Dosing Metricide for my 135 gallon tank??

**nilocg** · 08-02-2010, 03:25 AM

How much metricide should I use for normal dosing on my 135 gallon tank? I do not plan on diluting it.

Also how much should dose when OD'ing.

Thanks for your help.

**xmas_one** · 08-02-2010, 03:32 AM

I've heard using the normal Excel dose is safe.... 1ml/10gallons...

**nilocg** · 08-02-2010, 03:59 AM

Even though metricide is more concentrated??

Darkblade48 · 08-02-2010, 04:48 AM

How strong is Metricide? I believe I read on APC that most people used a 2.5% solution of glutaraldehyde to achieve the same effect as Excel.

**xmas_one** · 08-02-2010, 05:15 AM

Here's the thread I remember reading...

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/fe...el-dosing.html

etgregoire · 12-17-2012, 07:20 PM

I have a couple questions about Metricide...

1. How do you dose it? Do you use a smaller bottle to store it in? Do you use a syringe to measure out?

2. If you want to use it at full strength - what is the formula that you use to adjust the amount you are using?

3. If you store it in a smaller bottle, diluted to Excel strength - how do you adjust for that formula?

Sorry if these questions have been explored before, it just this topic has become a rabbit hole. I had like 4 other tabs open where each thread is linking to threads on other forums...

Darkblade48 · 12-17-2012, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etgregoire

1. How do you dose it? Do you use a smaller bottle to store it in? Do you use a syringe to measure out?

When I was using glutaraldehyde (which Metricide is), I diluted it down to 2.5% (Excel strength) before dosing. I never dosed it directly.

I stored the stock solution separately. It was in an amber bottle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by etgregoire

2. If you want to use it at full strength - what is the formula that you use to adjust the amount you are using?

I would not recommend this, but if you are dosing directly, you need to figure out the amount of glutaraldehyde in Metricide, and then divide by the percentage in Excel (i.e. if Metricide was 35% glutaraldehyde and Excel was 2.5%, 35/2.5 = 14; thus, Metricide is 14 times stronger and you would only need 1/14 the Excel dosage).

This will usually work out to be a very small number; this is why I would recommend diluting it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by etgregoire

3. If you store it in a smaller bottle, diluted to Excel strength - how do you adjust for that formula?

If you dilute it to Excel strength (as I did), dose as per normal Excel instructions.

etgregoire · 12-17-2012, 08:06 PM

Okay see I'm glad I was asking this because from what I was reading... Metricide 14 is ~2.5% and Excel was like ~1.3% or something.

Why did you stop using it? I guess what I don't understand is like why I am just now hearing about this stuff. I feel like for the price... Excel should have gone out of business!

I'm just trying to learn a little more about it before buying a gallon!

Seattle_Aquarist · 12-17-2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nilocg

How much metricide should I use for normal dosing on my 135 gallon tank? I do not plan on diluting it.

Also how much should dose when OD'ing.

Thanks for your help.

Hi nilocg,

Excel is 1.5% glutaraldehyde

Metricide 14 is 2.6% glutaraldehyde (not quite twice as strong)

The 'water change' dosage for Excel is 5 ml (1 teaspoon) of Excel per 10 gallons so you would dose about 2.9 ml (about 2/3 teaspoon) of Metricide 14 per 10 gallons.

The 'daily dosage' for Excel is 5 ml (1 teaspoon) per per 50 gallons so your dosage would be 2.9 ml (about 2/3 teaspoon) of Metricide 14 per 50 gallons.

Hope this helps!

etgregoire · 12-17-2012, 08:25 PM

Thanks Seattle_Aquarist... I think nilocg's question has long been forgotten, but this certainly helps me. I guess this is really basic algebra, but... I just wanted to make sure I know whats going on.

Seattle_Aquarist · 12-17-2012, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etgregoire

Thanks Seattle_Aquarist... I think nilocg's question has long been forgotten, but this certainly helps me. I guess this is really basic algebra, but... I just wanted to make sure I know whats going on.

Hi etgregoire,

Sorry, didn't notice the date of the original post. I'm glad the information helped.

Darkblade48 · 12-17-2012, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etgregoire

Okay see I'm glad I was asking this because from what I was reading... Metricide 14 is ~2.5% and Excel was like ~1.3% or something.

I wasn't sure what the strengths were, it has been awhile since I last used Excel/Glutaraldehyde (mine was from JD Baker).

Quote:

Originally Posted by etgregoire

Why did you stop using it? I guess what I don't understand is like why I am just now hearing about this stuff. I feel like for the price... Excel should have gone out of business!

I didn't like the hassle of daily dosing, and I switched to pressurized CO2.

As for the price...there's always consumers that are willing to pay, so that's why they stay in business

08-02-2010, 03:25 AM	#1
nilocg Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (325/100%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: PacNW Posts: 2,143	Dosing Metricide for my 135 gallon tank?? How much metricide should I use for normal dosing on my 135 gallon tank? I do not plan on diluting it. Also how much should dose when OD'ing. Thanks for your help.

08-02-2010, 04:48 AM	#4
Darkblade48 Moderator (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 7,066	How strong is Metricide? I believe I read on APC that most people used a 2.5% solution of glutaraldehyde to achieve the same effect as Excel. __________________ Anthony A Primer to Pressurized CO2 and A Primer to Planted Tanks Eheim Pimp #362 - Eheim 2213 x2, Eheim 2028, Ehein 2217, Eheim surface skimmer and Eheim autofeeder. Victor Pimp #33 - HPT272-125-350-4M

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08-02-2010, 03:32 AM	#2
xmas_one Custom User Title (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 2,060	I've heard using the normal Excel dose is safe.... 1ml/10gallons...

08-02-2010, 03:59 AM	#3
nilocg Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (325/100%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: PacNW Posts: 2,143	Even though metricide is more concentrated??

08-02-2010, 05:15 AM	#5
xmas_one Custom User Title (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 2,060	Here's the thread I remember reading... http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/fe...el-dosing.html

12-17-2012, 07:20 PM	#6
etgregoire Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 272	I have a couple questions about Metricide... 1. How do you dose it? Do you use a smaller bottle to store it in? Do you use a syringe to measure out? 2. If you want to use it at full strength - what is the formula that you use to adjust the amount you are using? 3. If you store it in a smaller bottle, diluted to Excel strength - how do you adjust for that formula? Sorry if these questions have been explored before, it just this topic has become a rabbit hole. I had like 4 other tabs open where each thread is linking to threads on other forums...

12-17-2012, 08:06 PM	#8
etgregoire Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 272	Okay see I'm glad I was asking this because from what I was reading... Metricide 14 is ~2.5% and Excel was like ~1.3% or something. Why did you stop using it? I guess what I don't understand is like why I am just now hearing about this stuff. I feel like for the price... Excel should have gone out of business! I'm just trying to learn a little more about it before buying a gallon!

12-17-2012, 08:25 PM	#10
etgregoire Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 272	Thanks Seattle_Aquarist... I think nilocg's question has long been forgotten, but this certainly helps me. I guess this is really basic algebra, but... I just wanted to make sure I know whats going on.