Sodium percarbonate is a little known but effective disinfectant. Or how to cheaply prevent diseases of freshwater fish in industrial farming.

Sodium percarbonate (Na2CO3 x 1.5 H2O2 x H2O) is still underestimated and little known disinfectant in freshwater fish farming. However, its use for both therapeutic and preventive baths of salmonid fry and eggs is becoming more and more popular. This compound in water in the presence of organic substances decomposes into hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate. Sodium carbonate stabilizes the pH of the water (Slierendrecht 2001). On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide exhibits strong oxidizing properties. During the disinfection process, it breaks down into water and oxygen. In this way, it removes pathogens and parasites and purifies the water. During this process, large amounts of free oxygen enter the water. Hydrogen peroxide effectively fights fungal infections (Grudniewska 2005), it is also not indifferent to bacteria, viruses and fungal spores. Its use enriches the water with oxygen, thanks to which it can be used even during periodic summer slumps, in baths without flow and periods when the eggs/fry show an increased demand for oxygen (Slierendrecht 2001).

A significant advantage of sodium percarbonate is the safety of use. It does not pose a threat to fish, people performing the procedure and is not a threat to the natural environment. Acute toxicity study of sodium percarbonate on fry of rainbow trout with LC 50 results of 220 mg/l after 48 hours classifies it as a substance of low toxicity according to the Svoboda and Vykus classifications.

The use of sodium percarbonate in the fight against external parasites in fry and prophylaxis during incubation.

Sodium percarbonate can be used at low and high temperatures, however, at water temperatures above 15 ^° C, it is recommended to use more frequent baths with lower concentrations of the active agent. Such action will protect sensitive eggs, fry or hatching larvae from too rapid cleaning process. Sodium percarbonate reacts more violently at higher temperatures. The recommended dose in preventive baths during the incubation of eggs and disinfection of rainbow trout fry is approx. 100 g of the active preparation per m3 of water. In such a prepared solution, the duration of the bath should range from 20 to 30 minutes. The treatment should be repeated on the incubating eggs at intervals of two or three days until the eggs are eyed. The treatment inhibits the development of mold on dead roe grains and increases the survival rate of the larvae and, as a result, the fry.

Sodium percarbonate in the fight against Kostya (Ichthyobodo necator) and ballworm (Ichthyophthirius multifilis).

Rainbow trout brood is particularly sensitive to Kostia (Ichthyobodo necator) invasion, even a massive parasite invasion can be combated by successive therapeutic baths in sodium percarbonate solution 50 g/m3. The first phase of therapy is bathing for 30 minutes to 1 hour daily for 4 days. Then the baths go into the immunity strengthening phase, every two days we bathe the fry three times. Such treatments permanently inhibit the development of parasite invasion.

The effectiveness of sodium percarbonate in combating ballworm (Ichthyophthirius multifilis) is also confirmed by research. Positive treatment results are obtained with daily baths for the next 4 days in a solution of 50-70g/m3. Treatments carried out in this way give positive effects, although you can also use the variant of six baths every other day. Depending on the amount of fish on the farm and the availability of free man hours, either the first or the second method can be used .

To sum up, sodium percarbonate is a cheap preparation that is safe for fish, operators and the environment, enabling effective fight against infections of freshwater fish at the stage of both incubation of eggs and fry. We can use it safely both in the prevention and fight against the most popular infections and parasitic invasions.

Sodium percarbonate available at distripark.com .

*This article is for informational purposes only. The presented description, in particular the use of the products, is exemplary and constitutes non-binding information about the characteristics and possibilities of their use/application. In any case, before using the product, consult a specialist whether the specific use is safe and justified. We do not bear any responsibility for the use of the proposed solutions, even in very similar situations.