Glutaraldehyde. Medical instrument sterilizer and floor cleaner. Search for Metricide 14-day (NOT 28-day) on eBay. Save a bunch of money; gallon/$21 shipped.

 

Awesome! Thank you so much!

 

To make your own Excel that will last a very long time use this calculator.

http://web.archive.org/web/20140407234859/http://rota.la/glut/

You just put in which Metricide you got (stick with 14) and how much of the solution you want and it will spit out how much metricide/distilled water mix you need. You will have so much DIY excel you won't know what to do with it.

 

Will this stuff work the same as excel in terms of controlling algae?

 

Metricide 28 contains a surfactant which I believe is more or less like a soap that extends the effective period when used for sterilization of instruments. However I don't know if it's in the activator, which we don't use, or if it's in the 1 gal bottle. I would assume it's in the main solution. Nonetheless some have reported using it fairly long term with no issues.

There's also Metricide Plus 30 at 3.4% Glut but I believe it contains a surfactant also.

I don't have CO2 and dose 30 ml a day of undiluted Metricide 14 in my medium light heavily planted 50gal with great results. I've been able to buy in bulk of 4 gal cases at about $18 a gallon.

 

The surfactant is the activator bottle which is separate on both. People just buy 14 because its cheaper and has higher concentrate of glut but you can use either.

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Finally bought myself a gallon jug of Metricide 14 from [Ebay Link Removed] $20!

Next on the list is to upgrade to the Finnex Planted+ LED and I'll be set for a while(until that itch of needing to change/upgrade)