Small gripe regarding 50 mL "dropper" bottles - Aquarium Design Group

Salt · 07-09-2006, 07:28 PM

I know you have zero control over this Jeff, and I'm not sure if any others have ever complained regarding the 50 mL bottles (for Green Gain, Phyton Git, ECA, and Green Bacter).

The holes in the droppers are too small! What ends up happening is they eventually get clogged. Then when you're trying to count drops, it gets stuck... so you squeeze harder, then you get a big squirt, wasting a bunch of product!

I thought the dropper caps were sealed on, but I discovered they aren't... I was able to pull it off with a regular pair of pliers then use an eyedropper.

But for what it's worth.. I sure wish ADA would make these bottles with bigger holes in the droppers so they don't clog!

dennis · 07-09-2006, 08:04 PM

Salt,

Which products do you use and what are your experiences? I have always been curious about the Green Gain and ECA. BTW, how much are you supposed to use?

On topic, did you ever try drilling out the hole witha tiny drill bit?

jeff@adg · 07-09-2006, 10:18 PM

Sorry for the trouble. I have several ECA and Green Gain bottles in circulation that I refill from 500ml bulk bottles, so they have been in use and refilled again for months and have never clogged. That's not in any way to say it can't happen, obviously it happened to you, but I don't think it is widespread problem. ADA is very finicky about such things.
If the problem continues or if anyone else experiences this, send me back the bottle an unused portion and I will replace it for you.
I find the drop rate to be very precise, but preferences may vary.

ranmasatome · 07-09-2006, 10:27 PM

i'm using both green gain and ECA on some tanks.. i only do the drops once weekly and then cover it up.. so far for about 6mths now.. they haven't clogged. perhaps cos it so damn warm here..

The japanese insturctions say to use 1drop in 10litres for green gain and 2 drops for 5litres for ECA.. i know dosages vary in different countries.

Salt · 07-10-2006, 02:18 AM

The amount in each "drop" is going to differ depending on the density... that's why I think they say to use twice as much ECA, because it's much heavier, so the drops will be smaller.

The one that's clogged on me is Green Gain. Again I just work around it... I tried widening the hole with a pin but it's just easier to use a dropper. As I said in the topic it's only a small gripe.

ECA is 2 drops per 5 liters, Phyton Git and Green Gain is 1 drop per 5 liters, and Green Bacter is 1 drop per 10 liters.

Not sure if I can attest to how well they work yet... I haven't been using them for that long.

dennis · 07-10-2006, 05:27 AM

"Dosages vary by country" ??? Why?

jsenske · 07-10-2006, 10:38 AM

ADA doesn't vary the dosing by country. That comes from ADA Europe coming up with their own independent suggestions. I don't know why they would do such a thing, but they seem to have their own unique notion about all things ADA. As for me, I follow the ADA recommendations as closely as is applicable to the the given aquascape.