Backyard Aquaponics
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The active ingredient for the aquatic animal treatment method and composition of this invention is cajeput. As used herein, "cajeput", sometimes called cajuput or cajeputi or oil of tram, is the substance that is obtainable from the low growing shrub-like tree of the Melaleuca species, preferably Melaleuca cajuputi Powell (Myrtaceae) or Melaleuca leucadendron L. (Myrtaceae), which is indigenous to Southeast Asia. References to cajeput in this disclosure are intended to include cajeput oil, the most commonly available form of cajeput. Cajeput oil is typically produced by the known technique of hydrodistillation (steam distillation) of fresh leaves and twigs of the Melaleuca species. It is important to note that the cajeput utilized in this invention is a complex mixture of components normally found in cajeput oil, rather than a single component fractionally distilled and separated from cajeput, e.g., 1,8-cineole. Cajeput oil is produced in commercial quantities in Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, and is readily available from commercial suppliers of naturally derived food and cosmetic oils and extracts.

Cajeput oil is preferred in view of its commercial availability, but other forms of cajeput may also be used, e.g., cajeput extract in a liquid (solvent or another oil), cajeput adsorbed onto or absorbed into a solid carrier or substrate, or cajeput associated with other vehicles, provided that such vehicles are compatible with the administration of the cajeput into water harboring the aquatic animal to be treated and do not adversely affect the aquatic animal being treated or other beneficial aquatic life in the water.

Cajeput oil may be introduced directly into water containing aquatic animal to be treated, but it should be noted that cajeput oil is relatively insoluble in water. Consequently, direct addition of cajeput to water requires an effective means of dispersion, e.g., high speed or high shear mixing, and such intensive dispersion is preferably carried out in a localized region in the absence of the aquatic animal being treated to avoid injury; a metering/mixing pump or an inline mixer, e.g., mixing valve or orifice, may be used to accomplish the direct dispersion of cajeput in water.

A preferred technique for administering the cajeput in this invention involves the use of an aqueous mixture or dispersion of cajeput that is introduced into the water harboring the aquatic animal to be treated. The aqueous mixture or dispersion of cajeput is preferably introduced to the water containing the aquatic animal in a manner that ensures further mixing of the mixture or dispersion in the water. Such mixing should provide relatively uniform distribution of the cajeput throughout the water, so that the fish or other aquatic animals being treated are continually exposed to the cajeput as they swim in the water. In a small volume of water such as a fish hobbyist's fish aquarium, normally circulation of the water, e.g., via aeration of the water, typically provides good mixing and distribution of the cajeput through the aquarium water. If there is no filter pump or aerator or if circulation of the aquarium water is otherwise inadequate, the mixture or dispersion of cajeput may be simply poured in and the aquarium water gently stirred. For larger volumes of water harboring the fish or other aquatic animals to be treated, additional mechanical mixing may be required.

With respect to the aqueous mixture or dispersion containing cajeput used to treat small volumes of water, e.g., aquariums containing less than about 50 gal (190 l), vigorous shaking of cajeput and water in a sealed container of less than about 1 gal (3.8 l) is normally sufficient to provide an aqueous cajeput mixture suitable for use by the typical fish hobbyist. The aqueous cajeput mixture may then be introduced into the aquarium water by simply pouring the mixture into the aquarium.

A preferred cajeput composition of this invention is an aqueous mixture containing from about 0.1% to about 20% cajeput, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 10% cajeput and most preferably about 1% to about 5% cajeput, all percentages being by volume.

The aqueous cajeput-containing composition preferably contains an emulsifier in an amount sufficient to emulsify the cajeput oil in water, to provide a relatively stable emulsion. Preferred emulsifiers (sometimes called surfactants) are those which are nontoxic and noninjurious to the aquatic animal being treated, and these include food grade emulsifiers which are widely available.

Nonionic emulsifiers are especially preferred, with Crovol.TM. PK-70 nonionic emulsifier (Croda Inc., Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S.A.) being a highly preferred nonionic emulsifier that is water soluble.

The amount of emulsifier used to provide emulsification of the cajeput oil in water is generally not critical, and the concentration of emulsifier may range from about 0.01% to about 20%, more preferably about 0.1% to about 5%, all percentages being by volume. For emulsifiers or surfactants that are normally not liquid, the numerical concentration ranges just noted may be used, with percentages being by weight based on the volume of aqueous emulsion.

Other adjuvants besides emulsifiers may also be used, such as antifoams or defoamers, antioxidants, preservatives, coloring agents and the like. The adjuvants are typically present in the aqueous cajeput composition in minor amounts, i.e., less than about 5% by volume and preferably less than 1% by volume. All such adjuvants should be noninjurious and nontoxic to the fish and other aquatic animals being treated, as well as to other beneficial aquatic organisms present in the water along with the aquatic animal being treated, such as various types of invertebrates and plants.

A particularly preferred stable emulsified aqueous cajeput composition is as follows:


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cajeput oil 1% by volume
emulsifier 1% by volume
defoamer 0.2% by volume
deionized water
97.8% by volume
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The emulsifier is preferably Crovol.TM. PK-70 nonionic emulsifier (Croda Inc.) and the defoamer is preferably FG-10 antifoam (Dow-Corning Corp., Midland, Michigan, U.S.A.), the latter serving to control foaming otherwise caused by the emulsifier. The composition may be prepared by vigorously mixing the cajeput oil, emulsifier and defoamer in the deionized water, to produce an aqueous emulsion that is stabilized against separation of the cajeput oil from the aqueous phase. Such mixing may be carried out with a mechanical mixer or by manual shaking.

An aqueous mixture containing cajeput, e.g., 1% by volume, can be prepared without the emulsifier and defoamer, but such an aqueous mixture must be vigorously shaken (for 1-5 minutes) or mechanically agitated prior to use to disperse the cajeput oil uniformly throughout the aqueous phase.

Cajeput has been found to be extremely effective in providing complete recovery of afflicted fish or other aquatic animals even when used at low concentrations. For this reason, the present invention includes, as a preferred treatment, introducing cajeput into the water in which the afflicted aquatic animals are normally harbored or confined.

In the treatment method of this invention, the cajeput is introduced into the water containing the fish or other aquatic animal to be treated in an amount of from about 0.001 ml (1 microliter) to about 1 ml, preferably from about 0.01 ml (10 microliters) to about 0.5 ml (500 microliters), per day per 10 gallons (37.8 liters) of water containing the aquatic animal(s) being treated; these amounts are based on the volume of cajeput per se. This amount may be added as a single dosage each day, as is preferred, or may be added in aliquots of the daily dosage throughout the day.

obtainable from the low growing shrub-like tree of the Melaleuca species, preferably Melaleuca cajuputi Powell (Myrtaceae) or Melaleuca leucadendron L. (Myrtaceae)