mpe1329

Just thought I'd share my experiences with Excel.

I have 3 tanks:

1. 75 w Co2 (timed to go on and off w lights) and 3.4 wpg -- no Excel.

2217 Eheim, 2 medium internal Fluval sponge filters (positioned well under surface). Sponges cleaned weekly and Eheim monthly.

2. 35 Hex w Excel but no CO2 w 3 wpg.

Small internal Fluval + 2215 Eheim. Sponge cleaned weekly; Eheim monthly.

3. 10 gal w Excel but no CO2 (1.5 wpg).

Tiny Fluval-like internal + air driven sponge (on only at night) -- cleaned weekly.


Having slight brush algae problems w 75 -- especially on leaves of amazon swords.

No algae in other tanks.

I do 50% water change weekly on each tank.

Each tank is overstocked with fish.

Does Excel prevent algae? No idea. But when it comes time to buy another $33 2-liter bottle of Excel, I convince myself that it does.

ESV sells concentrated bi-ionic. Wish Seachem would do the same with Excel. Hint, hint.

mpe1329

P.S.

I also:

• follow Greg Barr dosing recommendations in 75 @ 100% recommended doss; 50% GB recommendations in 35 hex; and 10% in 10, which I suppose might also have something to do with algae situation.
  
• feed all 3 tanks heavily w assortment of flakes, sinking wafers and frozen.
  
• 10 hrs light per day cycle on each tank.
  
• use same substrate @ same depth in each tank;
  
• 35 was planted with excess from 75 & 10 w excess of smaller plants from 35.
  
• CFs exclusively on 75; T5s + CFs + reg fluorescent (RF) on 35; RF on 10.
  
• Temp (78-80) same on each tank;
  
• Mechanical & biological filter media used on all 3 tanks w no GAC or other chemical filtration media.

Further than that, affiant sayeth not.

Tex Gal

Do you use a drop checker so that you know how much CO2 is in your water? Even if you have yellow green drop checker, do you have any dead areas in your tank. The nutrients and CO2 need to get EVERYWHERE in your tank. If there are persistent areas it may be that you have bad flow in those areas.

Yes Excel can kill algae. A better approach is to balance your tank so that you don't get algae. Everyone needs to kill it once in a while but you need to fix what's causing it.

Your 75g is probably longer than any others so to get a good current throughout your tank you will need quite a flow. An Eheim 2217 does not give enough flow for a 75g IMO. I don't know what flow you get with the internal fluvals which you mentioned. Just a 4" difference in location can make a huge reduction of CO2 depending on plant mass, water flow etc. Tom Barr did some measurements in one of his tank and found this. It was quite an interesting experiment. Wish I could remember what % of CO2 reduction there was. It was significant. When you add to that that each inch the flow travels the plants are taking in the CO2 you can immediately see the problem.

mpe1329

Thanks for the advice Tex Gal. The CO2 is bubbling into the intake of the Eheim and eventually is dispersed in tiny bubles on one side of the tank. I think I get a pretty good flow from the Fluvals but maybe I'll try repositioning one of them to better disperse the bubbles to the other side of the tank, which come to think of it is where I'm having the brush algae problem.

Seachem

Please keep us updated with any changes

mpe1329

Hey Tex,

You said: "The nutrients and CO2 need to get EVERYWHERE in your tank. If there are persistent areas it may be that you have bad flow in those areas."

On my 75, I moved the Fluval internal filter so it directs Co2 bubbles coming from outflow of Eheim throughout tank and it seem to be helping. Noticed a lot more pearling the same day. Also, realized pattern during weekly 50% water change/trimming party. Brush algae was coating edges of bottom leaves of baby "compact Amazons" growing on "mother plants." I've now started detaching baby plants, removing algaed leaves outside of tank (which is a hell of a lot easier), and planting babies, which seem to be growing algae free. In the process, I've reduced density of plant growth in half of tank where I've been having algae issues and so increased flow. Alas, I'm running out of room. If you (or anyone else) want some, let me know. Depending on demand, I may need to ask others for postage, but for you, no problem. Thanks for your help.

Also, I'm thinking that my algae free tank (a 30 gal + hex which is crammed w fancy guppies -- plus an Otto and clown Pleco -- w no CO2 system) may be algae free because of the CO2 produced by 100+ guppies rather than the Excel. I'm just saying. Speaking of which, anyone need some fancy guppies? Not sure how to ship live fish, but if you (or others) want some, I'm willing to learn.

Wish I could post some photos of my the hex, which I'm really proud of, but I'm an old fart and, while computer literate, I can't seem to summon the enthusiasm to master a digital camera.

Now having revealed enough to embarrass my grandchildren, I'm signing off.

Mike

Seachem

Thanks for the update, Mike

fish dork

You can use cheaper alternatives to excel. The ingredient in excel is gluteraldehyde, which is used as a disenfectant for medical use. I haven't used excel from seachem, but I had great results from Mardel Metricide which is 2X the strength of excel.

Seachem

Thanks for the posts! The following is a quote from our FAQ page about Flourish Excel that may be helpful:

Q: When I first dosed my tank with all the Flourish products I was experienceing quite a bit of hair alage. Within three days the hair alage had turned a reddish orange and about four days after that it had completely disappeared. Do you have any idea just which of these products could have caused this? I must admit that I have never seen such a dramatic change with the alage when I first used the Flourish products, and I would really like to be able to repeat the experience when ever the alage re-appears.

A: This is a known side effect of Flourish Excel that may sometimes occur. It has been reported to us by other consumers, however it does not occur under all conditions therefore we do not promote it or sell it for that purpose.