| Malachite green and Formalin have been used ina variety of parasite treatments for fish.
They can be used separately or together. Together they give a greater effect than the sum of
their separate individual capabilities. Malachite green has powerful anti-fungal properties.
They exert a mild anti-bacterial effect and in most circumstances will not destroy
biological filtration bacteria, although they may ‘knock the filter back’ for a short while.
However, it is still advisable to turn off or by-pass the filter system for a few hours
if possible and as with any treatment always turn off any UV lamps. When using to treat a
gainst Ichthyophthirius (white spot or Ich) then it is important to keep the system running
in order to destroy all stages of the parasite’s life cycle.
Tips for handling
- Wear gloves and goggles when handling malachite green or formalin. Do not inhale the fumes of formalin and always handle in a well-ventilated area. Both are potentially dangerous. Malachite is a respiratory poison as well as being a suspected carcinogen.
- Malachite green penetrates deeply into fish body tissues and may have a use against Proliferative Kidney Disease (PKD)
- Malachite green is reported to be toxic to tetras, catfish and loaches
- Formalin should be stored in the dark and above 40 deg C to prevent the formation of paraformaldehyde
- Formalin is extremely irritation to gills and should not be used where there may be existing gill damage or where skin ulcers are present.
Dosage
- Formalin
- Bath: 0.15 to 0.25 mls per litre for up to 60 minutes. Can be used on consecutive days for a maximum of three treatments.
- Prolonged immersion: 0.015 to 0.025 mls per litre. Repeat every 3 - 4 days and do a partial water change between treatments. Maximum of three consecutive treatments. Aerate at all times.
- Malachite green
- Bath: 1-2 mg malachite per litre water for 30 - 60 minutes. Can be repeated every other day for a maximum of four treatments.
- Prolonged immersion:0.1- 0.25 mg malachite per litre: Repeat every three days for a maximum of three treatments.
- Mixture ofr MG&F
- Strong mixture: 3.68 grams of malachite green dissolved in one litre of formalin: This is used at 0.025 mls per litre of water for 60 minutes bath.
- Weaker mixture: 3.3 grams malachite green dissolved in one litre of formalin: This is used at a rate of 0.015 mls per litre of water as a prolonged immersion for general use.
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