I've been to third world countries with open air raw sewage. I was unable to eat my lunch.

For the more experienced among us, do you generally use gloves when handling formalin? My QT/Hospital rack is in a basement room, am I risking certain death using it in there, lol?

 

[Dmorty217]

Formalin-MS on Amazon doesn't show up in a direct search for me anymore. I have seen it as a suggestion (what others have bought). The other way to get to it is to google search Formalin-MS and follow the Amazon link.

Once there though, the results aren't encouraging: Currently unavailable.
We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock.

I was staying away from the "Neutral buffered" stuff because I don't know what that means. Maybe it's all "buffered" but I steered clear.

Someone in a forum post mentioned ebay, so I picked this up from there:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271251494069

I didn't know about pet solutions, so thanks for that information.

I just got my Formalin MS from Amazon 2.5 months ago so they do sell it from time to time. Pet Solutions headquarters is 20 mins from my house but they don't have a warehouse and shipment comes from where ever they source what your buying from them. I tried to not pay shipping on salt and frozen food and they told me pickup wasn't a option. So just know that wherever they get the Formalin from you can too and probably cheaper

 

[Dmorty217]

Also, Formalin's warnings are scary stuff. I think I smelled some in high school biology class. Literally the only thing that has ever, ever in my life, caused me to lose my appetite and I've been to third world countries with open air raw sewage. I was unable to eat my lunch.

For the more experienced among us, do you generally use gloves when handling formalin? My QT/Hospital rack is in a basement room, am I risking certain death using it in there, lol?

Yes wear gloves, my QT is in my basement fish room and I have used it a lot without any negative effects... at least not yet

 

[jmm]

Mardel Quick Cure (from Fritz) has as active ingredients Formalin and Malachite Green.

Is this an acceptable substitute? It is what my fish store gave me when I asked for Formalin.

 

[Deinonych]

Mardel Quick Cure (from Fritz) has as active ingredients Formalin and Malachite Green.

Is this an acceptable substitute? It is what my fish store gave me when I asked for Formalin.

It has the right concentration of formaldehyde (37%), but I would be wary about using Malachite Green in marine aquaria as it's highly toxic.

 

[ThRoewer]

One extremely important thing to know:
Never freeze formalin or store it in the refrigerator. Formalin should be stored at roomtemperature. Cold temperatures encourage the formation of trioxymethylene with a resulting white precipitate (toxic)

 

[Jone]

kensfish.com

 

[Deinonych]

kensfish.com

Looks like they only carry the Ruby Reef garbage.

 

[MatAndPatti]

Great discussion, thanks!

Great discussion, thanks!

Fishvet formalinMS. You can get it from pet solutions.

Looks like they've got it, but it's on back order. I might just have to be patient and wait for it to come back into stock.

I just purchased Formalin-MS off Amazon two weeks ago. I'm sure it will be back.

Good to know... I'll keep an eye out for it on Amazon in case it comes off of back order at pet solutions.

It has the right concentration of formaldehyde (37%), but I would be wary about using Malachite Green in marine aquaria as it's highly toxic.

Oh, I wasn't aware of that, so thanks for the warning!

One extremely important thing to know:
Never freeze formalin or store it in the refrigerator. Formalin should be stored at roomtemperature. Cold temperatures encourage the formation of trioxymethylene with a resulting white precipitate (toxic)

Thanks also for that information, I wasn't aware!

 

[mattcoug]

I would use formalin dips outside if you can. It has long term cancer and reproductive risk.

 

[ThRoewer]

I would use formalin dips outside if you can. It has long term cancer and reproductive risk.

In that case you may want to just stay outside and never set foot in your home again - US regulations allow quite a bit of formaldehyde to be used in plywood and hardwood used in home construction. And the China (where most US products come from these days) seem to care even less (see recent recall from Lumber Liquidators for hardwood floors due to too high formaldehyde concentrations).

The risks of formaldehyde gassing out form formalin are minute, especially when considering the low concentration in the bath water.
As long as you don't sniff on the bottle there is not much to fear.

 

[mattcoug]

Having seen people suffer to death with cancer, everyone has to make an personal risk tolerance judgement, so I don't like to tell folks there is not much to fear. I personally have chosen to limit myself and my family's exposure to things that have very well known risks associated with them, and I encourage other to do the same. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehyde#Safety

 

[MatAndPatti]

Having seen people suffer to death with cancer, everyone has to make an personal risk tolerance judgement, so I don't like to tell folks there is not much to fear. I personally have chosen to limit myself and my family's exposure to things that have very well known risks associated with them, and I encourage other to do the same. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehyde#Safety

I agree, there are some things you just can't reasonably avoid, but it certainly makes sense to limit exposure whenever practical. I'll be sure to use this stuff with due caution. Thanks for the info!