Formaldehyde

[JUBE-JUBE]

Hi Leebca,

I noticed you seem to be the main moderator or at lest its always the same two of you who lways post right away...anyway, I was reading through your fresh water dip and qt procedures and noticed that the link to the formaldehyde dip for anemonefish wasn't working. Just want to make sure its not just my computer acting up

[leebca]

Thanks. It seems to be a problem with the host computer (where the article is posted). I'll keep an eye on it and hope it clears up. I hope the article is not lost. It was one of the best. In the meantime, if you need to perform a treatment using Formalin, let me know. I have another reference.

[Reefland]

Lee's the man!

[JUBE-JUBE]

Is it possible to add a formalin dip either after or before a freshwater dip when introducing a new fish to Qt or would that cause way too much stress for one day??

[leebca]

WAY too much stress on the fish. I know it would easier on 'us' but not on the fish.

[leebca]

I was in contact with the author of the Formaldehyde paper. He indicates the site should be online again the beginning of July.

[vaporize]

While we are on the topic of formalin, jsut wondering if the formalin liquid is still safe to use with the formation of white residue of paraformaldehye?

I was told by a chemical store that I can just filter out the formalin liquid and the liquid is still safe to use, is that true? I know that paraformaldehye residue is deadly but if I only use the liquid....

[leebca]

The shelf life of Formalin is not good. It does precipitate and change chemistry with little difficulty. I know that Terry D. Bartelme recommends to not use such Formalin. He provides no 'fixes' for the altered Formalin.

In addition to the formation of other compounds, the Formaldehyde concentration has changed in the Formalin, so you don't know anymore what you're adding. A human application probably wouldn't matter, but for fish treatment, a specific concentration of Formalin/Formaldehyde must be used.

[summerr]

Where in the world would you even get that? I think it's illegal for the average joe to get it here due to people smoking it.

[leebca]

Where in the world. . .

More than 3 million tons of Formalin (or Formol) is produced annually in the world. Formaldehyde (Methanal), the gas, is produced for making many other chemicals and runs into the millions of liters of gas each year. It isn't stable. It is often stabilized with the addition of some methanol. Thus it's shelf-life is rather short. Old Formalin ranges from ineffective to toxic, to our ornamental marine fishes.

As for retail sales of Formalin, that is hard to find. It used to be sold routinely in pharmacies for applications to (human) skin and especially as a good disinfectant. But, it was deemed too dangerous for the public here in North America and taken off the shelves. Still, although hard to find, it is not restricted nor does it require a prescription.

Formalin is still used in the fish husbandry industry. People that have ponds use a fair quantity of Formalin. With the advent of the Internet, finding it at a mail-order online supplier for pond owners is usually possible.

Dilutions of Formalin can still be found on the local fish store shelf, called Formalin3. Instead of the true 37% Formaldehyde gas in water (Formalin), it is diluted to 3%.

Your pharmacist or chemical supplier can also get it, if you have those kinds of connections.