Risks of H2O2 Dosing for Ich

[Lil Puff]

Hi, I’m planning on dosing H2O2 in my tank to try and manage ich but I’m wondering what the risks are for my tank. Will it kill all my beneficial bacteria? Is it safe with scaleless fish? Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi, I’m planning on dosing H2O2 in my tank to try and manage ich but I’m wondering what the risks are for my tank. Will it kill all my beneficial bacteria? Is it safe with scaleless fish? Thanks!

Peroxide is an oxidizer and many as of recent are resorting to peroxide treatment and failing with eradication and management
It’s a chance you take and it can impact bacteria but at low level
I highly recommend standard copper quarantine opposed to peroxide but its your call

 

[bushdoc]

As above.
The biggest risk is that it will not work to eradicate ice and disease will spread more and decimate your fish population.
There is high potential for overdosing, especially with prolonged use as you will with time oxydize most of organic compounds in your tank and with subsequent dosing level of peroxide will be rising to potentially toxic for fish and inverts concentrations.

 

[sc50964]

I only use it as a last resort dipping option for velvet & fluke.

 

[Daenion]

How big is your setup?

I think for “management” an oversized UV (1watt per 3gallons) is the more common approach.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi, I’m planning on dosing H2O2 in my tank to try and manage ich but I’m wondering what the risks are for my tank. Will it kill all my beneficial bacteria? Is it safe with scaleless fish? Thanks!

Long term low level dosing of hydrogen peroxide is more than a bit experimental. At some point between 7 and 10 ppm, you'll see detrimental effects - shrimp will die, maybe snails, and the biofilter will take a hit.

As @bushdoc said - The biggest issue is that the amount of reactive peroxide in the water is wholly dependent on the amount of organics it contains - the more organics the peroxide has to react with, the more of it gets used up before it can effectively control the fish diseases. Water Works makes a low range peroxide test - that can be used to measure the amount of unreacted peroxide still in the water, and is really the only way to accurately control the dose.

Jay