Will Malachite Green Stain My Sand?

[Liv15]

I think I have a whitespot problem as one of my fish has white spots on his tail. I tried raising the temp and adding salt and I did this for, I think, over a week. But the spots didn't disappear. I've now noticed that the other fish are flicking themselves against things like they are itchy so I want to treat them with malachite green & formaldehyde white spot treatment. I have stones, live plants, driftwood, and sand substrate. I will take out the stones so the treatment does not stain them but I am worried that it could stain my sand. The sand is a dark(ish) natural brown colour. The product info for the sand says that it has a colourfast resin coating and is made from selected silicate aggregates. Will the sand stain? (i used this treatment in another tank with gravel, luckily that did not stain though)

 

[Byron]

It is likely the malachite green will stain the sand, and anything else generally.  Assuming the dose is strong enough to be effective.  And it will harm the plants, likely killing some of them.
 
Perhaps more to the point, is that this treatment is harmful to some fish.  Characins for example should not be subjected to malachite green when there are safer methods.  And increased temperature plus salt is said by many to be the best treatment, depending upon the fish.
 
Are you certain this is ich (white spot)?  A photo might help us determine.  And mention the tank temperature.
 
One last point, do not change treatments (using different medications) without a couple of major water changes.  Many of these can interact and cause more trouble, at the very least stress to the fish.
 
Byron.