glutaraldehyde instead of excel - Page 15 - South Western Ohio Aquatic Plant Enthusiasts (SWOAPE)

Zapins · 01-30-2009, 07:09 PM

I don't think that happens very quickly, since gluteraldehyde is diluted with water. If all of it turned into CO2 then the solution wouldn't be active for 28 days like it says on their bottle since it would all be CO2.

I think that is only one of the reactions that takes place with gluteraldehyde when it is added to water. But in the presence of other chemicals like KNO3 or NH3/NH4, I would bet that it can react to form different products. Perhaps gluteraldehyde is providing several nutrients to the plants at the same time. What do you think?

oregon aqua · 01-30-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zapins

I don't think that happens very quickly, since gluteraldehyde is diluted with water. If all of it turned into CO2 then the solution wouldn't be active for 28 days like it says on their bottle since it would all be CO2.

I think that is only one of the reactions that takes place with gluteraldehyde when it is added to water. But in the presence of other chemicals like KNO3 or NH3/NH4, I would bet that it can react to form different products. Perhaps gluteraldehyde is providing several nutrients to the plants at the same time. What do you think?

Here is what i could find http://www.dow.com/PublishedLiteratu...romPage=GetDoc

overboard · 01-30-2009, 09:51 PM

This caught my eye because I have a tank that has just started devouring KNO3. I have been fighting a green threadlike algae, so I dose twice the recommended Excel. It is also lightly stocked (I think) and I recently let a small chain sword totally take over; I had assumed that those were the causes. Of course, this was with Excel. I am almost out and just received my Cidex 3.4% yesterday, getting up the nerve to try it out. The poster above said that Excel did not have this effect in tests, only glutaraldehyde did. Does that mean I could need to add even more KNO3? yikes.

Seattle_Aquarist · 04-07-2009, 06:58 AM

Hi MartialTheory,

I have been using Glut instead of Excel for about 6 months now and I find it works as good as Excel both as a source for carbon and as a algae inhibitor. I buy mine here: http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/...raldehyde.aspx. See post #114 on page 12 of this thread for information as to price and more importantly, hazmat and shipping costs. BTW, Excel contains 1.5% glutaraldehyde.

MartialTheory · 04-07-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seattle_Aquarist

Hi MartialTheory,

I have been using Glut instead of Excel for about 6 months now and I find it works as good as Excel both as a source for carbon and as a algae inhibitor. I buy mine here: http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/...raldehyde.aspx. See post #114 on page 12 of this thread for information as to price and more importantly, hazmat and shipping costs. BTW, Excel contains 1.5% glutaraldehyde.

Thanks im about to get it then.

But how about the beginin about 2.5 percent? That didn't seem harmful?

How is ODing working for u when u use it to combat algae? Do ur plants die as well? How about shrimps and fishes?

I have been told it is more harmful.

Seattle_Aquarist · 04-07-2009, 07:27 PM

Hi MartialTheory,

I mix is at 1.5% concentration. Some of my tanks get "normal" dosage per Excel instructions; other tanks get 2X dosage if I have an outbreak of algae starting.

I don't have any problems with my plants at 2X dosage except for my Vals (but not Sags). My Vallisneria grow 24" tall without Excel / Glut and 2"-3" tall with it. They still send out runners and look healthy except for being stunted. Who knows, this may be a way to develop a new "dwarf Val"! LOL Instead of Vals I use tall (18") Eleocharis species (Giant Hairgrass).

overboard · 04-09-2009, 07:39 PM

So far, so good. I had worked off of the assumption that Excel is probably 2.5%; I think that was a ways back in this thread. I am dosing the Cidex Plus (3.4%) at the same amounts as Excel; daily at 1 ml per 10 gallons of tank size (not capacity), three times that at water changes. Apparently I am really overdosing, yet all plants and fish are OK so far. My main problem is green thread or hair algae- it is gone from one tank, well controlled in two others. I started using it in two tanks that I didn't use Excel in before. I didn't notice any real change in nitrate consumption, so there may be no connection there after all.

nfrank- don't use the activator. I am cynical, but I would suspect that it is just an indicator for the test strips they sell also, so that the manufacturer puts the liability for replacing the solution on the user, and makes sure they sell a lot more. Doesn't aspirin cost $5.00 each in the hospital...? I used my Cidex Plus for three months, and it seemed to work better and better, no sign of degrading.

SKSuser · 06-12-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overboard

I am dosing the Cidex Plus (3.4%)

...

I used my Cidex Plus for three months, and it seemed to work better and better, no sign of degrading.

I'm confused. I tried to buy some Cidex tonight and the current MSDS sheet says that it contains phthalaldehyde. Are you using this? Its a similar compound, but not the same.

Here's what I'm looking at, since I have an allmed in my town.
http://www.allmed.net/catalog/item/1,838,839,3030,862

Also, Wavicide says it has glutaraldehyde in it, but it also mentions a surfactant, a mild fresh scent, and a rust inhibitor.... I've heard of its use in the aquarium before, but recently it seems like glutaraldehyde alternatives, and their information, is getting sparse.

Squawkbert · 06-25-2009, 10:43 AM

I'm not sure about Cidex... may be a rose by any other name type situation.

As to the surfactant/scent, this is generally provided in another (smaller) bottle - don't use it if you're using this stuff as an Excel replacement.