How long is chloroquine phosphate bio-active for?

Halal Hotdog · Jan 18, 2019

I am planning on mixing chloroquine phosphate with a hydrosulfite ammonia binder. I am curious how long does chloroquine phosphate stay biologically active for in a saltwater tank? I know it degrades by light and by time, but exactly how long? I want to see how long I can stretch out my water changes.

Thanks,

Humblefish · Jan 18, 2019

Assuming it’s not being biodegraded, CP should be “good” for at least 30 days.

A metabolite of chloroquine – hydroxycloroquine – has a long half-life of 32–56 days.

Big G · Jan 18, 2019

That is a great question that is seldom asked. Here's some info that may help a bit but I'm sure doesn't fully answer your question. From our own @Humblefish "No practical "test kit" for CP exists. It is a “one and done” medication, meaning you dose once and that’s it. It’s important that you dose accurately using a digital scale. Typically, I do a 100% water change in-between batches of fish and then re-dose. A metabolite of chloroquine – hydroxycloroquine – has a long half-life of 32–56 days, so it's not a good idea to use a single dosage past one month anyway."
Hope this helps a bit.

Big G · Jan 18, 2019

jinx, again, again . . .

Humblefish · Jan 18, 2019

Big G said:
jinx, again, again . . .

Halal Hotdog · Jan 19, 2019

So if I were to do a 14 day CP quarantine at 40mg/gallon, then as long as I keep the ammonia controlled then there would be no need to do a water change? The medication should stay therapeutic for the 14 days?

Previously I have done 50% medicated water changed at 2 day increments. As you can imagine I went through a significant amount of CP in short order.

Humblefish · Jan 19, 2019

Halal Hotdog said:
So if I were to do a 14 day CP quarantine at 40mg/gallon, then as long as I keep the ammonia controlled then there would be no need to do a water change? The medication should stay therapeutic for the 14 days?

Previously I have done 50% medicated water changed at 2 day increments. As you can imagine I went through a significant amount of CP in short order.

Correct; but I would dose CP @ 60mg/gal for good measure/provide a buffer.

Halal Hotdog · Jan 19, 2019

Will dose at 60mg/gallon. Here is another question. Can CP + API General cute + hydrosulfite ammonia binder be combined?

Gareth elliott · Jan 19, 2019

Most medications are an appetite suppressant. Even if there are no interactions with one another, its best not to mix meds. If there are no signs of flukes best to treat with GC before or after the CP. You can also do a freshwater dip before running the CP. Just match the ph and temperature, use a meter for ph matching not, a chemical test kit though. I have found a properly calibrated cheap pen type accurate enough, dont need an apex or scientific grade probe.

As far as prime, honestly no idea if can be used with CP. Prime works by adding a hydrogen ion to ammonia to change it to ammonium. I dont recall reading any issues with ammonium like with copper.

Humblefish · Jan 19, 2019

Halal Hotdog said:
Can CP + API General cute + hydrosulfite ammonia binder be combined?

You'd probably be OK expect for the praziquantel found in General Cure. There is some anecdotal evidence that prazi doesn't always mix well with an ammonia reducer.

Halal Hotdog · Jan 20, 2019

Humblefish said:
You'd probably be OK expect for the praziquantel found in General Cure. There is some anecdotal evidence that prazi doesn't always mix well with an ammonia reducer.

Do you recall what resulted from mixing prazi and hydrosulfite? Did it become a lethal mix? I will probably avoid to be safe.

Humblefish · Jan 20, 2019

Halal Hotdog said:
Do you recall what resulted from mixing prazi and hydrosulfite? Did it become a lethal mix? I will probably avoid to be safe.

The anecdotal evidence involves dosing Prime or Amquel whilst also treating with Prazipro. Sometimes nothing happens, sometimes that combination results in a QT full of dead fish.

Halal Hotdog · Jan 20, 2019

Haha yeah will definitely avoid in that case. Thank you for the help.

Halal Hotdog · Jan 22, 2019

Unrelated update. So I got the tank to 60mg/gallon. The fish going into QT are a powder brown tang and a desjardini tang. The powder brown looked absolutely beautiful, and had some meat on his bones. I am accustomed to getting fish from LA that are on the thinner side. As soon as I put him in the tank he went straight for the powerhead and is swimming against it. First thought in my head is, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" second thought is velvet. He is not showing any sandy white appearance on his body and looks good. I am debating taking the CP to 80mg/gallon. What do you guys think? Will 60mg be okay?

Humblefish · Jan 22, 2019

Halal Hotdog said:
Unrelated update. So I got the tank to 60mg/gallon. The fish going into QT are a powder brown tang and a desjardini tang. The powder brown looked absolutely beautiful, and had some meat on his bones. I am accustomed to getting fish from LA that are on the thinner side. As soon as I put him in the tank he went straight for the powerhead and is swimming against it. First thought in my head is, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" second thought is velvet. He is not showing any sandy white appearance on his body and looks good. I am debating taking the CP to 80mg/gallon. What do you guys think? Will 60mg be okay?

If he's swimming into the flow of a PH, I would dose CP immediately.