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PPS pro questions

2236 Views 8 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  Seattle_Aquarist
does PPS pro work with seachem excel?

can i use seachem flourish for my micros and trace? or is getting plantex csm+b better choice?

edward says that pps pro is best for begginers and low tech tanks, is it ok with like slow, very slow, growing anubias and ferns? or will it be a nice soup for algea?

thanks in advance.

4 gallon tank
13 watt pc lighting
no fauna
eco complete
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I highly recommend injecting co2 using the DIY method if you use the PPS Pro; otherwise it could result in an algae bloom.

One reason for using the dry fertz is because seachem is mostly water based and gets quite expensive on high tech tanks or large ones.

You should be fine using the flourish dosing regimen on your scape, unless you just want the practice.
Hi PinoyBoy,

Yes, you can do PPS-Pro with Excel. I do it in a 6 gallon Nano and it works. I used Flourish Trace with the PPS-Pro macros until I ran out, then switched to CSM+B because it is much less expensive. If you are using Flourish Comprehensive, wait until you finish and then start the PPS-Pro method.
you can use excel as a carbon source, but in the long run, it is pretty expensive. with your tank size, you should look into DIY as dj2606 says.

using seachem flourish comprehensive for your micro is fine. don't bother with the trace. and as mentioned, going CSM+B for your micro is a good long term choice.

the only time you'll have to worry about algae is if your plant mass is very small, or you have slow growing plants, such as anubias. you should look into adding some fast growing stem plants. these will help take up the remaining nutrients that the anubias do not use. this will help prevent algae from making use of it, and harder time of establishing in your tank.
I used to use Excel until it killed my Val and made me sick. I discovered that the MSDS says that it contains gluteraldehyde, which is toxic to animals and people. I'd read about it and consider using it after you have these details:

http://www.npi.gov.au/database/substance-info/profiles/46.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutaraldehyde
To be fair to Seachem, this is Excel's MSDS info.

Excel is not pure glutaraldehyde. It is a polymerized isomer of glutaraldehyde trademarked as polycycloglutaracetal by Seachem Laboratories, Inc. Its actual formulation is proprietary and Seachem doesn't generally release that info.

http://www.seachem.com/support/forums/archive/index.php/t-80.html
To be fair to Seachem, this is Excel's MSDS info.

Excel is not pure glutaraldehyde. It is a polymerized isomer of glutaraldehyde trademarked as polycycloglutaracetal by Seachem Laboratories, Inc. Its actual formulation is proprietary and Seachem doesn't generally release that info.

http://www.seachem.com/support/forums/archive/index.php/t-80.html
What you say is true (according to their marketing) but the only thing that Seachem reports in their MSDS is this:

SECTION II: CHEMICAL INGREDIENTS/IDENTITY INFORMATION

Components (ChemicalIdentity; Common Names(s))
Aqueous solution of Glutaraldehyde

All that other stuff sounds like marketing smoke and mirrors.
Check it out:
http://www.seachem.com/support/MSDS/FlourishExcel.doc.pdf

And it doesn't matter since it still contains Glutaraldehyde and by using the smoke and mirrors they don't have to report how much it contains.

Use it if you think it is OK but Glutaraldehyde can make you and your fish sick!
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Hi PinoyBoy,

I use Excel in conjunction with PPS-Pro and have for about a year. My fish are healthy and breeding, I'm healthy, and the plants in my tanks are awesome with minimum algae. You will find that sometimes people have different opinions on subjects posted here on APC, just like in life. Don't let it discourage you. Read, research, learn, try something and if it doesn't work try something else.....Good Luck!
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