Squawkbert

MetriCide 14 on ebay right now - many bottles available, $18.50/gallon - shipped. I just bought one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=150134741850

Squawkbert

Been using Metricide 14 w/o activator solution for a while now - all is well.

isenblatter

I called Electron Microscopy Sciences the other day to inquire as to their shipping costs. The Biological Grade 50% 450mL solution is $19.00.

The shipping cost is $10. The hazmat fee on the other hand is $20.
total cost: $49.00 .
I was told any orders of Glut carried the hazmat fees now. So it may be time to find a different supplier of Glut for shipping cost purposes.

Seattle_Aquarist

I also ordered from EMS in the last couple of weeks. I purchased the 1 liter 50% biological grade for $23.00. The hazardous material charge is a UPS charge, not a EMS charge. My shipping (including UPS hazmat charge) was $32.24 for a total of $55.24. The concentration of glutaraldehyde in Excel is 1.5%. The 1 liter 50% concentration will allow me to make 33.333 liters of 1.5% glutaraldehyde at a cost of $1.657 per liter. Excel typically costs me $20 plus freight for a two liter bottle. Seems like a good deal to me, plus it allows me the option of making stronger concentrations so my doses are smaller.

Jon in SW Ohio

I've worked in disaster cleanup for a few years now, and gluteraldehyde is a chemical we use a LOT. I haven't been able to find Excel locally, can glut be used as a carbon source like it or is it just for algae control?

The stuff we get has a lemon scent, will it still be safe?

MatPat

If it has a lemon scent I wouldn't use it in my tank. Not sure if it would be bad for the fish or not but I wouldn't chance it.

Gluteraldehyde can be used as a carbon source as well as an algacide. I think somewhere back in the beginning pages of this thread, someone pointed out that Excel contains gluteraldehyde so they are pretty much the same thing...they definitely smell the same when you open the bottle.

Fortuna Wolf

I -guarantee- you that the glutaraldehyde is far more toxic than the lemon scent. I use 50% GA that has mixed into it: green colouring, a detergent, and essence of violet (yes, my tank smells like violets and apples). If there is any toxicity that I see it comes from the GA first at high doses, like 3-5 ml/gallon of 2.5% diluted solution.

So far I've added to my tanks without adverse effects 3ppm of melaleuca oil, 3ppm of bay rum (Pimentosa Racemosa) oil, 3ppm of Clove oil, and 3ppm of pine oil (from a commercially available bottle of pine-allen). One of these days I'm going to do actual toxicity tests on these things...

With the exception of knowing what was used as a surfactant in the melaleuca oil and pine-allen, the bay rum and clove oil were suspended in an equal concentration of polysorbate 20 which is a fish safe surfactant.

IME: Most surfactants and detergents are safe for fish and plants and inverts at reasonable levels (less than 5ppm). Soaps however seem to be more toxic. Also, most essential oils seem to be pretty safe for fish too at concentrations at or less than 3ppm. I have not tested higher.

Excel, IMO, is a self polymerized form of GA. If you allow GA to sit and age in aqueous solution (especially if you heat it up) it will self polymerize. It also breaks down in solution too (it'll reach an equilibrium between polymerized and free GA). Polymerized GA is less toxic since it releases GA slowly once you add it to the tank, but the GA is still the active ingredient.

MatPat

Thanks for the info on the glut Fortuna Wolf. Where did you find your 50% solution? I've looked for it but by the time you add in the "hazardous material" shipping charge it is more expensive than the 2.5% solution.

3-5ml per gallon sounds like quite a bit of glut to be adding. I have seen some people recommend high dosages like that but I've never had to add more than about 0.5ml per gallon to cure any BBA or filamentous algae issues I've had. I think Allen noticed some problems with shrimp at the 1ml per gallon dosage if my memory is correct so I can see where fish may have trouble when dosing 3-5ml per gallon.

Do you know if the glut looses any of it's effectiveness either as an algacide or carbon source when it polymerizes? A few SWOAPE members have asked about this and I think one has even stated they thought it was less effective as it aged.

Fortuna Wolf

I have a friend who runs a medical supply (actually THE medical supply) company in my old city, pop 200,000. There -will- be places that supply dentists and hospitals and clinics in cities that size and larger. Sometimes they run out and they have to get it locally the same day so there will always be a place to buy it locally. It will take a long time hunting for it, I have to start by asking my GP.

What I have is called Cetylcide-G and is half a gallon of concentrate. The price is similar to that of biological grade GA without shipping. Right I have treated tanks of various algaes at .5ml/gallon without a problem. I think that at doses around 2+ml/gallon you start messing with plants which prevents them from taking up nutrients and causes algae growth. Its just that I had a very nasty filamentous algae infestation that required me to do that. I had another filamentous algae that was muuuccchhh easier to get rid of.

I suspect the GA becomes less toxic as it polymerizes but it retains its usefulness as a carbon source. Afterall, in the concentrations in water that we dose at it will depolymerize and release free GA that can then be taken up.

mshilling

Anyone find this locally? ive made a few calls with minimal success. I suppose I can order some...im just trying to do my due diligence first!