What the Beginning and Advancing Aquarist Absolutely Needs to Know and Do When Starting An Aquarium

Chemical Treatments
for external infections by bacteria, single-celled (protozoans, dinoflagellates, fungus), and multi-celled (worms, leaches, flukes) parasites

The chemical category of treatments (such as Rid Ich+, malachite green, methylene blue, potassium permanganate, formalin) is much more difficult to handle for beginner and advanced aquarists, because most chemical treatments can be severely toxic to fishes and aquatic invertebrates if not handled correctly, requiring daily doses and daily water changes. .  It is important to know that activated carbon used in water filters needs to be removed during all chemical treatments. 

In the case of copper treatments there is the need for their total removal at the end of treatment.  Otherwise, there will be a residue of toxic copper.  The elimination of copper is done by the use of Kordon NovAqua+ which removes heavy metals.. It takes a succession of daily treatments to get all the copper out of the aquarium, because copper treatments are absorbed into the glass, gravel, and decorations in the aquarium.  There needs to be good reasons for using copper treatments in any regular aquarium.  Copper treatments should be confined to use in a separate quarantine container. . For further information see Kordon Chelated Copper and Copper Tru, as well as the Kordon Article "Copper Ion vs Chelated Copper Treatments".


Until recently chemical treatments were the only ones available for eliminating single-celled and multi-celled parasites, so most of the aquatic hobbyist literature is about their use.  It is recommended that the beginner give preference to the recently developed organic herbal treatments (Kordon's Ich Attack, Prevent Ich , or Rid Fungus until knowledgeable about handling the other categories of treatments.

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