Flourish Excel got rid of all my algae - Page 5 - Algae

Simpte 27 · 02-02-2005, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robitreef

Simpte 27,

Are you using CO2 in your tank? I use all RO/DI, but I want to switch to a CO2 unit, and I don't want my pH to decrease drastically. Are you adding buffer to balance your pH or is the tap doing the trick. Was the algae more problematic when you used all tap vs. RO/DI?

More problematic when I used tap. Since the change, algae has not reappeared. I use DIY Co2. Just gotta be more adamite and persistant about changing bottles.

david lim · 02-02-2005, 09:03 AM

I remember there was a discussion long ago on APD where many people, Tom included, were trying to figure out what was in Excel to make it like an algaecide. I believe the consensus from seachem's limited information was that they were using a sugar for a carbon source that was difficult for plants to take up but nearly impossible as a carbon source for algae. I don't think seachem was willing though to leak out what sugar complexes they were using. Am I right, tom?

Anyway, the stuff works great, especially in lower lit tanks, as many people are finding out

!

pineapple · 02-02-2005, 10:23 AM

"Lower lit tanks"

Algae in lower lit tanks = an oxymoron.

Andrew Cribb

david lim · 02-02-2005, 05:19 PM

Guess "lower lit" depends on interpretation. I meant tanks around 2.0 W/g as opposed to higher lit tanks >3 W/g. I still got algae at 2.0 W/g but that was long ago.

But then again I see people with algae all over their tanks and they'll be running <1 W/g, but then again those were bait tanks.

robitreef · 02-28-2005, 12:05 PM

Sorry to bring an old post back to life, but how is Excel on combatting green algae on the glass of the aqurium? It has been a PITA to scrape off the glass for me.

MatPat · 03-01-2005, 10:01 AM

At risk you getting off topic...if you want to remove green spot algae from the glass and leaves of anubias, try keeping you PO4 levels around 2ppm. This has worked for me since mid-December. I only clean my glass maybe once a month and it isn't due to green spot algae.

Just be aware that you may have to add more NO3 once you increase the PO4. Keep an eye on your levels for a while until they begin to stabilize.

gpodio · 03-01-2005, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david lim

I remember there was a discussion long ago on APD where many people, Tom included, were trying to figure out what was in Excel to make it like an algaecide. I believe the consensus from seachem's limited information was that they were using a sugar for a carbon source that was difficult for plants to take up but nearly impossible as a carbon source for algae. I don't think seachem was willing though to leak out what sugar complexes they were using. Am I right, tom?

Anyway, the stuff works great, especially in lower lit tanks, as many people are finding out

!

I agree the stuff works, and I feel Glutaraldehyde may be the reason why.... while I had never heard of the active ingredient polycycloglutaracetal before, in reading the MSDS for Seachem products, Excel is declaired to contain Glutaraldehyde as a principal ingredient. Glutaraldehyde is a chemical many of us probably already know about, it's uses range from disinfectants, to embalming solutions... to biocides.

It has many properties that I feel could explain some of the mysteries of Excel. For example, it has been tested to sterilize ballast water in ships so that organisms are not spread from one country to another. It doesn't accumulate so it's of no danger to the environment. Algae is effected at very low concentrations, one document for example states 200 times lower than the required concentration to kill amphipods. It is quickly broken down by bacteria to simpler forms, such as carbon dioxide.

I'm not sure, but the effects of Excel seem to be in line with the effects one would expect to have from small regular doses of Glutaraldehyde. Perhaps the Glutaraldehyde is being used to preserve the polycycloglutaracetal but has these "side effects" so to speak. Perhaps they both provide carbon sources, while the Glutaraldehyde is also causing our algae to suffer...

Giancarlo Podio

cousinkenni · 03-09-2005, 02:40 PM

Hey guys,

Sorry to bring this thread back to life, but I just read GPodio's last post and wanted to add something..........

Here at the cancer research center we use 650uL of 37% Gluteraldehyde in 25mL of media to completely kill and fix (crosslink) every protein in the cells. In your terms that means less than 1% Gluteraldehyde can kill and FIX protein. I would suspect way less is required to kill them alone.

The stuff is very potent!

Ken T.

m.lemay · 03-13-2005, 02:55 PM

I just bought some Excel from Drs Foster And Smith on sale, 2 liters for $19.99.

I got a glosso mat in trade from someone that seems to have introduced Staghorn to my tank. The staghorn is growing intermingled in the glosso. I'm gonna try this excel therapy for a week or 2 to see if it works out. I'm using the EI method of fertilizing , my ferts and CO2 are all in excess.

The plants are doing quite well but this staghorn just popped outta no where, never had it before, I wanna squash it before it hets outta hand. I'll keep you updated on progress.

How much, and how often would you dose on a 75Gal?

Marcel

chiahead · 03-13-2005, 03:39 PM

the deal is to triple the recomended dose. So, I think its 5ml for 10 gal so 35 to 40 ml for initial and then 21 to 24 ml after that. When you overdose the excel you will in a few days get a cloudy tank. When that happens stop the excel and do a water change. If the algea persists then repeat for another week. I add excel daily just to help keep algea at bay. Good luck, be careful if you have sensitive fauna, it can cause a co2 excess and choke the O2 from them.