Les Melling 27/03/2018
OK, I am aware the following post is going to be somewhat controversial but I make no apologies for along with it being posted on another forum 2 days ago so an update will be given at the end of this article.
Before I say anything more Oxydator’s will not cure white spot or itch, period. I am not going to bore you all with the life cycle of white spot or the cures for it. There are more than enough articles out there you can look up some very good some not so. However, what many don’t tell you is why fish die from white spot so I will state it here.
The spots you see on the fish’s body are very unlikely to kill the fish its more often the spots you are unlikely to see that are the real killers, the spot that invades the gills of the fish are the deadliest. These parasites can become so numerous covering the insides of the gills that the fish dies from asphyxiation blocking off much needed oxygen and the raspatory system fails to deliver the O2 to the rest of the body of the fish. The fish is literally smothered to death.
Now we have that out of the way just what can the use Oxydator’s do in the fight against the dreaded white spot? Using an Oxydator sized correctly with the correct % of peroxide and number of catalysts is quite simply like putting an oxygen mask on the fish allowing more oxygen to pass into the gills between the spots. Of course, if the spots manage to completely cover the gills then little or no oxygen will pass through and it is important to use an Oxydator as soon as diagnosis of white spot has been confirmed.
In all my years keeping marines I have only encountered white spot in my tank on 2 occasions and in the last 25 years or so I have not had a single serious outbreak of white spot in any of the tanks I have owned using Oxydator’s. I am not suggesting the use of Oxydator’s will prevent the parasites invading your fish but I will suggest Oxydator’s are an aid in fighting it by increasing the available oxygen to the fish and keeping your tank water at optimum O2 levels which can only be a good thing.
Oxydator’s do not only keep the tank water at optimum O2 levels but also helps clean the water by oxidising organics and the compounds in the water leading to cleaner water and helping to create a better environment for your fish and corals. When used correctly you tank water will stay gin clear and sparkling. Ammonia will be neutralised along with nitrite and the whole tank will take on a more vibrant look, but I digress. However, the increase in water quality Oxydator’s bring is to be welcomed.
My current tank’s capacity is a little shy of 100 UK gallons and very heavily stocked with both fish and corals. I have some delicate SPS and fish in the system along with a H.magnifica anemone which is thriving along with the hosted clowns. My most delicate fish are 2 angels, a Multibar and a Real angle. I also have one Tang a sliver spot and numerous other small fish inc Royal grammas which are quite an itch catcher in fact when I last added a RG it broke out in a few white spots but they were gone within 2 days and none of the other fish showed any signs of white spot. My royal grammas continue to show no further evidence of white spot.
I have never quarantined a fish in my life and since using Oxydator’s I have not had a serious outbreak of disease in any of my tanks for over 25 years. I don’t put that down solely to the use of Oxydator’s that is another story for another time. Enough to say I firmly believe they are a great aid in helping to keep a healthy thriving well stocked reef aquarium.
In the above set up which I may add is well filtered with a powerful skimmer, Siporax, live rock in the DT and an efficient algae turf scrubber I have 2 Oxydator model A’s with 2 catalysts running 9% Hydrogen peroxide. I also have a lot of water movement in the DT.
Up until recently I was using 12% peroxide but lowered it to 9% as I don’t feel my tank need the extra 3% strength. Sochting recommends no more than 6% peroxide and 2 catalysts in most of their aquarium models depending on tank size and stocking levels which equals bio-load. However, I have doubled their recommendations at times without ill effect when I was experimenting with them all those years ago.
The 2 Oxydator’s are situated in the sump in the only place I can fit them next to the incoming water from the DT. Ideally, I would like them near the return pump but alas I don’t have the space in my 3’ sump. In fact, the best place to fit an Oxydator is in the DT itself But I don’t even have room to put them in the rear corners as I have so much coral preventing it.
I have a good friend with a relatively new 300 gallon system, he loves tangs and has a number of them. Recently he bought a large Regal angel which only lived a few days and introduced white spot into his aquarium.
My friend does not have Oxydator’s in his system, well that was until the dreaded white spot broke out and infected most of his fish and especially his tangs which have a good or should that be bad covering of white spot. When he phoned me to tell me of the outbreak I immediately told him to cover over and I lent him both my Oxydator’s and 12% peroxide while he waiting for a large Oxydator W to arrive that I told him to order.
I have my Oxydator’s back and he has had the Oxydator W in his tank the last few days with the 12% peroxide and no less than 4 catalysts. Currently, the fish still have white spot but they are feeding and swimming around fine with no losses. Only time will tell if they can fight the white spot off which is the hope of course. His corals are also remaining unaffected by the high concentration of Oxygen in the water. You have to remember Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful bleach (ladies used to use it to bleach heir hair hence the term bleached blond) and you don’t want much if any to get into the DT. The Oxydator breaks most of the peroxide down into water and what Sochting call “activated oxygen” This is many ways is similar to ozone.
A word of warning, if peroxide gets into the DT in any great quantity corals and especially anemone’s will react negatively to it so you do have to be careful with its use.
The above is just my experience and observations, I am aware it does not represent a scientific study and you may wish to call it anecdotal if you will.
*UPDATE*
I heard from my friend this morning and he gave me an update on the condition of his fish and especially his tangs, he has a sailfin which was the most infected with white spot, a regal, purple, Sohal, bristle tooth and one or two more.
It is now 4 days since the outbreak was noticed and since when the Oxydators I lent him which were replaced with the Oxydator W 2 days ago. To date he has lost no fish, all are eating like pigs and apart from scratching they are behaving normally. His purple tang has no spots on it what so ever that he can see. The sailfin has notably fewer spots on it along with the rest of his tangs. His clowns of which he has 6 all remain white spot free along with his wrasses.
Still early days I know but the present situation is encouraging. I will report back as and when either good news or bad. Watch this space if at all interested.
OK, I am aware the following post is going to be somewhat controversial but I make no apologies for along with it being posted on another forum 2 days ago so an update will be given at the end of this article.
Before I say anything more Oxydator’s will not cure white spot or itch, period. I am not going to bore you all with the life cycle of white spot or the cures for it. There are more than enough articles out there you can look up some very good some not so. However, what many don’t tell you is why fish die from white spot so I will state it here.
The spots you see on the fish’s body are very unlikely to kill the fish its more often the spots you are unlikely to see that are the real killers, the spot that invades the gills of the fish are the deadliest. These parasites can become so numerous covering the insides of the gills that the fish dies from asphyxiation blocking off much needed oxygen and the raspatory system fails to deliver the O2 to the rest of the body of the fish. The fish is literally smothered to death.
Now we have that out of the way just what can the use Oxydator’s do in the fight against the dreaded white spot? Using an Oxydator sized correctly with the correct % of peroxide and number of catalysts is quite simply like putting an oxygen mask on the fish allowing more oxygen to pass into the gills between the spots. Of course, if the spots manage to completely cover the gills then little or no oxygen will pass through and it is important to use an Oxydator as soon as diagnosis of white spot has been confirmed.
In all my years keeping marines I have only encountered white spot in my tank on 2 occasions and in the last 25 years or so I have not had a single serious outbreak of white spot in any of the tanks I have owned using Oxydator’s. I am not suggesting the use of Oxydator’s will prevent the parasites invading your fish but I will suggest Oxydator’s are an aid in fighting it by increasing the available oxygen to the fish and keeping your tank water at optimum O2 levels which can only be a good thing.
Oxydator’s do not only keep the tank water at optimum O2 levels but also helps clean the water by oxidising organics and the compounds in the water leading to cleaner water and helping to create a better environment for your fish and corals. When used correctly you tank water will stay gin clear and sparkling. Ammonia will be neutralised along with nitrite and the whole tank will take on a more vibrant look, but I digress. However, the increase in water quality Oxydator’s bring is to be welcomed.
My current tank’s capacity is a little shy of 100 UK gallons and very heavily stocked with both fish and corals. I have some delicate SPS and fish in the system along with a H.magnifica anemone which is thriving along with the hosted clowns. My most delicate fish are 2 angels, a Multibar and a Real angle. I also have one Tang a sliver spot and numerous other small fish inc Royal grammas which are quite an itch catcher in fact when I last added a RG it broke out in a few white spots but they were gone within 2 days and none of the other fish showed any signs of white spot. My royal grammas continue to show no further evidence of white spot.
I have never quarantined a fish in my life and since using Oxydator’s I have not had a serious outbreak of disease in any of my tanks for over 25 years. I don’t put that down solely to the use of Oxydator’s that is another story for another time. Enough to say I firmly believe they are a great aid in helping to keep a healthy thriving well stocked reef aquarium.
In the above set up which I may add is well filtered with a powerful skimmer, Siporax, live rock in the DT and an efficient algae turf scrubber I have 2 Oxydator model A’s with 2 catalysts running 9% Hydrogen peroxide. I also have a lot of water movement in the DT.
Up until recently I was using 12% peroxide but lowered it to 9% as I don’t feel my tank need the extra 3% strength. Sochting recommends no more than 6% peroxide and 2 catalysts in most of their aquarium models depending on tank size and stocking levels which equals bio-load. However, I have doubled their recommendations at times without ill effect when I was experimenting with them all those years ago.
The 2 Oxydator’s are situated in the sump in the only place I can fit them next to the incoming water from the DT. Ideally, I would like them near the return pump but alas I don’t have the space in my 3’ sump. In fact, the best place to fit an Oxydator is in the DT itself But I don’t even have room to put them in the rear corners as I have so much coral preventing it.
I have a good friend with a relatively new 300 gallon system, he loves tangs and has a number of them. Recently he bought a large Regal angel which only lived a few days and introduced white spot into his aquarium.
My friend does not have Oxydator’s in his system, well that was until the dreaded white spot broke out and infected most of his fish and especially his tangs which have a good or should that be bad covering of white spot. When he phoned me to tell me of the outbreak I immediately told him to cover over and I lent him both my Oxydator’s and 12% peroxide while he waiting for a large Oxydator W to arrive that I told him to order.
I have my Oxydator’s back and he has had the Oxydator W in his tank the last few days with the 12% peroxide and no less than 4 catalysts. Currently, the fish still have white spot but they are feeding and swimming around fine with no losses. Only time will tell if they can fight the white spot off which is the hope of course. His corals are also remaining unaffected by the high concentration of Oxygen in the water. You have to remember Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful bleach (ladies used to use it to bleach heir hair hence the term bleached blond) and you don’t want much if any to get into the DT. The Oxydator breaks most of the peroxide down into water and what Sochting call “activated oxygen” This is many ways is similar to ozone.
A word of warning, if peroxide gets into the DT in any great quantity corals and especially anemone’s will react negatively to it so you do have to be careful with its use.
The above is just my experience and observations, I am aware it does not represent a scientific study and you may wish to call it anecdotal if you will.
*UPDATE*
I heard from my friend this morning and he gave me an update on the condition of his fish and especially his tangs, he has a sailfin which was the most infected with white spot, a regal, purple, Sohal, bristle tooth and one or two more.
It is now 4 days since the outbreak was noticed and since when the Oxydators I lent him which were replaced with the Oxydator W 2 days ago. To date he has lost no fish, all are eating like pigs and apart from scratching they are behaving normally. His purple tang has no spots on it what so ever that he can see. The sailfin has notably fewer spots on it along with the rest of his tangs. His clowns of which he has 6 all remain white spot free along with his wrasses.
Still early days I know but the present situation is encouraging. I will report back as and when either good news or bad. Watch this space if at all interested.
