Peroxide - Effectiveness as in disinfectant or parasite killer?

[vaporize]

Hi Lee

I was reading some medicine ingredients and found out that Peroxide is used a few of the "reef-safe" medications to kill ich and velvet.

I am wondering how safe it is to use as a tank disinfectant. Like after a QT is done and over with, sometimes people like to bleach their tanks, however I am not sure if it is because of the brand of bleach I use or not, but I seems to always get residue left on the tank and cause alot of discomfort for the fish. I bleach the tank and then use sodium thiosulfate (in Seachem Prime) to neutralize it, then wash out the tank with new fresh water. But the process does not seem to totally neutralize the bleach and cause issues.

I ended up having to use alot of vinegar to try to wash out any residue.

I am wondering if peroxide would be a much safer alternative, just add a bunch of peroxide into a tank with freshwater and allow water circulation.

I did recall reading from a literature that sometimes wholesalers add peroxide into tank water or bag water to temporary increase the oxygen content in shipping or as an alternative suggestion for black-outs. And maybe something about peroxide will automatically dissipate itself in the long run?

What are your thoughts on that?

[leebca]

Peroxide is a strong oxidizer and as such a good disinfectant. Just can't be used in an effective concentration in a living aquarium to really do much good -- that is to say -- things will die along with the targeted organism. Since Marine Ich is well defended while buried into the skin of the fish, and since peroxide doesn't hang around very long, the parasite can 'get around' such a treatment easily.

For clean up, I'd stick with just the basics: Marine System Clean Up Recommendations. After all is said and done, drying it out for a few days will kill Marine Ich -- no chemicals needed.

[vaporize]

So using it as a disinfectant like to oxidize and kill parasite & bacteria is good right (not in a live aquarium)? I am trying to find an alternative to bleach , since peroxide "does not hang around" too long, I am hoping that I do not have to do alot to neutralize it (just a 100% water change) and the tank is good to go.

Sometimes there are impulsive buys that cannot wait for a tank to dry so a sure-fire way of disinfecting it FAST would be useful (just that i'm scare of bleach after i used it for two times)

p.s. Just read your post again, you said "parasites can get around" it easily .... ops, so guess it's not that good. But a 100% freshwater wash for a few hours should in theory kill parasites like ich & velvet & flukes since they shouldn't stay in freshwater too long, Or they can actually live/hibernate for awhile too?

[leebca]

In pure freshwater, these obligate parasites can't live long. Those one in a billion that survive would not likely be able to infect.

I'd stick to the cleaning regime outlined.