I have a gallon of Paracide ( Formaldehyde 37% solution from Argent
Lab) left from the early 90s. Has an expiration date 1994. The
stuff is still crystal clear, no whitish formation on bottom. Stored
in garage never below 40F.

Can I still use the stuff for Koi pond ? Its still Formaldehyde
ain't it ?

I'm not sure why there's an expiration date. I once bought a
gallon of it from aqua-something in Mississippi and it was
already expired. I complained and the guy sent out another
gallon. The second was set to expire in less than a year. Hm.
Anyway, according to him, they "do not expire". When I asked,
"so why does it have an expiration date?", he couldn't answer.

Anyway, I still have these two gallons, which I keep under the
sink, double-bagged. I only use about 30 ml of it at a time,
and only because it SEEMS to neutralize whatever my Texas toads
release in the water when they orgy, something which many of
my fish don't like. Over the years, I now move the toads out as
soon as they appear (after a rain of 1" plus), so in recent times,
I have little use for the stuff, and 30ml is maybe a tablespoon
or two (for 3000 gl of water). Placebo? How would the fish know?
(ahah) But I don't have the 20+ toad-fests anymore, which can be
almost deafening. But it's never hurt so I do it just in case
(the 30 ml).

I have Formalin F, I think it is. Formaldehyde (37% sounds
about right) and maybe alcohol (1999 & 2000 expires). If it's
good enough to embalm for eternity ... but ask a chemist, or
maybe a mortician, or dispose of according to the label and
get yourself some newer stuff.

steve (8 Jul 2004 01:49:42 -0700):
I have a gallon of Paracide ( Formaldehyde 37% solution from Argent
Lab) left from the early 90s. Has an expiration date 1994. The
stuff is still crystal clear, no whitish formation on bottom. Stored
in garage never below 40F.

--
'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`''`'`'`'`'`'`'`' `'`'`''`'`'`'`'`'`'`'
SLOTHEAD

I wouldnt. Ingrid

(steve) wrote:

I have a gallon of Paracide ( Formaldehyde 37% solution from Argent
Lab) left from the early 90s. Has an expiration date 1994. The
stuff is still crystal clear, no whitish formation on bottom. Stored
in garage never below 40F.

Can I still use the stuff for Koi pond ? Its still Formaldehyde
ain't it ?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

I wouldnt. Ingrid

(steve) wrote:

I have a gallon of Paracide ( Formaldehyde 37% solution from Argent
Lab) left from the early 90s. Has an expiration date 1994. The
stuff is still crystal clear, no whitish formation on bottom. Stored
in garage never below 40F.

Can I still use the stuff for Koi pond ? Its still Formaldehyde
ain't it ?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.