Freemann

I have used glutaraldehyde mixed with water infrequently for BBA.
It works fine and BBA starts dying 4-5 days after the initial application.
I dilute 2.5% of 25% percent strength glutaraldehyde in water.
I have seen no ill effects to inverts or mosses up to now.

Squawkbert

:: subscribes to thread ::

Some of you guys have some nice toys at your disposal! All I commonly have is a UV HPLC & UV/Vis spec.

Note - Glutaraldehyde solutions containing surfactants such as CIDEX PLUS 28 Day Solution ...

So I'd favor diluting a conc. sollution w/o surfactants etc. just to be safe (though at the concentrations & addition rates we're generally talking about, I doubt they'd hurt anything - still, who needs more variables?).

Please keep the updates coming.

Zapins

Is CIDEX usable? I just got some and want to try it in the tank.

Fortuna Wolf

I used Cidex successfully. One container is the GA solution, and another container is an alkaline "activator" solution.
make sure you figure out which is which (hint, the GA smells like green apples).

Price wise its even cheaper though to buy 50% GA from a chemical supplier (and more pure too).

Noddy65

Some trials on using gluteraldehyde. Seems to work a treat.

http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...?t=2407&page=5

Mike

taekwondodo

Is anyone using the Metricide product, and if so, how (dosing rate, dilution rate (with what, etc...)) -

I've read the thread a couple of times and am not sure how many people are using this successfully (and how they are doing it)...

a "DIY" guide to glutaraldehyde might be in order...

Thanks,

- Jeff

Squawkbert

I guess you're shooting for 2-2.5ppm glutaraldehyde.

That's 2-2.5mg/L, so figure out how many L of tank water you have, multiply by 2 (for 2ppm), divide by the percentage glutaraldehyde in your solution and that's how many mL you would want to add. From the thread referenced above (I joined, had a look), there's info that the glutaraldehyde has a pretty short half life - it's basically gone in ~24 hours, but you don't want to dose it daily as you might impede decomposition of the algae you're killing off, so the consensus there seems to be ~2ppm, every other day for control of most types of algae (GDA, thread being slowest to respond).

I just got a 1/2L of Excel, so I guess I have until that's gone to find a good source for a glutaraldehyde solution w/o surfactants & scents added.

cs_gardener

I bought my glutaraldehyde from http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/...raldehyde.aspx

I bought the 50% 450 mL biological grade for $18.00 and shipping was only around $6, so it's very reasonably priced and ends up being a fraction of the cost of Excel. They packed it extremely well and I received it in just over a week from the time I placed my order. I'll definitely buy from them again when I finally finish the original bottle.

FishandTurtleJunkie

I purchased Metricide 28 from here: http://www.buyemp.com/category/Steri...Solutions.html

$24 shipped for one gallon of the 2.5% solution.

I was wondering if anyone knew if the Activator had to be added in order for the glut to work, or if you can add it without?

ohiodave

Do not add the activator