Silvox for Aquaculture Disinfection

Aquaculture sector, primarily those of Limnoculture (Freshwater fishes) and Vannamei culture (Freshwater shrimps) extensively use disinfectants in their farms for bio-security as well as routine cleaning processes. They are used to inactivate potential pathogenic microbes on equipment surface, tanks, ponds and clothing. Sometimes they are also used to disinfect gametes particularly ova. Disinfectants are necessary during decontamination operations after the outbreak of notifiable diseases like Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA), Spring Viraemia of Carp (SVC) or Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (VHS) etc. Regardless of widespread and effective use of disinfectants, the criterion for their choice and application is greatly determined by several contributing factors.

Commercially available disinfectants mostly contain blend of chemicals and stabilizers that can have broad spectrum application or selective compositions of chemicals for specific target pathogens. Chemical disinfection of water and equipments is a critical task owing to the after effects and environmental impacts of the reagents themselves, both in the aquaculture system as well as in natural waters. The need gradually shifted to wide spectrum biodegradable nontoxic cost friendly disinfectants; those that pathogens cannot adapt to or develop immunity. The best choice for this is the use of Oxidizing Disinfectants. These are chemicals that indifferently oxidize organic matter in water. Thus their mode of disinfection is oxidation of pathogen cell wall, cell membrane and cytoplasm. Of all the types of oxidizing agents, Peroxides, particularly in the form of Silver Hydrogen Peroxide has found widespread application as an efficient aquaculture disinfectant.

The disinfectant properties of H₂O₂ have been popularly discussed and applied in recent years. Synergized with nano-silver, the stabilized AgH₂O₂ is an excellent disinfectant that is active over a wide spectrum of microscopic as well as macroscopic pathogens. Its versatility as a pathogen cleaner and soil remover makes it an ideal choice for disinfecting water tanks, small ponds and incubation chambers. It is most suitable for gear disinfection as well as application in raceway ponds and tanks with or without water. Its low toxicity towards higher aquatic fauna makes it ideal for treatment during spread of diseases within the aquarium systems.

Silver stabilized H₂O₂ at even low concentrations have significantly high disinfecting properties against a wide range of pathogens compared to identical concentrations of other commercial disinfectants. In addition, H₂O₂ has no traceable toxicity towards fish eggs and most cultivated fish. It rapidly degrades releasing nascent oxygen that kills the pathogens leaving no toxic environmental residue. It is non corrosive to tank materials and cost friendly. In addition, Silver itself has certain bactericidal properties by attacking bacterial DNA material.

A comparison of requisite properties of an ideal disinfectant suggests supremacy of AgH₂O₂ as an aquaculture Disinfectant:

Wide spectrum antibacterial activity - Effective against all kinds of bacteria, viruses, yeast, mould
 and spore formers

Low toxicity and non-residue formulation -   Has no toxic effect in its diluted state, Environmentally friendly - practically 100% degradable, breaking down to water and oxygen

Stable and non corrosive - Highly effective over long periods even at very high water temperatures, Low corrosive effect

Cost effective - Equipment and operation costs are low

Chemtex’s Alstasan Silvox is an ideally formulated Silver Hydrogen Peroxide disinfectant that can easily and efficiently cater to all types of disinfection needs of the Aquaculture Sectors.