my solution of EDTA micros keeps precipitating after a couple days

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MrMuggles

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I'm using distilled water to mix the solution at room temperature, as directed in batches of 500ml. I can see it fully dissolved within an hour, given some shaking. I've tried storing it at room temp and in the fridge, both will result in a flakey, white precipitation that falls out only after 2-3 days.

Is it ok? doesn't seem ok

This is the product: GLA (EDTA) Micromix Aquarium Fertilizer - 1lb Bag
 
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Well, I'm no chemist but it sounds to me like what you are seeing are impurities that precipitate out. Something similar happens on the saltwater side when you mix some salt mixes.

I don't think it creates any issues with dosing for your aquarium other than the fact that the impurities will add a variable that you don't know. I prefer to use cleaner, lab-grade items, if I can find them and the cost is reasonable. These come in a purer form that removes most impurities.
 
I got a response from the vendor who said it was probably mold. And given the timeline of when it appears this totally makes sense, plus I didn't fully sterilize my container. I mixed up a fresh solution with a small amount of vinegar as suggested by vendor, see how it goes!
 
Anytime I make a batch, I add a capful of Excel to combat any mold. There should not be any precipitates if don’t correctly. Another useful tip is to boil the water first, then mix in your fertilizer. This helps to break down the more stubborn salts into the solution as well. Since doing this I’ve never had any issues precipitating out or with mold.
 
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MrMuggles said:
I got a response from the vendor who said it was probably mold. And given the timeline of when it appears this totally makes sense, plus I didn't fully sterilize my container. I mixed up a fresh solution with a small amount of vinegar as suggested by vendor, see how it goes!
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Start with distilled or RO water and add 0.4g of potassium sorbate and 10 ml distilled white vinegar for every 1000ml. Works great.
 
Hmm, if you're keeping it in a dark, dry place and you're getting precipitate in 2-3 days, I'm not so sure it's mold. I've had mold before but usually it takes longer than that to grow to a point where you will see it as precipitate. But, who knows?! You should always add an anti-mold mix to these mixtures so it's good practice.
 
spooky results... I tried adding vinegar to a freshly prepped mix as directed by vendor to prevent mold, this time the huge pile of fluff was 3x the size and appeared even faster, overnight.

can I just add precisely measured dry micro mix directly to my tank instead?
 
Mold it is not. Mold takes a few weeks to get going in solutions. I think your issue is your water pH. When you initially added all the salts the water pH was at a certian point. Over a few days it became something different thus precipitating out the salts from solution. A very easy test is to add Half a gram 0.5g Ascorbic Acid, Vinigar, Battery acid, Vitamin C etc. They milky mix should almost instantly dissepear.
 
It actually went cloudy again, this time even faster. Vinegar making the problem worse? I don't get it at all.

I'm using distilled vinegar and a freshly opened container of distilled water.

For now I'll just stick to dry dosing, until or unless I see signs of deficiencies. Less work and less mysterious.
 
This is a stretch, but I'd be curious if heating the precipitated mix would get it to go back into solution. Do you have any of the cloudy mix left? Submerge it in a bath of very hot water for a bit or microwave it and then shake it. It doesn't have to be boiling. Very warm should do. (Be sure to take the lid off and don't melt your container :-) If it goes back clear, maybe your concentration is too high. I expect you are mixing per instructions, but it is be worth a try.
 
MrMuggles said:
spooky results... I tried adding vinegar to a freshly prepped mix as directed by vendor to prevent mold, this time the huge pile of fluff was 3x the size and appeared even faster, overnight.

can I just add precisely measured dry micro mix directly to my tank instead?
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MrMuggles said:
Ok, I remade the mix this time with several ml of vinegar, if this doesn't keep the juice loose then I don't know...
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I know this is an old thread and you probably found a work around, but for whoever is reading this, whenever you prepare a fert solution, you should normally ALWAYS acidify the receiving water prior adding anything in it. In general PH should be anywhere between 3 and 4, even 5 could do the trick.
NOW here is the catch. GLA (EDTA) Micromix Aquarium and other products out there are chelating their traces, not only Fe. Because Mg is also chelated, and Mg-EDTA is only stable between PH 6-10, this could explain why you were seeing some precipitation. Low PH will cause the complex to dissociate into free EDTA and Mg and they will both precipitate.

Some of these pre-mixes unfortunately are only meant to be added to the tank in dry form rather being dissolved in a highly concentration fert bottle.
 
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