Potassium permanganate solution?

[Anonymous]

read in a magazine that some researchers had discovered a more effective cure for ich. They were able to administer really small doses to a batch of channel cats and it cleared up the ich very quickly. Any one know if this could have possible reef uses?

Glenn

 

[DarwinTheDog]

I don't have an anwser for you, but as I recall Potassium permanganate lowers pH. I could be wrong...just rings a bell. If it is what I am thinking it probably wouldn't be appropriate for reefs.

HTH

 

[fishfarmer]

I'm not quite sure but I think this is/was used as a colorant for ponds, to keep algae from growing. It is a strong oxidizer and the catalog I'm looking at says it is shipped with a hazardous label. I'm guessing it probably wouldn't be a good thing for reefs. Most of the good parasite killers aren't

.

 

[polyp]

I've also heard of it being used to help supress cyano growth. It's very powerful in salt water as compared to it's strength in fresh water (I'm basing this on dosage comparison only, so I could be off base). Albert Thiel once recommended using it to raise the redox potential of the tank water in the event of a power failure or if things otherwise fouled... - I've tried this, and it works to such effect, but don't do it without monitoring very carefully with an ORP meter...'course this was back when some also advocated adding 15% peroxide to the water to keep it shiny clean and the ORP high, so don't use this info as good advice, as you could shock your tank pretty badly. Also, I believe certain creatures could be quite sensitive to any sudden change in redox potential (ORP). In the case you mention, I'd guess it's efficacy would be realized by helping to maintain the water quality (possibly through the oxidation of dissolved organics and thus lowering the overall burden of the tank in terms of it's biological oxygen demand?? ...I really don't know)... Probably best to just keep an eye on the water quality and do water changes as necessary. People seem to be getting good results by using garlic remedies for ich.

 

[dawgfish]

Rover,
Which magazine did you read this in? Sounds like it could be a interesting article.
TYLER

 

[Anonymous]

It was a trade magazine distributed to pet stores. I've got it at work. I'll re-read it and post it tomorrow. The thing that caught my attention was (I may be wrong here) I believe that the dosage was in the parts per billion. They were talking about the marketing possibilities for freshwater aquariums.

Glenn

 

[liquid]

I tried it a year ago as a last resort for a cyano bloom and all it did was piss my corals off royally. IMHO I would not put the stuff in a reef tank...

liquid

 

[Anonymous]

I reread the article yesterday. Basically it stated that the ich was erradicated in one hour using a dose of 1 ppm. SO maybe it would work as a dip. I'm not sure how it affected the dormant stages of the parasite however. But it may be beneficial for wholesalers or LFS's to use upon arrival of a shipment, or for use in a quarantine tank at home.

Glenn

 

[MiNdErAsR]

If I'm not mistaken, potassium permanganate is a powerful oxidizer (hence the temporary increase in ORP). Not something I'd want to add to my tank. You might as well use bleach!

No thank you!

[ October 11, 2001: Message edited by: MiNdErAsR ]