Recommend alternative to Photo Flo?

[mdarnton]

There was just an article in the Chicago Tribune about pollution of water supplies with microfibers.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/c...130-story.html

I wonder how much of the problem I'm having is related to that--the last time I did darkroom work was in the pre microfiber era, and I never had the problems I have now. I do have a water filter for drinking water--perhaps I need to start using it for film stuff!

[Ari]

How much Photoflo did you use?

I only use 2-3 drops in a pint of distilled water; I rock the tray gently for a few seconds, let it drip off, then hang it in the film drying cabinet.

There are several direct alternative. Ilfotol is one of them. These are basically wetting agents that allow your negs to dry free of mineral stain. I never reuse this stuff. All it takes is a few drops in a rinse tray of distilled water, immediately prior to hanging your sheet film to dry. A single pint of the stuff might last a decade.

I never re-use wetting agent or developer, my stop bath is only water; fixer gets re-used, but only until film takes longer than 4 minutes to clear.

[Tony Lakin]

I purchased 2x5 litres of photoflo about 20 years ago, I have used about 3 litres so far, no problems.

[Jim Jones]

A few drops of Photo-Flo in 8 ounces of distilled water works fine. It is discarded after mixing and using. In time, flocculents form in diluted and stored Photo-Flo in my moldy darkroom.

[Drew Wiley]

Microfibers in tap water??? I'd be a lot more worried about what else got thru, if that were the case. Filters are a good idea on darkroom water lines anyway.
Sometimes a bit of rust can come through the line and spoil a neg or print, or interact with your chem.