Pond
Pond Medication

• Overview
• General Purpose
  • Salt
  • Dosage
• Anti-Parasitic Medication
  • Dimilin
  • Fluke Tabs
  • Formalin
• Antibiotic Medication
  • Potassium Permanganate
  • Romet™ Medicated Food
  • Trimethoprim Sulfa (960 mg)

Overview
The Aquatic Critter stocks and recommends a very select group of pond medications. Many mass-marketed, over-the-counter "medications" simply do not work and in many cases can be lethal.

• Those medications which we stock were introduced to us by Dr. Erik Johnson, DVM, specializing in fish disease, and Roy Underwood, commercial Koi breeder for over a quarter of a century. Combined with adequate filtration, maintaining proper water quality and proper diet, these medicants should successfully and safely solve any disease problems you may encounter. They include:
  • Dimilin
  • Romet™ medicated food with Trimethoprim Sulfa
  • Fluke Tabs™ 
  • Formalin
  • Salt
  • Potassium Permanganate
  • Trimethoprim Sulfa
• Bacterial infections (ulcerations) are almost always secondary infections resulting from external wounds caused by parasites. Treatment should address both.
• Most parasitic and bacterial diseases are the result of, or compounded by, poor water quality. Fungus is always related to poor water quality.
• Medicating your pond without first checking and correcting water quality will have little or no benefit.
• Severely affected fish may die regardless of the administration of medicants.
• Most medications can be lethal if used improperly. Dosing and pond volume estimates must be exact.
• All medications are too concentrated to be introduced directly into the pond. They should be added to a bucket of pond water and allowed to dissolve; this solution then being distributed evenly around the pond, ensuring aggressive water circulation and aeration throughout the treatment.

The Aquatic Critter assumes no
responsibility for fish death
resulting from the use of medications.

General Purpose

Salt
If fish loss is occurring, it is often desirable to employ a "shotgun" treatment. Salt should undoubtedly be selected first if the diagnosis is unclear and a shotgun approach is taken because there is no other choice that is equally harmless. Salt has many benefits over other medicants. Namely:

• It does not harm the majority of fish species.
• It quickly eliminates seven of the nine parasites common to ponds.
• It does not get depleted from the pond by organics or sunlight.
• It does not pose a health risk to humans.
• It will not harm the filter bed.
• It does not reduce dissolved oxygen levels.
• lt inhibits the uptake of nitrites by the fish, thereby eliminating the damage done by nitrites to the red blood cells.
• It inhibits the uptake of ammonia by the fish, minimizing gill and and other tissue damage.
• It stimulates the fishes’ natural production of slime coat, providing additional protection against parasites and coating minor bacterial ulcerations.

Dosage
The salt being used must be non iodized; must not contain Yellow Prussiate of Soda, an anti-caking agent; must contain added minerals and should not contain any added ingredients which are not known to be non toxic. Many pond authorities also express concern over the use of water softening salt.

• TEST AND CORRECT WATER QUALITY.
• 3 pounds per 100 gallons. One third of the total amount should  be added each day for three successive days to avoid shocking the fish or filter.*
• Dissolve each day’s dose in a bucket of water and distribute it evenly around the pond.
• Duration of treatment is 14 to 21 days; the longer period being preferable.
• Perform a 50% water change following the last day of treatment.

Anti-Parasitic Medication

Dimilin
Primarily used for the treatment of anchorworm and argulus (fish lice), neither of which can be killed with salt. It is not effective against gill flukes.

• Discontinue chemical filtration during treatment.
• 1 gram per 1,000 gallons; 1 teaspoon per 5,OOO gallons.
• Dissolve in a bucket of water and distribute evenly around the pond.
• Repeat application every 30 to 60 days.

Fluke Tabs
Used for the treatment of flukes.

• TEST AND CORRECT WATER QUALITY.
• Remove and discard any chemical filter media, but do not discontinue filtration.
• One tablet per 10 gallons of water.
• Dissolve in a bucket of water and distribute evenly around the pond.
• Repeat treatment every 24 hours until treatment is effected; two treatments is usually adequate.
• A 50% water change is recommended 3 days after no further signs of the infestation are apparent.

Formalin
A broad spectrum anti-parasitic agent primarily used for the treatment of gill flukes and fungus that had not responded to salt, odinium, and cases of parasitic infestation where the pond owner values the plants more than the fish.

• TEST AND CORRECT WATER QUALITY. Formalin will bond with organic debris rendering the medication ineffective.
• Drain off 50% of the pond water.
• 1 tablespoon per 150 gallons; 1/4 cup per 600 gallons.
• Mix in a bucket of water and distribute evenly around the pond.
• After two hours, top off the pond.
• Discontinue biological filtration during treatment.
• Maintain aggressive water circulation and aeration throughout the treatment.
• Repeat the above procedure every second day for a total of three treatments.
• Perform a 50% water change 24 hours after the final treatment.

-WARNING- Formalin is a carcinogen. Formalin will kill off a substantial portion of your nitrifying bacteria causing water quality deterioration. Formalin has no beneficial effects if water temperature is below 65°. Formalin substantially reduces dissolved oxygen levels. It should not be used with out first checking dissolved oxygen content. It should never be used if the water temperature is above 80°.

Antibiotic Medication

Potassium Permanganate

Used for bacterial ulceration, fungus and flukes that had not responded to salt (Although effective against flukes, both Fluke Tabs and formalin are easier to administer). It is not a passive medication in that treatment may take as long as five successive days and you must be present to monitor what is transpiring and to react accordingly.

Dosage

• TEST AND CORRECT WATER QUALITY.
• Discontinue biological and chemical filtration during treatment.
• 1 teaspoon per 500 gallons.
• Dissolve in a bucket of water and distribute evenly around the pond ensuring aggressive water circulation and aeration.
• The pond water will first turn pink or purple. Placing a volume of pond water in a white bucket or a large white bowl will make this easier to see.
• The pond water will turn from purple to amber or brown signifying that the treatment is complete.
• Change approximately 40% of the pond water.
• Resume biological filtration.
• Repeat this procedure daily until the pond water maintains a pink or purple coloration for 8 to 10 hours.
• Use in conjunction with Romet medicated food when treating for bacterial ulceration.

Potassium permanganate is extremely effective as a topical treatment for bacterial ulcerations on fish larger than 8 inches. Mix with water into a thick paste, remove loose scales and swab into sores with a careful scrubbing action. Apply once only. Use a damp towel to help restrain the fish. Wearing latex gloves will prevent temporarily purple hands.

-CAUTION- The toxic level of this compound is only slightly higher than the therapeutic level. Dosing and pond volume estimates of the pond must be exact. If an overdose is suspected, immediately add dechiorinator (sodium thiosulfate), heavily aerate and begin multiple water changes. Potassium permanganate can cause eye damage. Wear protective eye cover.

Romet™ Medicated Food
Romet contains Trimethoprim Sulfa, widely recognized as one of the most effective and safest antibiotics for ornamental fish. Romet should be fed exclusively for the first two to three weeks in the spring and again for the last two to three weeks in the fall.

Romet should also be used in conjunction with other medications for the treatment of bacterial ulcerations.

Romet is nutritionally deficient for long term duration and is not intended to be used as an exclusive year round diet. Do not exceed a 30 day feeding period.

Trimethoprim Sulfa (960 mg)
The most desirable treatment for advanced cases of bacterial ulceration is intra peritoneal antibiotic injection. However, many times injection is either impossible or cost prohibitive. In such cases a bath in trimethoprim sulfa is usually effective.

DOSAGE

• Test and correct pond water quality
• ¼ teaspoon per 10 gallons of fresh, dechlorinated water.
• Bathe affected fish for 6 to 8 hours maintaining aeration and a temperature of 76-80°.
• After the first bath, apply potassium permanganate as a topical treatment with fish over 8 inches. Mix with water into a thick paste, remove loose scales and swab into sores with a careful scrubbing action. Use a damp towel to help restrain the fish.
• Return the fish to the pond or holding facility.
• Repeat the treatment for 3 successive days using a fresh solution each time.
• Use in conjunction with Romet medicated food.

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