Formalin while in Hypo?
 

Is it safe to do a formalin bath while in hypo?, or is that too much at once for the fish to handle?

Many fish can tolerate it, an equal number may take it poorly, dependent of the species and a variety of other factors. Formalin itself is quite unpredictable when combined with other major stressors.

My question would be this: if you have accurately diagnosed the pathogen and started a hyposalinity treatment at a salinity and duration appropriate for the problem you are trying to solve, why double the stress on the animal? ...kind of like baking cookies at 700 degrees instead of 350 to get them done in 1/2 the time, somethings going to get burned :)

NO - do NOT attempt this.

Many types of fish medications become lethal to SW fish in lower specific gravity. Copper especially. [u]Do one treatment at a time.[/u]

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11556725#post11556725 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Snowboarda42 [/i]
[B]NO - do NOT attempt this.

Many types of fish medications become lethal to SW fish in lower specific gravity. Copper especially. [u]Do one treatment at a time.[/u] [/B][/QUOTE]

Ok, thanks for the clarification, the Steven Pro article linked [url]http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-08/sp/index.htm[/url] in the stickies on Ich mentioned copper, formalin, copper and formalin and hypo as treatments, and I was wondering about formalin and hypo together to get the Ich (hypo) and any other external parasites (formalin) at the same time.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11556860#post11556860 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Apercula [/i]
[B]Ok, thanks for the clarification, the Steven Pro article linked [url]http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-08/sp/index.htm[/url] in the stickies on Ich mentioned copper, formalin, copper and formalin and hypo as treatments, and I was wondering about formalin and hypo together to get the Ich (hypo) and any other external parasites (formalin) at the same time. [/B][/QUOTE] That articles discusses a variety of different treatment options: copper [b]or[/b] formalin [b]or[/b] hyposalinity [b]or[/b] copper with formalin. You might have also noticed that this last combination treatment did not get a ringing endorsement from me.

Steven, Thanks for the reply, I had felt the lack of enthusiasm for the combo treatment, but since I was in the process of lowering the qt to hypo levels I felt it was worth asking about the formalin.

I have formalin and copper on hand and some previous experience with them, but Im doing hypo which is new to me because im unenthusiastic about soaking my fish in poison.