Seattle_Aquarist

Hi BBradbury,

I purchase Glutaraldehyde; dilute it to Excel strength 500 ml at a time in an old Excel bottle; and dose per the Excel instructions. I add it in the morning, directly into the aquarium, per the instructions (that way it is available to the plants when the lights are on).

I purchased a Oral Dosing Syringe with a bottle adapter ($2) that fits the Excel bottle at the local pharmacy so it is a "flip top" that I just stick the syringe into and squirt it into the tank.

BBradbury

Good morning Roy and thanks again. A friend shipped me the Cidex and I wondered what the syringe was for, now I know. Have been alternating Nutrafin's Plant Gro and the Excel in my tanks. I've been dosing only when I need to replace water due to evaporation. I typically put 5 ml in about a quart of water change water and pour this into my tanks. I do this about twice per week per tank, I have seven between 30 and 55 Gs. My tanks are heavily stocked, quite a few Fancy Guppies, probably 500 individuals and Corydoras, about 20 and the tanks are fairly heavily planted. Am wondering if I really need to mess with the ferts. Plants are doing well overall with just the periodic liquid fertilization. Would be very interested in knowing your opinion. Am not a very experienced aquarist, have three years with the fish and less than a year working with the plants.

Barlow

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi Barlow,

"If it ain't broke, don't fit it." If you are getting good results with what you are doing I would not change it. The guppy waste is probably giving you sufficient nitrogen and phosphates and the Excel / Glut takes care of the necessary carbon. Let us know how things go!

globali

Hi everyone,

Cidex Plus contain alkaline glutaraldehyde.
Metricide14 contain buffered glutaraldehyde.

1. What is alkaline glutaraldehyde and
how can we tell that it is good 4 planted aq'.

2. Is the alkaline glutaraldehyde in CidexPlus
is buffered as well just like Metricide14.

3. What the MSDS say about other components
that may be in CidexPlus and relevant 2 planted.

Here in Israel there is no Metricide14,
all I could find so far is only CidexPlus 28.

kcaegis45

I'm also new to this
I was thinking of using metricide 14 or 28 or CidexPlus 28 and wondering if the difference in these 3 products is just the % of glutaraldehyde or if there is a difference between buffered and alkaline glutaraldehyde.
Thanks - don't want to kill my fishes or plants.

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi kceagis45,

The manufacturing process to make most glutaraldehyde results in an alkaline solution.

I use 50% concentration Biological Grade glutaraldehyde and dilute it as needed (typically to 1.5% concentration which is the same as Excel).

globali

Thank U Seattle_Aquarist.

kcaegis45

TY Seattle

I'll just dose it % wise based on seachem's 1.5% and usage of 5ml for 10 gallons (initial dosage after water change) and 5ml for 50 gallons (daily dosage) instead of diluting it.

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi kcaegis45,

Or you can use this handy calculator to mix up 1.5% solutions.