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 nanosilver, 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:
Required Property
Wide spectrum antibacterial activity

How AgH2O2 tallies

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
Chemtexs 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.