Potassium Permanganate

[f8fan]

My Betta is sick with a cyst (see http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/showthread.php?p=320009#post320009)

After doing some research online (as well as trying boiled peas) I saw that potassium permanganate is a possible treatment for his cyst that won't go away.
I got it delivered today. I purchased 4 oz. of it. I cannot read the label on the back for instructions (it is cut off on both edges so I can't quite make out the dosage instructions). Does anyone know how to dose this medication?

I found one site that discusses drops per gallon, however the item I got is in powder form.

Help us! My poor Betta is such a little trooper! I want to make him well again!!!*BOUNCINGS

Thanks!!!

 

[Lotus]

I have instructions based on mg/L if that will help you.

To treat the tank, use 5 mg/L
As a dip, use 10 mg/L for no more than 30 minutes

Do not add the crystals directly to the tank, make a stock solution first.

I'm pretty horrible at math and chemistry, but those are the instructions/concentrations from both my fish book and the bottle I have of potassium permanganate solution.

I hope this is of some help. If you have problems, I believe dechlorinator will detoxify it.

 

[f8fan]

Thanks Lotus. Now I just have to figure out liters/gallons and mg/teaspoon. What I plan to do is a dip. Make up a gallon solution of it, float the little fella in a margarine container of the premixed solution in the tank to treat.

How many dips should I do? I did read that it is affected by light, so I need to shut the tank's lights off and reduce the ambient light in the room during his dip.

 

[Lotus]

I believe you're supposed to do one dip a day for a few days.

I believe you're going to need a very tiny amount of the PP. Probably about a crystal. I know the dosage I use for dipping plants tells you to have a solution that's dark pink, and that's a 10ppm (mg/L) solution. I hope that gives you a guide.

**Warning: potassium permanganate solution will dye everything it touches to an icky brown. Wear rubber gloves when dealing with the concentrated solution (or your nails will go brown) and old clothes, and do it over the sink or in the bathroom. I've even had stains in my stainless steel sink (they go eventually).

 

[f8fan]

Well crap. I guess I dosed it too strong. I got the mixture to a deeper pink...I added too much I think. He died last night

Oh well, I will just chalk it up to another experience learned in my fish hobby.

 

[Lotus]

So sorry to hear that

 

[FroggyFox]

Oh bummer that stinks...maybe more than just you can learn from it too...I would have had exactly the same questions in your shoes.

Are you going to get another betta?

 

[f8fan]

I'm still on the fence about getting another betta. If I did, he would have to be able to co-habitate with everyone in the 55 gallon community tank and it's so "hit or miss" with their individual personalities.

I'm pretty much stuck using the tank I had always reserved as "betta only" for my krib grow out fry and they have an entirely different nutritional need/feeding regimen, so....I dunno if I'll be getting another right away.

I emailed the dude I ordered the potassium permanganate from to get readable instructions that I can keep on hand if I ever need to use the stuff again.

When I hear back from him I'll post it here, in case anyone ever uses the "search" feature looking up info on potassium permanganate dosing.

EDIT: I recieved a really quick response from him, and he linked me to this fantastic page with everything you'd ever need to know about PP:
http://www.koirific.com/potassium.htm