Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok done a bit of research into bactonex, and you are all very right, it is nasty stuff. It is generally used as a tropical antisepic, the main active constituents is Aminacrine hydrochloride, and is used as in experimental mutagen studies.

back to the salt I go, but will look into the formalin, that sound like the go...

If you decide to use Formalin... please read, and reread the directions for use.... and make sure that at the very least you use a good respirator....

Having already given them a dose Jessy... you could use a salt treatment regardless...

I would have suggested a salt dip, followed by a salt bath for a couple of hours... ie literally roll the fish in salt, then keep in a 12ppt solution for 2 hours... but the first part involves capture and handling... as may possibly the second ....

But... they're Barramundi... a salt tolerant fish... so you could salt to 10-12ppt salt anyway... and leave them for a week or so...

You would want to (preferably) isolate them in new water and away from the plants... and dump the tank water that might be harbouring opportunisitic bacteria and/or fungi...

Just make sure that your aerate, aerate and aerate...

And either dont feed for several days.... or at least cut the feed right back.....

Ok now I am so confused. Done the google search and I have used formaldehyde on the trawlers, to preserve fish. This is a carsnogenic agent aswell, and knocked me for a six one time a beauty.

It said in my search that formalin is a saturated solution of formaldehyde, so how does this all work out ROZ, to be a safer solution..

found this site on using formualin, very interesting

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VM061

You are correct Jessy... Formalin is a saturated solution of Formaldehyde... and yes it is also nasty to stuff...

It is however extremely powerful, effective and gives rapid results....

It does have a with-holding period... and I certainly wouldn't eat any fish that had been treated with it within the last couple of weeks...

However any residual affects that may be held within the fish stock flesh are (supposedly) quite quickly broken within a week or so...

Widely used in the aquaculture industry....

It is , as the link you provided suggest, primarily used as a parasite treatment, but can have bacterial and fungal preventative benefits....

The only other option is oxytetra.... but it's not worth doing unless the fish actually have a bacterial or fungal condition....

Any opportunistic infection will thrive in warmer water... if you can lower your tank temperature and keep in lowered for at least a week... even if this means changing water...

And please note..... if you use Formalin... you must aerate,aerate,aerate....



It may also have a very negative affect on the bacteria in your growbeds....

It needs to be used in isolation....

And I can't stress enough.... it is also nasty stuff... and hazardous to use.... beware....

Actually having given it more thought Jessy....

I'm going to actually advise against using Formalin... as I'm concerned as to how it might affect the fish with open wounds...

Generally it's used as a parasite treament anyway...

And I have to issue a general disclaimer... that it's not really a product that should be used by the average AP'er....

Best idea IMO... is to lower your tank temperature to nobble opportunisitc bacteria.... salt and aerate....

And isolate the fish from your other stock if possible..... for the sake of the other fish....

You will have already achieved benefit from your previous treatment method...

Just how are the fish anyway...???

A quick up date , the system is cruising at a steady pace, going to re seed the beds with heirloom seeds from the diggers club. Feeling I don't have enough ammonia in the system so I am going add it in some other way.

Barra, have been off their feed, though they should make it through. And anyone thinks a fish has a short memory span, well they must be mistaken.

I have been using a formalin additive, and just done anouther order for 5 litres more. Its a good remedy , thanks Rupert.

Good to hear Jessy.... yep it works well ... mighty powerful stuff.... just nothing subtle about it... including handling the stuff....

Been a long hard slog to get these fish to this size.

Estimating they are 150mm to 160 mm. They came here 20 to 30 mm on the 3 October, so 7 weeks , and have been through Hell with the local kids

And go through Hell when I want to catch them

All should fare well, genset ordered, in case of power out

All barra have evil eyes

Well I found something new and interesting out yesterday ( probably a few of you already know ) ....I have been mincing up Mullies and Barra pellets ( 6mm ) to feed to the fish and the Hatchery Manager in Broome, warned me off using pilchards as they are so oily and can create fatty liver in the Barra.

Just ordered 3 mm Barra feed, and will see if they will eat this one.....

and ordered anouther 150 Barra to join the others.

Once more into the breach.

Still have 100 or more left, but just thought what the heck