Do you Metricide ?!

[ckmullin]

A simple question:

Do you use Metricide as a carbon source?

[Sweetpea]

I'm pretty new to this so had never heard of that. Using Excel for carbon...when I remember to, that is!! Must get more diligent about doing that, and fertilizing, as I'm finding my plants are not looking great at the moment.

[ckmullin]

There has been a debate for years on this topic.

Excel contains Glutaraldehyde as it's source of carbon and it was found another type of product which also contains Glutaraldehyde. Metricide and Cidex, actually which are marketed as a disinfectant and sterilant!

Here is a wiki on this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutaraldehyde


When the word got out that Seachem was using Glutaraldehyde, they had changed their MSDS to a different name, the name now you will see on your bottle.

Original MSDS:
http://web.archive.org/web/20080725050804/http://www.seachem.com/support/MSDS/FlourishExcel.doc.pdf

Current MSDS:
http://www.seachem.com/support/MSDS/FlourishExcel.doc.pdf


Long story short, Metricide can be used in the same way Excel can be used. Metricide is more concentrated so a smaller dose is needed. It will give the exact same results. The reason why people use a product like Metricide is cost. One gal of Metricide is aprox $20. Excel is much, much more.

[Kimr]

I used excel for a few years and have been using metricide for a year now, and my plant growth is excellent, so I will stick with the metricide!

[mikebike]

What dosages are you using of Mertricide?

[ckmullin]

It depends on gal...I use 50% of excel dosage.

From memory, excel is 1.6% and metricide is 2.6%.


MSDS for Metricide: http://www.metrex.com/msds/metrex/us/english/MetriCide.pdf


Excel only stays in the water column in it's active form for 24 hrs...as admitted by Seachem, so a daily dose would be best.

[Kimr]

I have a 500L bottle, and I put half water and half metricide in it. I do however, first make it in a measuring cup then just pour. Been working for me anyway.

[fishclubgirl]

I use the nutrafin CO2 systems as I only run smaller tanks. They use a sugar yeast mixture and need to be refilled around every 3-4 weeks. As I'm not much of a sweet fan, that's the primary use for sugar in my household...

[Jvision]

Where does one purchase Metricide?

[ckmullin]

I've bought from them and they do ship. One of their offices is in Calgary...so it's just a hop down Deerfoot for myself.

http://www.vereburn.com


There are a few places I've seen people buy online...some Canadian some USA.

[Biulu]

Very interesting! I had never heard of metricide. I have been using Excel as most people do, basically to fight BBA at my sagittaria. It did have a downside effect though; it seemed like my crypts were constantly melting.

Did anybody else notice this too?

[Sweetpea]

Very interesting! I had never heard of metricide. I have been using Excel as most people do, basically to fight BBA at my sagittaria. It did have a downside effect though; it seemed like my crypts were constantly melting.

Did anybody else notice this too?

I've heard that about Vallisneria. I've been underdosing Excel, just not remembering to do it as often as planned, so I haven't noticed that effect yet.

[Sprucegruve]

interesting.
does everyone use metricide 14 or 28?

[Kimr]

Hubby just picked me up 2 bottles of metricide 14 today for 19.99. I will have to make a mental note as to how long each bottle lasts me, but if I remember correctly, the last time he bought it for me was Oct 2011, and that bottle still isn't finished, so it lasts me a long time.

[Sprucegruve]

i just ordered 1gallon of metricide 14,i cant wait to receive it.

just curious tho, whats the differnce between metricide 14 and metricide 28.
is it just the strength of the solution?

in the future could i order metricide 28 and half the dose?
or is there other stuff added in the 28?

sorry for all of the questions,and thanks in advance.

steve

[Kimr]

Sorry I don't know anything about the 28. All I know is that with the metricide you get this little bottle of "activation" with it. DO NOT ADD IT TO THE BOTTLE OF METRICIDE
b/c its an industrial cleaner, thats what that little bottle is for cleaning.

And basically what I do is, in an old bottle of empty excel I add half metricide and half water. That way I can just dose my tanks as if it was excel, it made it simplier for me.

[Sprucegruve]

right on! i happen to have 2 old excel bottles around here somewhere,so ill just do what you do.

appreciate the info, im sure when i received both bottles i would have added them together without thinking lol

[Kimr]

right on! i happen to have 2 old excel bottles around here somewhere,so ill just do what you do.

appreciate the info, im sure when i received both bottles i would have added them together without thinking lol

Yes if I hadn't been told about the little bottle that comes with it, I would have added it too.

And with using the excel bottles, I just wanted to make it simple for me and being able to dose the same way as I did before, so this is why it was suggested to do half and half (water) then I could just pretend it was excel and be on my way!