Questions on Formalin and Velvet

[slythy]

Hello,

I have 2 fish purchased at a LFS and the rest from @Dr. Reef. I plan on doing another large order from Dr Reef here once my 180g aquarium get up and running. I have never and dont plan on quarantining my corals or inverts. I know there is a chance of getting Ich from that but I feel I am capable to keep the fish happy enough to not succumb to it if it shows up. I have used Safety Stop on the 2 lfs fish as the only thing I am concerned about getting is velvet.

How effective is safety stop on killing velvet in that dose/45 mins?

 

[Lavey29]

I can't really see where a 45 minute dip will ever be effective as compared to a proper QT tank that typically runs 2 weeks to 4 weeks under different medications to prevent disease.

 

[threebuoys]

A dip will not be effective against an active ich or velvet infection due to how the life cycle of the parasites work.
We recommend copper (Copper Safe or Copper Power at 2.25 - 2.50 ppm) for 30 days quarantine for Ich or velvet. Formalin is best used for brooklynella which typically targets clownfish.

The link below will take you to the full protocol we recommend.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello,

I have 2 fish purchased at a LFS and the rest from @Dr. Reef. I plan on doing another large order from Dr Reef here once my 180g aquarium get up and running. I have never and dont plan on quarantining my corals or inverts. I know there is a chance of getting Ich from that but I feel I am capable to keep the fish happy enough to not succumb to it if it shows up. I have used Safety Stop on the 2 lfs fish as the only thing I am concerned about getting is velvet.

How effective is safety stop on killing velvet in that dose/45 mins?

Formalin not the best choice and not as effective as copper power or copper safe
If a quarantined fish, treat for 14-21 days up to 30 days while monitoring both copper level and ammonia level

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello,

I have 2 fish purchased at a LFS and the rest from @Dr. Reef. I plan on doing another large order from Dr Reef here once my 180g aquarium get up and running. I have never and dont plan on quarantining my corals or inverts. I know there is a chance of getting Ich from that but I feel I am capable to keep the fish happy enough to not succumb to it if it shows up. I have used Safety Stop on the 2 lfs fish as the only thing I am concerned about getting is velvet.

How effective is safety stop on killing velvet in that dose/45 mins?

Ask Dr. Reef about what he thinks of giving a formalin dip on newly shipped fish. years ago, I thought that might be a good idea, so I had my staff start doing that on incoming fish, and the mortality rate was horrendous, we stopped right away.

The problem with all dips is that they are not 100% effective, so one dip and into the DT is not a good idea. Velvet has been shown to be controlled by three 150 ppm peroxide dips daily, moving the fish to a sterile tank each time.

Jay