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Potassium Permanganate Treatment
By Wayne Barker

Potassium is a granular powder which turns the water purple when activated. Potassium is used to treat fish that have parasites, or have bacterial infections, red spots, fin rot, sliminess of skin, ulcers, fungal lesions. Some Koi keepers believe in doing a precautionary potassium pond treatment before spring and before winter.

It is important to note that Potassium Permanganate is very toxic to aquatic organisms if not used correctly and may cause long term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.
Potassium and Hydrogen Peroxide can be bought from any chemist without an prescription. Please note that it is sometimes a good idea to buy more hydrogen peroxide than what you need just incase you make your potassium pond mixture to strong. The potassium treatments are for the more advanced koi keeper, as it requires constant supervision during the treatments.

The potassium pond treatment:

The pond treatment is used to kill parasites on the fish and in the water body of the pond. Potassium oxidizes organic material, including the surfaces of bacterial sores (ulcers) and the parasites that cause them. Once it's spent it's energy on the pond and parasites, the potassium turns a Orange, brown colour and can be removed with a water change or with hydrogen peroxide. Large amounts of organics in a pond will cause the potassium to spend its energy on oxidizing the organics and turn brown prematurely.

To do the potassium pond treatment you will need the following:

• • 6-8 hours of open time.
  • 3g Potassium Permanganate per 1000L of water.
  • 20ml Hydrogen Peroxide 30% per 1000L of water.

1. Put on some old clothes and always protect your hands and face.
2. Switch of all UV Lights, Protein Skimmers and ozonators.
3. If possible bypass your bio filter as the potassium will affect the bacteria in it. If you are bypassing your bio filter during the treatment you have to repeat the some procedure 3 times with 3 days in between.
4. Switch on air / oxygen equipment like air pumps, venturis and waterfalls during the treatment.
5. Fill a 5L-10L container with pond water.
6. Measure of 3g Potassium Permanganate per 1000L and add it to the container.
7. Stir it very well, note that the Potassium Permanganate will stain your clothes and skin when it comes in contact with it, so please keep clear.
8. Add the contents to the pond either from a venturi or at a waterfall location.
9. DO NOT throw the remaining crystals out of the container. Add more pond water to the same container and stir the existing crystals.
10. Try to maintain the treatment for at least 6-8 hours.
11. Every hour take a glass or see through container and fill it with pond water. The pond water must have a pink tint, colour to it.
12. If the water turns orange or brown add the water in the container from (9) and repeat until the water turns pink or until there is no more crystal left in the container.
13. If you can't keep the water pink for 6-8 hours you can add another 1.5 grams of potassium per 1000 liters pond water, but keep an eye on the fish.
14. Note that during this treatment you cannot take a chance and leave your fish alone for longer than 30 minutes. It is normal for them to look unhappy, breath a little fast and appear somewhat listless while under treatment. They should still react if you approach the pond. If they do not move when approached, wave your had over them. If they still do not move, it means it is time to end the treatment as they are starting to suffer.
15. When you decide to end the treatment, add Hydrogen Peroxide 30% at a rate of 20 ml per 1000 liters of pond water. The water will start to clear within about 10 to 30 minutes.
    
    Chlorine from tap water, Dechlorinate and hydrogen peroxide in the water will inactivate the treatment (for 2 days) so do not do any top ups from a water source that contains chlorine during this time.

The potassium dip

The potassium dip is used to kill all parasites and bacteria that may be on a fish. This method is usually used by koi keepers after taking possesion of a new fish. This method is prefered above the pond treatment by certain koi keepers as it does not require as much time as the pond treatment.

To do the potassium dip you will need the following:

1. • 5 minutes per koi.
   • 1 x plastic container for the potassium. The container should be deep enough so that water will cover the whole body of the fish.
   • 1 x plastic container for clean water. The container should be deep enough so that water will cover the whole body of the fish.
   • 1g Potassium Permanganate per 10L of water - very important!! DO NOT OVERDOSE!
   • Stop watch.
     
2. Put on some old clothes and always protect your hands and face.
3. Take the first container and add the water. Make sure that you know the exact amount of water in the container.
4. Take the second container and plain water to it. If you can add a airstone it will help the koi.
5. Add the potassium crystals 1g per 10L to the water in the first container and stir well.
6. Place the koi in the first container and start your stop watch while watching the fish.
7. Smaller koi requires less time in the solution that bigger fish.
8. One should endevour to keep the fish in the potassium solution for no less than 5 minutes. Bigger koi can be left up to 8 minutes.
9. if the koi starts to become stressed and jumps, remove it immediatly from 1st container and place it in the second container.
10. Wash all the potassium off while wathcing the fish for another 10 minutes before returning it to the pond.

First Aid Measures:
After Inhalation: Expose to fresh Air. Give artificial respiration. Consult a physician
After Skin Contact: Wash off immediately with water for about 15-20 mins. Remove stained clothing. Consult a physician.
After ingestion: If swallowed do not induce vomiting (due to risk of perforation!). Drink plenty of water. Consult a physician.
After eye contact: flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes with eyelid held wide open. Consult an Ophthalmologist immediately.

Medical - Treating koi with Potassium Permanganate