Regarding an answer to your question for a shotgun treatment . . .

when you know something is wrong, but you don't know what

you know your water parameters are good, so your problem is not there

you don't have a 'scope, so you can't define the suspected parasite

The "latest and greatest" shotgun method is a combination of Prazi and
ProForm-C. Prazi is a treatment for flukes, and also acts as an internal
wormer for koi and goldfish. It will not harm either, and is pretty close to
a one-step treatment. It will not kill your filter, either. ProForm-C is a
formalin-based med that will "nuke" just about everything else, but can be
used in colder water than normal formalin based meds (so you can get an
earlier start coming out of winter). It's also filter-friendly.

These two meds can be mixed together for a one-shot treatment. In fact, it's
preferred: Prazi can be "a bit of a trial", shall we say, to dissolve . . .
but mixes right up with the ProForm-C.

Caveat: NO SALT can be in the pond. Salt levels MUST be below .05 Formalin
and salt are not compatible. That's an arguable statement, but better safe
than sorry.

Now, if you have a bacterial problem (fin rot, ulcers, BGD), TriCide Neo is
the "latest and greatest" for that. However, it requires that you catch the
fish and treat according to directions. You CAN treat the pond, but it's
wasteful. KoiZyme (formerly Lymnozyme) is a "preventative", not a medicine.
It should be used weekly, not as a "cure".

Prazi: http://tinyurl.com/bk8i
ProForm-C: http://tinyurl.com/h3tx
Tricide Neo: http://tinyurl.com/e6fd

I hope this helps.

Lee


"GACinMass" wrote in message
...
I've read several books on koi diseases, parasites, etc. All of them
emphasize
the importance of sending scrapings/samples to a lab or having a
microscope in
order to properly identify the culprit and determine the appropriate
course of
treatment.

OK, time for a reality check: First, the only way I have ever been able to
net
a koi in my pond is to nearly drain it. This stresses the fish so much
that I
will not do it again. In fact, the last time I did this, for a full year
afterward they would run & hide when they saw anyone at the pond's edge.
So I
will not be able to get a scraping or sample of any kind.

Second, I do not have a microscope or a lab nearby so I'm forced to guess
what
the affliction is and what treatment to start.

I tend to start with Potassium Permanganate, treating the entire 220 gal
pond.
If I don't see improvement, I try Formalin. If that doesn't work I try
Limnozyme. I know this is a wasteful "shotgun" approach but it has worked
somewhat. Last year I lost 2 koi to some kind of ulcer/fungus thing
before I
was able to get it under control.

Here's my question: If you can only guess at what the ailment is, how
would you
treat it? What meds in what order? Is PP the best place to start? My
fish
have just been through a spawning episode and several are now showing
whitish
bumps on their fins. One has skinned his nose pretty seriously. I started
the
PP yesterday and have my fingers crossed. Any advice would be much
appreciated.

~ Gary
Zone 6b