I Am About To Take Some Very Risky Measures...

[scaeriefaerie666]

I know that i have parasites in my tank, which aren't reacting to my formalin based treatment. I tried medicated food and it had no effect, and as such i'm going to have to potassium permanganate the tank.
My female cichlid has been unwell for over a month - eating but always losing weight, very listless, her spine is starting to become bent and all of the other fish are flicking and rubbing which is reduced slightly by raising the temp to 30. But it's not working and i need to sort it before she dies. I can't just dip her as they're in the water and it won't make any difference! Plus i think the stress of a dip would kill her - and it isn't recommended with PP.

My questions then, are these: What is the doseage i need for a 48l tank? and what special measures do i need to make? I have a bristlenose catfish in there, will the PP harm her?

As it stands i'm looking at introducing a 1.8g doseage into the tank (after being disolved in tank water first obviously). I'm going to gravel vac properly and take the filter out - and maximise the oxygen content, as i have two massive airstones in a small tank.

Anything i should be aware of? Is this the right thing to do?
xxx

 

[scaeriefaerie666]

does anyone have any experience of treating with Potassium Permanganate?
xxx

 

[KittyKat]

What parasites are they?

Edit: thanks Athena, I should really read sigs! scaeriefaerie666, that stocking sounds bad! Bristlenoses need a 3ft tank, as do zebra danios and white cloud mountain minnows, if that is what yours are!

 

[Athena]

Sorry, but can I just ask what fish you have in that 48 litre tank? You mention a cichlid (what type?) and a bristlenose catfish - what are the others?

I'm just worried that your tank may be overstocked which is why you are having all these problems with disease. If so, then no amount of medicating will solve it in the long run, as it will continue to cause problems.

Regards, Athena

 

[anon02]

It is not advisable to treat with medication before you know what you are treating for, you could do more harm than good, you would be better off giving a list of symptoms along with your observations
There are many causes of flicking and rubbing and not all are due to parasites, I haven`t heard of PP being used as medication, I was under the impression that it is used as an antiseptic but I could be wrong

 

[loraxchick]

PP is a good antiparasitic. Havent used it myself so cannot recommend a dosage. Have you tried googling it? Sorry i dont have better advise.
you really also need to be internally treating with medicated food. From the sounds of the symptoms the parasites are internal. PP will help with free-floating stages of the organism, but internal treatment with medicated food is also advised.
All the best. Wish i could have been more assistance with the dosage.
cheers

 

[scaeriefaerie666]

My stocking is fine, the fish are all small and have more than enough room body length/water ratio wise. I have 3 white cloud minnows, 2 danios, 3 male guppies, 2 dwarf ram cichlids and a small bristlenose. I'm moving to a 4ft tank (about 300l) when i move home again after university in a few months so my stocking isn't an issue. Its never been an issue, and the parasites have come in with the bristlenose.
I know that it's flukes i'm dealing with but normal medication and salt / temp rises aren't effective enough and it just keeps coming back so this is why i'm resorting to drastic measures. Only the female cichlid is suffering internally, but flukes can move internally when they progress.
I've done a lot of research and know what i'm doing is risky - but everyone tells me it's the only way to get rid of them well and truly, and after months of treating solidly to no avail - i'm beginning to see their point. All i need to know is what doseage, as every site gives a different answer and i have no way of calculating how many grams would be needed for a 48l tank to reach a ratio of 2ppm; and is it going to harm my bristlenose. If so i can remove her for the 8 hours of treatment, and move her back afterwards. If not, i'd rather keep her in there to be safe rather than sorry.
loraxchick, i tried medicated food - i asked for advice before about it, but she's spitting it out whole again, and as such it is doing nothing (though i am carrying it on) but thankyou for the advice anyway.
I know it's a bit medieval and so many people here won't have come across it as a medication, but i was hoping that someone will be able to at least tell me i'm right with a 1.8g dose for 48l and leaving the catfish in.
Sorry if it comes across short, but its been a long day and i'm in a lot of pain.
xxx

 

[roofer no1]

My stocking is fine, the fish are all small and have more than enough room body length/water ratio wise. I have 3 white cloud minnows, 2 danios, 3 male guppies, 2 dwarf ram cichlids and a small bristlenose. I'm moving to a 4ft tank (about 300l) when i move home again after university in a few months so my stocking isn't an issue. Its never been an issue, and the parasites have come in with the bristlenose.
I know that it's flukes i'm dealing with but normal medication and salt / temp rises aren't effective enough and it just keeps coming back so this is why i'm resorting to drastic measures. Only the female cichlid is suffering internally, but flukes can move internally when they progress.
I've done a lot of research and know what i'm doing is risky - but everyone tells me it's the only way to get rid of them well and truly, and after months of treating solidly to no avail - i'm beginning to see their point. All i need to know is what doseage, as every site gives a different answer and i have no way of calculating how many grams would be needed for a 48l tank to reach a ratio of 2ppm; and is it going to harm my bristlenose. If so i can remove her for the 8 hours of treatment, and move her back afterwards. If not, i'd rather keep her in there to be safe rather than sorry.
loraxchick, i tried medicated food - i asked for advice before about it, but she's spitting it out whole again, and as such it is doing nothing (though i am carrying it on) but thankyou for the advice anyway.
I know it's a bit medieval and so many people here won't have come across it as a medication, but i was hoping that someone will be able to at least tell me i'm right with a 1.8g dose for 48l and leaving the catfish in.
Sorry if it comes across short, but its been a long day and i'm in a lot of pain.
xxx

Hi mate i dont now a lot about flukes my self but i found this http/www.aquaticcommunity.com/disease/flukes.php Hope this helps