The aquaculture sector, mainly that of Limnoculture (freshwater fish) and Vannamei culture (freshwater shrimp), widely uses disinfectants in their farms for biosecurity as well as routine cleaning processes. They are used to inactivate potential pathogenic microbes on the surface of equipment, tanks, ponds and clothing. Sometimes they are also used to disinfect gametes, especially eggs. Disinfectants are required during decontamination operations following an outbreak of notifiable diseases such as Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA), Spring Carp Viremia (SVC) or Viral Haemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) etc. Despite the widespread and effective use of disinfectants, the criterion for their selection and application is largely determined by several contributing factors.
Commercially available disinfectants primarily contain a mixture of chemicals and stabilizers that may have broad-spectrum applications or selective chemical compositions for specific target pathogens. Chemical disinfection of water and equipment is a critical task due to the downstream effects and environmental impact of the reagents themselves, both in the aquaculture system and in natural waters. The need is gradually shifting to broad-spectrum biodegradable non-toxic inexpensive disinfectants; those to which pathogens cannot adapt or develop immunity. The best choice for this is to use oxidizing disinfectants. These are chemicals that indifferently oxidize organic matter in water. Thus, their mode of disinfection is oxidation of the pathogen’s cell wall, cell membrane, and cytoplasm. Of all the types of oxidizers, peroxides, especially in the form of silver hydrogen peroxide, have found widespread use as an effective disinfectant for aquaculture.
The disinfecting properties of H2O2 have been widely discussed and applied in recent years. Synergized with nano-silver, stabilized AgH2O2 is an excellent disinfectant that is active on a wide range of microscopic as well as macroscopic pathogens. Its versatility as a pathogen cleaner and contaminant remover makes it an ideal choice for disinfecting water tanks, small ponds and hatcheries. It is best suited for disinfection of facilities as well as for application in ponds and tanks with or without water. Its low toxicity to higher aquatic fauna makes it ideal for treatment during disease outbreaks in aquarium systems.
Silver-stabilized H2O2 even at low concentrations has significantly higher disinfectant properties against a wide range of pathogens compared to identical concentrations of other commercial disinfectants. In addition, H2O2 has no detectable toxicity to fish eggs and most cultured fish. It quickly breaks down, releasing nascent oxygen that kills pathogens without leaving toxic residues in the environment. It is non-corrosive to tank materials and is inexpensive. In addition, silver itself has certain bactericidal properties by attacking bacterial DNA material.
A comparison of the required properties of an ideal disinfectant suggests the superiority of AgH2O2 as an aquaculture disinfectant:
Required Property How AgH2O2 is reported
Broad-spectrum antibacterial action Effective against all types of bacteria, viruses, yeasts, molds and spore-forming
Low toxicity and residue free formulation
Low toxicity and residue free formulation
• No toxic effect in a diluted state
• Environmentally friendly – practically 100% biodegradable, breaking down to water and oxygen Stable and non-corrosive
• Highly effective for long periods even at very high water temperatures
• Slightly corrosive effect
Cost effective Equipment and operating costs are low
Chemtex’s Alstasan Silvox is a perfectly formulated silver hydrogen peroxide disinfectant that can easily and efficiently meet all types of disinfection needs in the aquaculture sectors.