[Imi Statue]

Here's what I get from this:

First go read this. http://www.oscarfish.com/article-home/equipment/114-buyer-beaware-seachem-excel.html
and from that here's a quote below======
"Glutaraldehyde is also an algaecide. Amongst planted tank enthusiasts, Excel is commonly used to defeat undesirable algae growth. I have personally witnessed a massive decline of algae following use of SeaChem Excel. Originally I attributed this decline of algae to Excel stimulating plant growth resulting in the plants out competing algae for nutrients, starving it. After further research I am not so sure. There are too many reports of green water tanks, without plants, being cleared by use of SeaChem Excel. Combine this with the fact that glutaraldehyde is a known algaecide and duh!"
=======

This leads me to believe that Excel is simply doing what it does best destroys Algae, since it is simply an algaecide.

Any different opinions?

Imi

 

[Imi Statue]

I Agree that more studies need to be made on this topic. I also agree that Excel is good for plants(use it myself).

The overdose of this topic by the OP was accidental but Excel can be used safely with a little study to get rid of "certain" algae, most notably BBA. It is bad for CRS and probably should just be left out of any tank which has shrimps at all. I have only ever used it with tanks that had fish, and plants, no inverts. I also believe that there are other concerns, like what caused the algae in the first place(probably still a condition even after the BBA would be gone)

But there is so much information including written article by Tom throughout the internet already about the effects, dosing, proper uses, that more writings like those are not really needed.

This basic search gave plenty: https://www.google.com/search?q=exc...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

I'm no master of everything Excel.

I am however in the know about the active ingredient "glutaraldehyde" which is used in many industrial uses to clean surfaces. I used to work for a company that used it to clean tools they used. It is also used in medical/dental equipment cleaning, and more. Water treatment plants use it also, so its all over the place.

This chemical might not be good for us at all, but we can, if used carefully, have many good effects from it's use. Wart removal(I've tried this, and it worked for me), biocide(read below), Algaecide, Medical/Dental Tool Sterilizer, you name it.

For those who must know more:

DOW = http://msdssearch.dow.com/Published...ides/pdfs/noreg/253-01817.pdf&fromPage=GetDoc
MSDS = http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924161
Wiki = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutaraldehyde
EPA = http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/glutaraldehyde-red.pdf