Fungus in Micros

I used to add 0.5ml of Normal Hydrochloric Acid to my 250ml bottle and keep it refridgerated. Find Tropica traces work better so have now changed over to them.

James

 

I too got tired of CSM+B's tendency to turn into gunk after a couple weeks. I was making regular strength (1 TBLspoon/250 mL) and diluted (1/2 TBL/250) and I still got the crap...it also clogged up my liquidoser on a weekly basis so I switched to Tropica's stuff as well. Won't ever go back unless I lose my job (paycheck). Its definitely worth the price.

I don't have access to "free" HCL anymore (since finishing my grad degree) so I never had the chance to try that. I've always kept stuff refrigerated ever since I was making Rorison's for hydroponic experiments.

 

I am having the same thing happen. I am now making smaller batches of the CSM+B mix so that it is not sitting in the fridge for so long (1.5 tsp / 125 ml).

I also noticed that the trace mix seems to react with the air in the bottle I keep it in... A day after making the mix the plastic bottle is somewhat crushed in such a way that it looks like the air was sucked out of it. Anyone else ever see this? Is something reacting within the bottle?

 

Hello James,

I just got some HCL, it says (concentrated) 12mol on the bottle. Is this the same stuff you added at 0.5ml per 250ml of CSM+B. I am getting a small amount of a cottony looking stuff in mine, even keeping it in the Fridge and was wondering how much to add to my mix?? Thanks in advance for any help.

Cheers,

Singtoh

 

From the table below of this page:
Hydrochloric acid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think your HCl is 38%.

And from here:
Practical PMDD Information

Kevin Conlin added 0.8 ml of 9M (I think it's 30% HCl) to 500 ml.

So if I don't get it wrong (and I may be wrong), the 0.5 ml of 12M HCl
in 500 ml is probably OK.

Better to wait for other confirmation.

I keep my 15-day worth liquid in the fridge. There sill is little mold though.
I think I may try adding a drop or two of anti ich & fungus for fish into the bottle.

 

Hello Nipat,

Thanks for the info and the links. On the bottle it says 36.4% and mol of 12. I keep mine in the fridge as well but still get a bit of shit floating around in there.My auto doser sits next to the tank, out of the light, but it still gets a bit in there as well. I'll maybe go with 0.2-0.3cc just to go a little lean, but I'll wait a day or two. Thanks for the Suksaphan connection as well. They have everything I needed, except of course CSM+B, and only 10min. from where I live. No worries, I have enough for about three weeks and if I run out, I'll get something from Seasun at the weekend market, I think they have Seachem and Tropica. My buddy should be back by then to hook me up with some more CSM+B. Thanks again Nipat.

Cheers,

Singtoh

 

Fungus Funk

Hi All,

Not trying to be smarty plant. No brain, smart is out for me.

I have honestly never had a mold or fungus problem with CSM+B or my macroingredients, for that matter with the PMDD I used before, I have never refrigerated, it does get warm here, and of course it is “a dry heat.” I do store in a dark place.

I mix four week batches and use dosing pumps on some of my systems.

I do sanitize all containers before starting, mostly that means I run the containers through a cycle in the dishwasher. A couple of dosing pump containers and the tubing get sanitized with a weak bleach solution then rinsed in DI water at each water change.

I mix all my fertilizers in DI or distilled water. All containers are brown wide mouth 1 liter containers; I think I got from Ward Natural Science a while back. Seem to be about the consistency of hydrogen peroxide containers, the 3% H2O2 that you find at WalMart or pharmacies.

I pour from the storage containers to measuring beakers to avoid contamination.

I have heard of folks adding Hydrochloric Acid, foot fungus stuff, vitamin C tablets and I know I missed at least one major method.

If it helps I am glad , if not, must have been someone else.

Biollante

 

Hi Biollante,

I try to do the same, but not quite a thourough as you do. I only get a little bit of some white looking stuff that has clung together. not a real big issue, I guess. Next time I mix, I'll run the dosing pumps with a weak solution of H2O2 as well for 10 min. or so. I use DI water as well and I'll try to keep it a bit more clean. The containers I use for the auto doser are air tight after you lock the lid, I had to put a small hole in the lid to allow it to pump, maybe I'll stick a check valve or something in that hole to keep everything out. Bangkok air is not the greatest.

Cheers,

Singtoh

 

Amazing Excel

This Excel stuff just amazes me how useful and effective as far as I can tell.

I suspect the Excel 'trick' is simpler and more effective than my messing about.

Seriously, it is amazingly good.

Biollante