Total qt treatment protocol
- Thread starter kenith
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ThRoewer
New member
I would ditch the copper and do TTM to clear the fish of Cryptocaryon.
Formalin baths during the transfers will take care of all the other protozoan parasites: Amyloodinium, Brooklynella, Uronema, Trichodina, ... It will also take care of flukes and most crustacean skin and gill parasites.
PraziPro while in the tanks will clean out most intestinal parasites.
This way you get your fish clean in 2 weeks. Add 4 more weeks of observation in QT to see if anything slipped through and you are good.
Formalin baths during the transfers will take care of all the other protozoan parasites: Amyloodinium, Brooklynella, Uronema, Trichodina, ... It will also take care of flukes and most crustacean skin and gill parasites.
PraziPro while in the tanks will clean out most intestinal parasites.
This way you get your fish clean in 2 weeks. Add 4 more weeks of observation in QT to see if anything slipped through and you are good.
Can you describe more in depth about formalin baths? Which product for you recommend? I've done ttm and prazi, so I've got that covered. Thanks!
ThRoewer
New member
For a normal strength bath you need a formalin concentration between 200 and 250 ppm.
Considering that the highest concentration of formalin in aqueous solution is usually 37% you would need to add 0.541 ml of that formalin solution per liter to get a 200 ppm concentration. You would need 0.676 ml/liter for a 250 ppm concentration.
For scaleless or very sensitive fish (like mandarins or blennies) you need to keep it at 100 ppm (0.270 ml/l)
The bath duration should be at least 30 minutes but no longer than 60 minutes.
You need to provide good aeration to the bath since formalin depletes oxygen. Use an airstone or a small pump (I use a Jebao mini fountain pump).
Also ideally you should process every fish on it's own and not reuse the bath water for the next fish. Smaller fish can be processed in batches of 2 to 4.
Observe the fish during the bath at all times and take them out if they show serious signs of distress.
Fish with open wounds shouldn't be exposed to formalin.
To prevent injury of the fish do not use nets to catch the fish, but rather scoop them up with a glass, plastic jar, pitcher or the like.
Avoid any skin contact with concentrated formalin or the bath water. It is highly recommended to wear chemical resistant gloves.
Fishvet instructs for its Formalin MS (which is 37% formalin) 20 drops per gallon.
Considering that the highest concentration of formalin in aqueous solution is usually 37% you would need to add 0.541 ml of that formalin solution per liter to get a 200 ppm concentration. You would need 0.676 ml/liter for a 250 ppm concentration.
For scaleless or very sensitive fish (like mandarins or blennies) you need to keep it at 100 ppm (0.270 ml/l)
The bath duration should be at least 30 minutes but no longer than 60 minutes.
You need to provide good aeration to the bath since formalin depletes oxygen. Use an airstone or a small pump (I use a Jebao mini fountain pump).
Also ideally you should process every fish on it's own and not reuse the bath water for the next fish. Smaller fish can be processed in batches of 2 to 4.
Observe the fish during the bath at all times and take them out if they show serious signs of distress.
Fish with open wounds shouldn't be exposed to formalin.
To prevent injury of the fish do not use nets to catch the fish, but rather scoop them up with a glass, plastic jar, pitcher or the like.
Avoid any skin contact with concentrated formalin or the bath water. It is highly recommended to wear chemical resistant gloves.
Fishvet instructs for its Formalin MS (which is 37% formalin) 20 drops per gallon.
The roewer- thanks for the tips.
From what I've read, formalin is a hit or miss on velvet. What are your experiences in this regard? I've got to setup a qt tank and leave my tank fallow for 8 weeks, so I'm still considering copper as I can keep them housed in a system rather than transferring them constantly.
From what I've read, formalin is a hit or miss on velvet. What are your experiences in this regard? I've got to setup a qt tank and leave my tank fallow for 8 weeks, so I'm still considering copper as I can keep them housed in a system rather than transferring them constantly.
ThRoewer
New member
I never had a velvet outbreak or noticed it on one of my fish, and I hope it stays that way. It is one of the fish diseases I really don't want to have first hand experience with.
I can't even remember to have for sure seen it at a fish store.
In general I find velvet to be a rather rare disease these days, likely due to the copper treatments at collectors, importers and stores. I'm not sure, but it may be that Amyloodinium is more sensitive to copper than Cryptocaryon and therefore more effectively killed of at lower doses.
Brooklynella on the other hand is clearly on the rise, likely because it isn't at all affected by copper and many fish can keep it at bay as long as they are in good condition and not stressed.
One of the local stores here even got it on clownfish shipped straight from ORA. They were stressed out and got to cold because the sipper messed up and delivered them with a day delay.
Formalin should be effective to kill of velvet as well, but since it only reaches the parasites on the water exposed surfaces (skin & gills) and the parasite might also be found in the fish's kidneys, the baths need to be repeated for a minimum of two weeks
I can't even remember to have for sure seen it at a fish store.
In general I find velvet to be a rather rare disease these days, likely due to the copper treatments at collectors, importers and stores. I'm not sure, but it may be that Amyloodinium is more sensitive to copper than Cryptocaryon and therefore more effectively killed of at lower doses.
Brooklynella on the other hand is clearly on the rise, likely because it isn't at all affected by copper and many fish can keep it at bay as long as they are in good condition and not stressed.
One of the local stores here even got it on clownfish shipped straight from ORA. They were stressed out and got to cold because the sipper messed up and delivered them with a day delay.
Formalin should be effective to kill of velvet as well, but since it only reaches the parasites on the water exposed surfaces (skin & gills) and the parasite might also be found in the fish's kidneys, the baths need to be repeated for a minimum of two weeks
ThRoewer
New member
BTW: the transfers are key to any effective treatment against all diseases because it significantly reduces the chances for reinfection.
And as I said above, copper does nothing against brook, rather the opposite due to it's immune suppressant toxicity.
So I'd rather do transfers with formalin dips than taking a risk with copper.
To make sure no velvet slips through I would rather dose CP in the TTM tanks, as CP is reported to be highly effective against velvet.
And as I said above, copper does nothing against brook, rather the opposite due to it's immune suppressant toxicity.
So I'd rather do transfers with formalin dips than taking a risk with copper.
To make sure no velvet slips through I would rather dose CP in the TTM tanks, as CP is reported to be highly effective against velvet.
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