Dogtown
Active Member
Chloroquine Phosphate (CP) is a replacement for copper sulfate and it is superior to copper sulfate in its effectiveness and safety. Chloroquine is used as a bacteriacide, an algaecide and as an antimalarial drug. It is superior in the fight against ICH and flukes and can be used as both a treatment and a preventative. It is much safer and easier to dose without causing harm to fish as the effective concentration range is rather wide and forgiving.
The effects of copper on aquatic organisms can be directly or indirectly lethal. Gills become frayed and lose their ability to regulate the transport of salts such as sodium chloride and potassium chloride into and out of fish. These salts are important for the normal functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous systems. When the salt balance is disrupted between the body of a copper-exposed fish and the surrounding water the death of the fish can result. The presence of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the water column provides some protection from the effects of copper on the gills because copper forms complexes with DOC and will therefore be less bioavailable. Copper toxicity to fish gills will be higher if the pH of the water is acidic, the water has low buffering capacity or the water is soft, i.e., has a low concentration of calcium ions. The lower toxicity of copper in hard water compared to soft water is due to the protective effects of calcium ions on and in living cells. Copper also adversely affects olfaction (sense of smell) in fish. Detection of odours occurs when dissolved odorant molecules bind with olfactory receptor molecules. The direct contact of fish olfactory tissues with the surrounding water facilitates copper uptake. Copper can affect olfaction by competing with natural odorants for binding sites, by affecting activation of the olfactory receptor neurons or by affecting intracellular signalling in the neurons (Baldwin et al., 2003).
The effects of copper on aquatic organisms can be directly or indirectly lethal. Gills become frayed and lose their ability to regulate the transport of salts such as sodium chloride and potassium chloride into and out of fish. These salts are important for the normal functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous systems. When the salt balance is disrupted between the body of a copper-exposed fish and the surrounding water the death of the fish can result. The presence of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the water column provides some protection from the effects of copper on the gills because copper forms complexes with DOC and will therefore be less bioavailable. Copper toxicity to fish gills will be higher if the pH of the water is acidic, the water has low buffering capacity or the water is soft, i.e., has a low concentration of calcium ions. The lower toxicity of copper in hard water compared to soft water is due to the protective effects of calcium ions on and in living cells. Copper also adversely affects olfaction (sense of smell) in fish. Detection of odours occurs when dissolved odorant molecules bind with olfactory receptor molecules. The direct contact of fish olfactory tissues with the surrounding water facilitates copper uptake. Copper can affect olfaction by competing with natural odorants for binding sites, by affecting activation of the olfactory receptor neurons or by affecting intracellular signalling in the neurons (Baldwin et al., 2003).
