Using of Hydrogen Peroxide

[Reefnewbie]

Sharing my experience so far of using hydrogen peroxide to fight white spots on my fishes.

Recently introduced 2 new fishes (Powder Brown Tang + Blue Tang) into my main tank. I guessed the introduction stressed up all the fishes as they needed to establish a new pecking order. 1 week later, the PBT developed tiny white spots on its body. Thinking it was the due to stress faced by most fishes in a new environment, I decided to monitor for the time being.

A few days later, my existing brown tang, singapore angel and a maroon clown also started developing white spots. At this point, these 3 folks were still eating well. Fast forward another 2 days, these 3 folks started to hide in the rocks and were not eating. I was getting worried. Soon after, the PB Tang which was the first to had white spots dropped dead.

While searching on the internet, I came across several postings on various reef keeping forum about using hydrogen peroxide to fight white spots. Following their dosage recommendations, I added 1 ml/gallon of H2O2 to the tank. I used the 3% concentration H2O2 bought from Watsons. The regime requires me to dose once every 8 hours for at 2 weeks. This dosage is supposedly safe to corals, clams and other inverts.

Day 1: Added first dose at 1 pm.

All existing fishes were hiding in the rocks and not eating. My brown tang looked bad. Whole body covered in white spots. Even the fins had white blotches. Singapore Angel was lying on its side inside a cave. Basically, all of them looked like they're going to die soon.

1.5 hours after adding first dose, the fishes started coming out and were swimming actively. The angel and tang were eating from the nori clipped to the wall.

Second does at 9 pm.

All fishes still swimming and eating. Looks pretty active. Around 11 pm, just before I switch off the lights, I notice the spots on the brown tang had mostly cleared up.

Third does at 7 am.

Couldnt wake up on time at 5 am! Hahaha. Added in the 3rd does. Checked on the fishes. The white spots on the brown tang are completely gone. Spots on the maroon clown and Singapore angel have also lessen considerably. Threw in some pellets and they started fighting for it. Looks good.

Existing soft corals all okay. Snails and clams also doing fine.

Will continue the regime for 2 weeks and update accordingly

Note: This H2O2 dosing method is pretty controversial as there are conflicting write-ups about it. So if anyone wanna attempt it, do so at your own risk 

[Indeco]

Thx for the sharing bro, just to confirm the white spot is ich and not velvet?

I do understand H2O2 bath can cure velvet effectively.

Any parameters swing you noticed? E.g PH

[noobhobbyist]

Good to hear another positive experience with HP!

I had some success more than a year ago with using HP for an ich outbreak too and didn’t experience any negative effects. The white spots started disappearing from the 1st day of dosing too.

Can I check which Watson HP are u using?

The previous food grade HP that I used is no longer selling on Shopee.

Good luck in the coming 2 weeks!


Sent from Singapore Reef Club mobile app

[Reefnewbie]

8 hours ago, Indeco said:

Thx for the sharing bro, just to confirm the white spot is ich and not velvet?

I do understand H2O2 bath can cure velvet effectively.

Any parameters swing you noticed? E.g PH

Yup. Should be ich. As for parameters, no swing in them. I am using quite a low dosage. 
 

not keen on doing bath as once i tried FW dip and it quite of stressed up the fish quite a fair bit. 
 

Going forward, I think I am gonna use isolation boxes when introducing new fishes to the maintank to reduce stress for the inhabitants

[Reefnewbie]

53 minutes ago, noobhobbyist said:

Good to hear another positive experience with HP!

I had some success more than a year ago with using HP for an ich outbreak too and didn’t experience any negative effects. The white spots started disappearing from the 1st day of dosing too.

Can I check which Watson HP are u using?

The previous food grade HP that I used is no longer selling on Shopee.

Good luck in the coming 2 weeks!


Sent from Singapore Reef Club mobile app

I am using this one. 
 

[Indeco]

Yup. Should be ich. As for parameters, no swing in them. I am using quite a low dosage. 
 
not keen on doing bath as once i tried FW dip and it quite of stressed up the fish quite a fair bit. 
 
Going forward, I think I am gonna use isolation boxes when introducing new fishes to the maintank to reduce stress for the inhabitants

That great, this solution is much better than copper for treating ich in QT.

Wait for your further update bro!

[Indeco]

One more thing to highlight, if fish got wound or cut then wait for it to recover before using H2O2 is better.

[Reefnewbie]

1 hour ago, Indeco said:

That great, this solution is much better than copper for treating ich in QT.

Wait for your further update bro!

I would put in a caveat. 
 

According to opinions and posts in other overseas forums, this method helps to relieve the fishes of the ich. However, the ich parasite would still be living in the maintank and would not be eradicated. 
 

So it is more of a form of ich management. Which should be reinforced with good water management and keeping the fishes healthy so that they can naturally fight off the ich

[Reefnewbie]

Currently with the exception of the maroon clown, all the other fishes are free of white spots. 
 

Today is Day 3 into the treatment. 
Corals, clams, snails and shrimps are all doing fine. 
 

As per attached pic, the blue circled area of the clown is now spotless. Will continue till the rest of the spots clear up. 
 

[Reefnewbie]

Today is Day 5. 
 

spots on the maroon clown are all gone. Other fishes remain spotless. All active and eating

No more spots. Fingers crossed

[JiaEn]

I believe how HP helps is through preventing secondary bacteria infections. 

The concentration of HP will hardly affect the attached parasites or ich cysts. The reduction of spots is likely due to the life cycle of ich parasites,  and in the long run,  the fishes' immune response. 

It's good though, to give the fishes every possible help so they can overcome the disease. 

[Reefnewbie]

19 minutes ago, JiaEn said:

I believe how HP helps is through preventing secondary bacteria infections. 

The concentration of HP will hardly affect the attached parasites or ich cysts. The reduction of spots is likely due to the life cycle of ich parasites,  and in the long run,  the fishes' immune response. 

It's good though, to give the fishes every possible help so they can overcome the disease. 

Indeed. Doing everything to help the fishes fight on their own

[Syahmi]

Doing the treatment should i remove chemipure blue? Skimmer?