I ordered some from PondRX.com and it came with a great set of instructions by Doc Johnson (KoiVet.com). I was really nervous about using it, but I followed the simple instructions very carefully and made sure I calculated my water volume and dosage correctly. By day 2 my water clarity had gone from pea soup to a nice clear pond, and by day 4 my water was sparkling clear to the very bottom and my fish are lively. I dose again today (every 4th day for 4 treatments), but I'm thrilled at the way my water clarity is coming along, and my fish and plants seem healthier than ever. I do bypass my biofilter, and I would definitely say that you need to have the instructions to do it correctly. It seems like a great way to treat parasites and kill bacteria without harming your fish (as long as you don't overdose and follow the instructions - that can't be emphasized enough!)

PONDerosa

Yeah, PP can be a real life saver for sure! Did you notice any excessive sludge or bigger pieces of waste in the filter or on the bottom? PP does that a lot of times - cleaning up so good, that there is a huge amount of extra waste around for the filter to pick up. Have a peak inside the filter and see...

Oh, I DEFINITELY had to clean the filter out after I used PP. That's never my favorite job, but to have the water so sparkling clean a couple of days after treatment was worth the extra cleaning effort. My water params are great without having to do any water changes, and being able to see 4 feet to the bottom with such clarity still amazes me!
I did see some potassium permanganate at Home Depot today in the plumbing section along with the other septic tank cleansers. I didn't have my glasses with me so I couldn't read the fine print to see if it was pure and no other additives, but I noted the price at about $8 a bottle (versus $24 from my internet pond source). Seeing the results of the treatment made every bit of what I paid worth while though. I used it on my small 700 gallon pond and only needed about 1/2 teaspoon per treatment, so its going to last me forever!

yes it does work great but for anyone reading this remember, always make sure to know exactly how much water you are treating, never overdose, and have hydrogine peroxide at the ready if you see ANY signs of stress with your fish. PP can and will do a great job cleaning out the pond but it will also kill everything, including the fish, if you overdose just by a little. (just thought I'd include this disclaimer)

Scott

That is great that it worked for you!! I would like to try it on the 1000 gallon pond at my parents' house, which hasnt been clear in years. I am very concerned about ODing it thoguh, as I cannot be sure of the exact gallonage. What's a good way to figure, other than the regular pond equations? It is odd sized and deeper in some parts. When we filled it years ago we estimated it at about 1000 gallons.

I'd also be interested in checking out the PP at Home Depot and seeing if thats usable!

I got my PP from Sears and it works just fine.

Where in Sears did you find it? I had gone there and asked for it and the employees acted like I was crazy!!