Where can I buy Formalin?

[vaporize]

Anybody know where I can buy the Formalin medicine and have it instock?

[Detrituss]

Check your local pharmacy they may stock it. If not you can purchase it from Fisher Scientific. Remember to get 10% neutral buffered formalin, not the 37% stuff. As well, it is very toxic and a carcinogen so treat it and its vapours with alot of caution. Just so there is no confusion, it is not a medicine per se. It is used as a preservative for tissues. Some use it for treating ectoparasites in fish, however, keep it away from your family.

[reefer madness]

Formalin is formeldahyde with a little less know name. It is contained in Quick Cure along with Malachite Green which helps the formalin do it's thing better.

Gary

[Aquatic Kingdom]

This place has all chemicals you'll need for your tank. I've bought formalin, malachite-green, Calcium hydroxide, phosphoric acid all kinds of good stuff.

A&K petro-chem
316 edgeley blv
416-213-4611

[reefer madness]

It is also dangerous in the water as it will greatly reduce the oxygen levels. Wear gloves when you use it and never use on inverts or scaleless fish.
Gary

[mr.wilson]

Check your local pharmacy they may stock it. If not you can purchase it from Fisher Scientific. Remember to get 10% neutral buffered formalin, not the 37% stuff. As well, it is very toxic and a carcinogen so treat it and its vapours with alot of caution. Just so there is no confusion, it is not a medicine per se. It is used as a preservative for tissues. Some use it for treating ectoparasites in fish, however, keep it away from your family.

Thanks for the tip. I've never heard of 10% buffered formalin. How does it differ from 37% other than the obvious? Does it still contain a methanol stabilizer? Do you still need to aerate it for a few hours before use?

[DBM]

What are you using it to treat? It's used to burn the mucous layer off the fish, and hopefully, the parasites with it. It's nasty stuff on fish, it causes alot of physical stress.

[Detrituss]

The 37% stuff is usually not buffered. The buffering prevents the formation of formic acid crystals. The 10% and 37% stuff usually has methanol in it. I would stay away from the 37% concentration as it is very strong (used by embalmers), we only use the 37% at work once in awhile while we use the 10% NBF all the time. Just remember that if you aerate formalin you will increase the concentration of formalin vapors in the area you are using it in. At work, we only use formalin products under a fume hood, with gloves, lab coats etc.

[mr.wilson]

The 37% stuff is usually not buffered. The buffering prevents the formation of formic acid crystals. The 10% and 37% stuff usually has methanol in it. I would stay away from the 37% concentration as it is very strong (used by embalmers), we only use the 37% at work once in awhile while we use the 10% NBF all the time. Just remember that if you aerate formalin you will increase the concentration of formalin vapors in the area you are using it in. At work, we only use formalin products under a fume hood, with gloves, lab coats etc.

Thanks again for the info. I'll have to adjust my drop count to get the dose right. Seachem used to have an aldehyde test kit, but I doubt they still have it in their line.

[Aquatic Kingdom]

If you intend to use the formalin solution to kill external parasite I would suggest to use Potassium Permanganate and the neutralize it with Hydrogen Peroxide. It is much more effective and controllable.

[vaporize]

Dosage for formalin dip for brook in clownfish is 6 drops per gallon (at 37% concentration) right?

[mr.wilson]

Dosage for formalin dip for brook in clownfish is 6 drops per gallon (at 37% concentration) right?

You are correct sir.