Metracide 14

over_stocked

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Jan 3, 2010
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Brandon, Sd
When using metracide 14 as an excel replacement you do NOT add the "activator" to the bottle do you? That is for sterilizing purposes only, correct? It says it would turn the chemical green, which I know excel is not...
 
B

Brian20

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If you are talking about cidex, yu dont use the activator (someone tell me that, I still not use this products)
 

Biollante

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2.6% Glutaraldehyde

over_stocked;47338 said:
When using metracide 14 as an excel replacement you do NOT add the "activator" to the bottle do you? That is for sterilizing purposes only, correct? It says it would turn the chemical green, which I know excel is not...

Hi,

Do not use the activator the activator is so the sterilent can be used for an extended period of time.

MetriCide is a 2.6% buffered glutaraldehyde solution.

Biollante
 

Biollante

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Ripped Off Again

Hi,

I have never used MetriCide 14 and have only limited experience with Cidex Plus. :eek:

Both are buffered glutaraldehyde solutions, MetriCide 14 is a 2.6% solution and Cidex Plus is a 3.4% solution.

I mix my Cidex 1:1 with distilled water yielding a 1.7% glutaraldehyde solution. :rolleyes:

I suppose it comes down to a matter of price and availability, accounting for Cidex Plus having 23.5% more glutaraldehyde.

I paid $US 18.75 including shipping for a quart of Cidex Plus from http://www.allegromedical.com/swine-flu-c7240/cidex-plus-28-day-solution-1-quart-p189979.html, and I see I was ripped off. :eek:

Biollante
 

abcemorse

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Sep 8, 2008
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What kind of dosing do you use with that, in terms of ml/gal? I use some excel, not a whole bunch, but am interested in this, it seems substatially cheaper....
 

Biollante

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Excel Label Dosing!

abcemorse;47485 said:
What kind of dosing do you use with that, in terms of ml/gal? I use some excel, not a whole bunch, but am interested in this, it seems substatially cheaper....

Hi,

I use Excel label dosing, since I have rather high density plants, I dose to the heavy side.

From SeaChem http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/FlourishExcel.html
On initial use or after a major (> 40%) water change, use 1 capful (5 mL) for every 40 L (10 gallons*). Thereafter use 1 capful for every 200 L (50 gallons*) daily or every other day. Dosing may be slowly increased in high-growth aquariums. For smaller dosing please note that each cap thread is approximately 1 mL.
I have been using Excel and my Cidex solution side by side and while I know it is not definitive, I see no difference between the two. :cool:

Biollante
 

Biollante

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Wow!

Hi,

Wow, even accounting for Cidex Plus having 23.5% more glutaraldehyde, the Metricide 14 is far and away the better deal! :D

Thanks! :cool:

Biollante
 

barbarossa4122

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Dec 29, 2009
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I use metricide 14 at 100% strength. I bought it here, which seems to be the cheapest for 1 gallon shipped.

Hi,

Is this better or the same than Excel? Should I switch from Excell to Metracid 14? How do you dose it and how much? A gallon of Excel is $50.00 and I would like to swich to Metracid 14 if it does the same job as the Excel.
 

barbarossa4122

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I am getting my 1 gallon of Metricide 14 on Monday ($30.00 shipped, Excel $60.00 shipped). I am going to dilute it to 1.5 M : 1 W. I am using about 25ml/day of Excel right now and it starting to get too pricey. As you stated one another forum, "over_stocked", this will make me a 1.66 gallons of "excel" for only $30.00. I will follow the MSDS instruction when handling the Metricide.
 

barbarossa4122

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Biollante;47941 said:
Hi,

What are you using 25ml of Excel a day on?

Biollante

Hello,

My 55g and 30g. I do not have co2 injection. Maybe in the future when I understand exactly what co2 system to get, I'll get it. It has to be something simple since my mechanical skills are limited, something that I just push a button or something and it does the job.
 
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Biollante

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On Average...

Hi,

That is a lot of Excel going into less than 85-gallons of water, though on average... ;)

After a 50% + water change, you should be dosing 25-ml Excel in the 55-gallon tank and 15-ml in the 30-gallon tank. :)

On non-water-change days, 5-ml Excel in the 55-gallon tank and 3-ml in the 30-gallon tank. :cool:

Biollante
 

shoggoth43

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Easy to install and operate = pressurized CO2. The downside is the relatively high initial cost. You will also need to figure out how you want to deliver said CO2 into the tank which adds another dimension to this.

You should be able to get a decent regulator, solenoid and bottle in the 200-250$ range. More or less depending on your needs and your tolerance to Some Assembly Required. A simple lamp timer will suffice to control it and you can run the CO2 into any existing powerhead you may already have in the tank to distribute the CO2. From there you can make it easier or more complex depending on your needs.

-
S