Once upon a time, if you wanted to use potassium permanganate, you could go down to the LFS and purchase a couple of different products that were nothing more than a PP stock solution at about 3.8% concentration. Unfortunately it seems that neither of these products are made anymore. Never fear, you can obtain relatively pure PP powder from the big auction place for fairly cheap. The problem with the powder is that it is pure and very impractical for people to measure out accurately since the required amounts are surprisingly miniscule.
Fortunately there is an easy way to mix up your own easy to dose stock solution. By taking 13oz of DISTILLED water and 1oz of PP powder, you can make a stock solution at about 7.5% concentration making it roughly twice as strong as the premixed products. I find this concentration to be easy to dose since 1 drop per gallon equates to 1ppm of final concentration in the tank. So to dose a 10 gallon hospital tank at 2ppm, you'd put in 20 drops or exactly 1mL of stock solution.
Store the solution in a light proof container such as an old 16oz hydrogen peroxide bottle and keep it in a cool dark place. It will last for over one year sitting on the shelf. This is enough solution to dose approx 1000 gallons of water at 2ppm. Remember this solution is approximately twice as concentrated as the Kordon product so only use half as much if following their directions.
Here is some good information on using PP, there is plenty other available:
http
/www.novalek.com/kordon/permoxyn/index.htm
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/columnaris_disease.php
WARNING: Before attempting to use PP, be sure to read and understand the material listed above. This is a very easy way to kill your fish. The difference between a therapeutic dose and a fatal one is very small, there is no room for error in the dosing. Steer clear of short term, high concentration dips until you are comfortable using PP. It's much safer to use low dosage levels over a longer period of time. The effects of PP can be instantly neutralized by dipping the fish in milk, no joke.
Fortunately there is an easy way to mix up your own easy to dose stock solution. By taking 13oz of DISTILLED water and 1oz of PP powder, you can make a stock solution at about 7.5% concentration making it roughly twice as strong as the premixed products. I find this concentration to be easy to dose since 1 drop per gallon equates to 1ppm of final concentration in the tank. So to dose a 10 gallon hospital tank at 2ppm, you'd put in 20 drops or exactly 1mL of stock solution.
Store the solution in a light proof container such as an old 16oz hydrogen peroxide bottle and keep it in a cool dark place. It will last for over one year sitting on the shelf. This is enough solution to dose approx 1000 gallons of water at 2ppm. Remember this solution is approximately twice as concentrated as the Kordon product so only use half as much if following their directions.
Here is some good information on using PP, there is plenty other available:
http
/www.novalek.com/kordon/permoxyn/index.htmhttp
/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/columnaris_disease.phpWARNING: Before attempting to use PP, be sure to read and understand the material listed above. This is a very easy way to kill your fish. The difference between a therapeutic dose and a fatal one is very small, there is no room for error in the dosing. Steer clear of short term, high concentration dips until you are comfortable using PP. It's much safer to use low dosage levels over a longer period of time. The effects of PP can be instantly neutralized by dipping the fish in milk, no joke.
