Tilapia Topics: Disinfectant/Treatment: Roccal (Benzalkonium chloride)

Roccal is not approved for use with fish intended for human consumption.

If the water is too soft (hardness < 20 mg/l) then there is an increased toxicity to the fish.

In hardwater (hardness > 150 mg/l or brackish > 2 ppt to saltwater), it is unestablished that roccal is an effective therapeutant.

roccal has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use with tilapia. Thus, it is not currently legal to use this substance to treat tilapia especially if these fish or their offspring are intended for human consumption.

roccal may be legally used only if there is a current Investigational New Animal Drug Application (INADA) in effect for treatment of the particular disease at the particular site. It is the responsibility of the user to know if an INADA is in effect for roccal for use with tilapia on his or her site. The user must be familiar with and to comply with the conditions for an INADA for roccal.

Types of Roccal used for treatment of fish.

Roccal comes either as a 10% or 50% active formulation. Either one of these solutions can be used in bath treatments.

Information about Roccal treatment.

Roccal or benzalkonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium compound that is used in animal husbandry as a disinfectant. Roccal is a viricide and bactericide. For many years roccal has been used for the treatment of external bacterial infections, particularly those caused by myxobacteria, in trout and salmon.

Roccal has not been reported as a treatment for bacterial infection of tilapia. However, it may be beneficial for treatment of myxobacterial infection of tilapia raised in freshwater of low to moderate water hardness.

Roccal is sold as a 10% or 50% liquid formulation. Dosage level is in the range of 1 to 2 mg/l as a one hour bath. After treatment the water should be flushed out of the tank. Retreatment for three to four successive days may be necessary.

Equipment and supplies needed for roccal treatment.

1. Roccal
2. Pipettes or a suitable sized graduate cylinder

Roccal as disinfectant

Roccal is a potent disinfectant whose active principal is benzalkonium chloride. Roccal disinfection can be used to sanitize hard, inanimate surfaces or equipment, but is not indicated as water treatment. Roccal is both virucidal and will inactivate the vegetative stages of bacteria.

Make up disinfectant solution according to instructions given on the label. Prepare fresh solutions daily or more frequently if the disinfectant becomes soiled.

Clean surfaces with a brush or suitable detergent to remove organic matter. Immerse or apply Roccal working solution and let stand for 20 minutes. Rinse equipment or areas with clean water. Do not allow Roccal solution to be discharged into streams or other surface waters.

10% Active Solution

Dilution: 1:400;
Add 20 ml (4 teaspoons) of Roccal
concentrate to 1 gallon of water.

Dilution: 1:200;
Add 40 ml (8 teaspoons) of Roccal
concentrate to 1 gallon of water.

50% Active Solution

Dilution: 1:400;
Add 8 ml (1.5 teaspoons) of the Roccal
concentrate to a gallon of water.

Dilution: 1:200;
Add 16 mls (3 teaspoons) of the Roccal
concentrate to a gallon of water.

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