Can I use Cidex Plus?
The bottle says that is 3.4%glutaraldehyde solution.
How many ml can I dose in a 90 gallon?
Thanks, Hector.
The bottle says that is 3.4%glutaraldehyde solution.
How many ml can I dose in a 90 gallon?
Thanks, Hector.
glutaraldehyde instead of excel
Hey guys
Last week I have been using glutaraldehde in place of excel.I'm using a 2.8% solution.It's suppose to be about the same as excel but alot cheaper.I paid $16.95 a gallon.
I tried it in two tanks,a 10 gal. planted and a 60gal. planted.
It had a different effect in each tank on some of the same plants.Below I'll list each tank with the dose and effect I noticed.
60gal.,192 watts,11hours lights on,co2 injected,ferts daily,plants are red tiger lotus,rotalia indica,sword,ludwigia,anubias,hair grass and crypts,34 fish.
I dosed 30ml 9/23/6 after a water change then 10ml daily.
On 9/25/6 the angelfish spawned so it seems to have no effect on the fish.
9/27/6 the sword plant started growing fast.3-4" growth of new leaves daily.this plant has not grown much in the last 3 weeks.
It's been a week so far,water is clear,plants are growing fast and the little bit of algae I had is gone.
riccia is ok.
Now for the 10gal.,30 watts 8-10 hours,no co2,ferts daily,plants are sword,red tiger lotus,ludwigia,and bolbitis,tiger barb fry,cherry shrimp and alot of hair algae.
I dosed this tank heavier to see what would happen.
5ml daily.
9/23/6 dosed at 10:00am and by 7:00pm algae shows signs of dying.fish and shrimp are fine.
9/24/6 riccia is dying off.All the algae dead.fish are fine.water is a little cloudy.
9/25/6 water is clear.I have a few strands of moss in this tank.I think it's java moss.It is growing very fast.
9/30/6 moss has grown around 10" this week.this moss has been in here for 8 months without much growth.The bolbitis is a little darker green and the leaves have widened.Looks healthier then it ever has.
Other than the riccia dying and the water turning cloudy one day it seems to work well.
If I notice anything else I'll add it to this post.
Allen
Last week I have been using glutaraldehde in place of excel.I'm using a 2.8% solution.It's suppose to be about the same as excel but alot cheaper.I paid $16.95 a gallon.
I tried it in two tanks,a 10 gal. planted and a 60gal. planted.
It had a different effect in each tank on some of the same plants.Below I'll list each tank with the dose and effect I noticed.
60gal.,192 watts,11hours lights on,co2 injected,ferts daily,plants are red tiger lotus,rotalia indica,sword,ludwigia,anubias,hair grass and crypts,34 fish.
I dosed 30ml 9/23/6 after a water change then 10ml daily.
On 9/25/6 the angelfish spawned so it seems to have no effect on the fish.
9/27/6 the sword plant started growing fast.3-4" growth of new leaves daily.this plant has not grown much in the last 3 weeks.
It's been a week so far,water is clear,plants are growing fast and the little bit of algae I had is gone.
riccia is ok.
Now for the 10gal.,30 watts 8-10 hours,no co2,ferts daily,plants are sword,red tiger lotus,ludwigia,and bolbitis,tiger barb fry,cherry shrimp and alot of hair algae.
I dosed this tank heavier to see what would happen.
5ml daily.
9/23/6 dosed at 10:00am and by 7:00pm algae shows signs of dying.fish and shrimp are fine.
9/24/6 riccia is dying off.All the algae dead.fish are fine.water is a little cloudy.
9/25/6 water is clear.I have a few strands of moss in this tank.I think it's java moss.It is growing very fast.
9/30/6 moss has grown around 10" this week.this moss has been in here for 8 months without much growth.The bolbitis is a little darker green and the leaves have widened.Looks healthier then it ever has.
Other than the riccia dying and the water turning cloudy one day it seems to work well.
If I notice anything else I'll add it to this post.
Allen
101 - 120 of 259 Posts
From googling it (don't take this as gospel), it looks very similar to the stuff that we get. Our solution is 2.5%, and I'm dosing around 1 ml per 5 gallons (some dose more to combat algae, etc). To dose at the same concentration, you'd dose 2.5 / 3.4 * 1 ml = 0.74 ml per 5 gallons.
Thanks for the help!!! megasycophant.
I agree about the packaging and all, great service and good stuff, but watch the shipping. I also bought 450 mL of the 50% biological grade and was charged 31 bucks for shipping. Not good!I bought my glutaraldehyde from http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/products/chemicals/glutaraldehyde.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.
I know this thread has been around a whille, but it was recently brought to my attention, so I just wanted to say that I'm going to try it out. I'm always interested in alternative and economical ways to do things.
I ordered MetriCide 14 from the following website:
http://http://medicalindustries.net/shopsite_sc/store/html/Instrument_SterilizingnDisinfectant_Solutions.html
The following link contains the manufacturers MSDS for MetriCide14, listed as MetriCide.pdf. http://www.metrex.com/index/metrex-education-msds-us-english
It's a solution of glutaraldehyde and water, and it is in a concentration you can use straight out of the bottle, it's a 2.6% solution.
I ordered MetriCide 14 from the following website:
http://http://medicalindustries.net/shopsite_sc/store/html/Instrument_SterilizingnDisinfectant_Solutions.html
The following link contains the manufacturers MSDS for MetriCide14, listed as MetriCide.pdf. http://www.metrex.com/index/metrex-education-msds-us-english
It's a solution of glutaraldehyde and water, and it is in a concentration you can use straight out of the bottle, it's a 2.6% solution.
It seems like a lot of people are having this stuff shipped for some reason. With the exception of the 50% solution, most of the time it will be available locally (unless you live in a very small town) at any medical/dental supply place. A quick glance at your Yellow Pages should save people a little bit of shipping expense 
Not available locally here...Des Moines, IA
Population - over 1/2 Million.
Population - over 1/2 Million.
i posted this a while ago on another thread thought some people might be interested.
from http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/...-flourish-excel-got-rid-all-my.html#post26623i just found this http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/pubs/fullt...5/20050003.pdf
it talks about the effects of glutaraldehyde excel's main ingredient. its from the govt agency NOAA.\
when i found this paragraph i was very happy.
"Chronic toxicity bioassays were employed to assess
the potential for environmental effects associated
with the release of the biocide, glutaraldehyde. Of the
three organisms tested, the algal species, P. subcapitata,
was most sensitive. The IC50 estimate of approximately
1.5 mg L−1 (ranging from 1.0 to 1.8 mg L−1)
indicates that low concentrations of glutaraldehyde can
dramatically impact growth. In addition, the narrow
interval between the IC25 and IC50 suggests a steep
concentration-response curve; small increases in glutaraldehyde
concentration would be expected to cause
a disproportionate decrease in growth."
its a good read if i just skip the over scienced parts
Thanks!!!
Anyone have any experience using glutaraldehyde in a tank with Subwassertang.
Anyone have any experience using glutaraldehyde in a tank with Subwassertang.
MetriCide 14 on ebay right now - many bottles available, $18.50/gallon - shipped. I just bought one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150134741850
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150134741850
Been using Metricide 14 w/o activator solution for a while now - all is well.
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.
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.
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.
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?
The stuff we get has a lemon scent, will it still be safe?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.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.
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.
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!
101 - 120 of 259 Posts
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