Formalin
- Thread starter Humblefish
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Some peers of mine have claimed success using formalin to treat velvet at the end of TTM, just as you are describing. They perform a 45 min formalin bath at the tail end of transfers 1 & 3. While it is certainly possible to eradicate velvet this way, I'll have to see it for myself in order to believe it.
I'm also keen to give this a go for treating velvet without chemicals: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tank-transfer-method.192655/page-11#post-3549495
sounds interesting to cure velvet with 3 Tank transffers of 36 hours or less, I can give that a try next time.
do you know if someone has proved that you can cure and prevent velvet in this way??
what about brooks and urenoma? I am not sure about their life cycle and if Tank Transffer could also be used?
I ask because in the protocol I am thinking to apply I believe you treat for ich, velvet, brooks , flukes and not sure if it will take care of uronema?
4 Tank Transffer Method 3 days each
Formalin at the end of 1st and 3th TTM
Prazi on second day of 2nd and 4th TTM
after TTM observation of 30 days in CP at a concentration of 40mg/g ( this last part for velvet and brooks)
waiting for your reply
Thanks a lot
Humblefish
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To my knowledge, it has never been tested. It is still only theoretical.
Both of those parasites have a direct life cycle; meaning it lives, feeds and reproduces on the fish. With no tomont stage to worry about you must focus on treating the fish itself and of course, some of the parasites do drop off into the water column (where they can live quite happily for some time) and then go on to infect another fish.
The first step is giving the affected fish either a 5 min freshwater dip or 45 minute formalin bath to knock most of the parasites off.
Then transfer the fish into a new/sterile quarantine tank (to prevent reinfection), and treat with Metronidazole or Chloroquine phosphate for 30 days to finish the job.
Thanks a lot Humble.
one more question:
I have been quarentining a lot of fish at same time ( 4- 6 fish)
I am thinking that it is best to do only one at a time, do avoid contamination if one comes with velvet or brooks.
ich is no problem since TTM takes care of that and time between transffer does not allow a contamination of another fish.
can you tell me your opinion about it?
or how can you avoid not to infect the other fish if you do several fish at a time??
one more question:
I have been quarentining a lot of fish at same time ( 4- 6 fish)
I am thinking that it is best to do only one at a time, do avoid contamination if one comes with velvet or brooks.
ich is no problem since TTM takes care of that and time between transffer does not allow a contamination of another fish.
can you tell me your opinion about it?
or how can you avoid not to infect the other fish if you do several fish at a time??
Humblefish
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@sensei I prefer to QT 2-3 fish at a time, especially during the observation period. A single fish could develop immunity to ich, velvet, etc. and not show signs, but what are the odds of that happening with 2-3 fish? Also, multiple fish in QT tend to teach each other how to eat in captivity and socialize better once added to the DT.
Another reason I thought of: It's best to add multiple fish to your DT all at once, so the existing fish do not all just key in on "the new guy".
Another reason I thought of: It's best to add multiple fish to your DT all at once, so the existing fish do not all just key in on "the new guy".
@sensei I would never use formalin on any scaleless fish (same as copper). All other fish are going to be hit or miss. You can give one Yellow Tang a formalin bath and he does fine with it; the next one will have an adverse reaction and struggle in it.
I wouldn't mix formalin with Prazipro due to the risk of a bacterial bloom occurring.
Humble,
were can I find a list all scaleless fish to avoid treating with formalin?
I did a formalin bath to a tasseled file fish about 3 months ago. the fish died after 4 days of the bath, I wonder if this is what happened because fish was eating fine before the bath.
he also ate and looked fine the next 3 days and then he started to look diiferent and stopped eating.
a friend also told me taht there are other special cares when using formalin. expired formalin for example may kill a fish. any other special cautions to keep in mind?
thanks a lot
@sensei I would never use formalin on any scaleless fish (same as copper). All other fish are going to be hit or miss. You can give one Yellow Tang a formalin bath and he does fine with it; the next one will have an adverse reaction and struggle in it.
I wouldn't mix formalin with Prazipro due to the risk of a bacterial bloom occurring.
Humble,
I made a formalin bath to a tasseled file fish I got about 3 months ago and the fish died 4 days later. fish was eating fine before and still ate well 3 days after, but stopped in day 4 and died. not sure if the formalin was the one that killed him??
I am not sure if you have made a list of the scaleless fish so I can check everytime before I make a formalin bath?
Thanks again
Humblefish
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Formalin works wonders, but the downside is some fish flat out can't take it.
Scaleless fish include sharks/rays, catfish, eels, hagfish, seahorses/pipefish, dragonets, puffers, frogfish, anglers, batfish (I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting.)
Some peers of mine have claimed success using formalin to treat velvet at the end of TTM, just as you are describing. They perform a 45 min formalin bath at the tail end of transfers 1 & 3. While it is certainly possible to eradicate velvet this way, I'll have to see it for myself in order to believe it.
What's the theory of how this works?
Is a formalin bath at the tail end of transfers 1 & 3 the same as a formalin bath at transfers 2 & 4? In other words, as I perform transfer 2, I put it into a formalin bath first for 45 minutes and then into a clean tank 2?
Some peers of mine have claimed success using formalin to treat velvet at the end of TTM, just as you are describing. They perform a 45 min formalin bath at the tail end of transfers 1 & 3. While it is certainly possible to eradicate velvet this way, I'll have to see it for myself in order to believe it.
I'm also keen to give this a go for treating velvet without chemicals: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tank-transfer-method.192655/page-11#post-3549495
Hi Guys,
i have a massive issue with my new Achilles tang it catgut velvet and it is expanding quickly. I managed to get 37% formaldehyde solution, but cannot find anywhere a good instruction on how to do baths, what should be the dosage and treatment in QT. Can someone help with this?
Sanda
Humblefish
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Use 20 drops per gallon and treat for a maximum of 45 minutes. Temperature control his bath water and aerate heavily. Remove from bath sooner if fish shows signs of being in distress.
More info here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/formalin.290925/
Edit: Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. Therefore, precautions must be taken when using it. Preventing your skin from coming in contact with it by wearing waterproof gloves and not breathing in any fumes by wearing a face mask is highly recommended.
Humblefish
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It's 37% Formaldehyde, so 20 drops per gallon and treat for a max of 45 minutes.
In-tank treatment (not recommended) is 2 drops per gallon every 48 hrs.
Humblefish
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Does look like flukes in his eyes. In lieu of PraziPro, formalin should clear them but I would transfer the fish into a different QT post bath to prevent reinfection. You'll need to rinse & repeat this step in about a week.
ruppertb
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