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needing clarification on using malachite and formalin


Stella

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Just needing to know how you are supposed to treat.

I know it is one drop of each per litre.

What I just got confused about is the next step.

Wait a few days, do a water change and add either one drop per litre of REPLACED water or TOTAL tank volume (ie initial dose again)?

THanks

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and no re-dosing? odd.

I am still a bit annoyed at Wetpets (and it was someone who should have known better) for not realising there is a BIG difference in treating whitespot in tropical vs coldwater aquaria. Caused endless re-infections until someone put me right. For you it is three days, for me it is at least three weeks.

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Sorry above is meant to be - repeat dose if need - following the steps again.

Yea when I had my whitespot outbreak they never told that Malachite green was toxic to catfish and tetras - which I found out after dosing my tank :evil: I lost quite afew BN's.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Malachite Green, did they tell you its carcenagenic?

If you are treating whitespot, then I believe they have given you both the wrong information.

You will never kill off whitespot with one treatment in a cold water or tropical tank. 3 days, pfft! The parasite can only be killed at one part of the cycle.

Oh, if using on Catfish, treat at half dose.

To answer orginal question... I would treat, water change on 3rd day using a gravel vac, dose again at 1drop per litre, 3rd day again. I would do at least 3 treatments. If the tank is tropical, bump the temp up to 30 degrees & increse airation in the tank.

Frenchy :D

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Frenchy, I know, the dosages and times are bizarre. Presumably it works becasue of cranking up the temp so the lifecycle goes faster but it still kills them at that freeswimming point.

Basically I can't find a decent protocol ANYWHERE for how to use it. If you bugger it up you are likely to get another bout of it and need to use the chemicals for longer.

I think for the book I am basically going to say that (in clearer English) and that salt is the best bet for safety and reliability.

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Presumably it works becasue of cranking up the temp so the lifecycle goes faster but it still kills them at that freeswimming point.

Basically I can't find a decent protocol ANYWHERE for how to use it. If you bugger it up you are likely to get another bout of it and need to use the chemicals for longer.

Yep, sure does. The cycle goes a lot quicker in warmer water.

As for protocol, well most people in the industry are not vets & or specialise in fish. Most people have a stab or work by what works for them. Best to follow a routine & stick to that knowing they get killed at a part of the cycle. Hence the gravel vacs as well, moving ornaments, get rid of dead spots etc.

Salt, well catfish don't like that either.

But salt works well for fresh water parasites, like fresh water does for salt water parasites. But the doses to kill parasites usually isn't good for the fish either.

I would never follow what Mel was told. There should never be an "if" after just one treatment for a start.

Frenchy :D

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Oh sorry, I was after the info to include in my book on native fish, all of whom are hunky dory with salt.

My rule when treating whitespot is to treat it until at least one week after the last spot fell off the fish. (Week because that covers the lifecycle in cold water). Often I will treat for a little longer just in case, particularly if it was a bad infection.

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Sweet as. Never have kept NZ natives, but the way you treat is a great better safe than sorry. You think the shop mentioned would pass that info on. Especially as you get people to use more of the product to, hence more sale profit :lol: But you then have a happy customer as they aint always going back. No wonder some people think white spot is a hard disease to treat. :roll:

Frenchy :D

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