I am thinking of using Flourish Excel as a carbon source for my planted tank
and have a few questions:

1) Will it cause PH fluctuations (like CO2 injection) ?
2) Other than PH, will it alter my water chemistry ?
3) Are there any issues with it that I should be aware of ?
4) Based on anyone who has tried it, how effective is it ?

I will be using it (if I decide to go ahead with it) in a 30 gal tank with
60 watts of light. As a plant base I have a 50/50 mix of gravel and
Fluorite. I use the other Flourish products to take care of my trace element
needs. I do a bout 25% water changes weekly.

Thanks for any help.

Henry wrote:

I am thinking of using Flourish Excel as a carbon source for my planted tank
and have a few questions:

There is a lot of discussion about this product in the archives. Try
searching Google Groups.

http://groups.google.com


Here's what I got when I typed "flourish excel" in the search box:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...flourish+excel

Henry wrote:

I am thinking of using Flourish Excel as a carbon source for my planted tank
and have a few questions:

There is a lot of discussion about this product in the archives. Try
searching Google Groups.

http://groups.google.com


Here's what I got when I typed "flourish excel" in the search box:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...flourish+excel

I am thinking of using Flourish Excel as a carbon source for my planted
tank
and have a few questions:

I use Excel on my 10 gallon, low (1.5 watt/gallon) light, low tech plant
tank, and I have been happy with it for this one, which is in a location
that does not lend itself well to CO2 injection. On my 55 gallon, with 2
watts/gallon lighting, I do use a CO2 canister.

1) Will it cause PH fluctuations (like CO2 injection) ?

I 've not noticed any fluctuation in the pH- it stays quite steady for me.

2) Other than PH, will it alter my water chemistry ?

Not that I've seen in my tank.

3) Are there any issues with it that I should be aware of ?

Be careful of overdosing- there have been some people who have reported that
some plants (mainly crypts) will melt if they overdose Excel too much. I've
never had the problem myself, but I'v never tried to go way over the
recommended dosage, either. I also do not add it all at once- I add a bit
every day with a measured eyedropper.

4) Based on anyone who has tried it, how effective is it ?

I would say that for a relatively low light, low tech set up, it works just
fine. My 10 gallon has been doing quite well on Excel as the only carbon
source for over a year now.

-Mak
http://www.thirtytwopaws.com/mak
Updates 1/30/03

You can't ask to start over just because you're losing the game.

I am thinking of using Flourish Excel as a carbon source for my planted
tank
and have a few questions:

I use Excel on my 10 gallon, low (1.5 watt/gallon) light, low tech plant
tank, and I have been happy with it for this one, which is in a location
that does not lend itself well to CO2 injection. On my 55 gallon, with 2
watts/gallon lighting, I do use a CO2 canister.

1) Will it cause PH fluctuations (like CO2 injection) ?

I 've not noticed any fluctuation in the pH- it stays quite steady for me.

2) Other than PH, will it alter my water chemistry ?

Not that I've seen in my tank.

3) Are there any issues with it that I should be aware of ?

Be careful of overdosing- there have been some people who have reported that
some plants (mainly crypts) will melt if they overdose Excel too much. I've
never had the problem myself, but I'v never tried to go way over the
recommended dosage, either. I also do not add it all at once- I add a bit
every day with a measured eyedropper.

4) Based on anyone who has tried it, how effective is it ?

I would say that for a relatively low light, low tech set up, it works just
fine. My 10 gallon has been doing quite well on Excel as the only carbon
source for over a year now.

-Mak
http://www.thirtytwopaws.com/mak
Updates 1/30/03

You can't ask to start over just because you're losing the game.

I have a 125g planted with 120W of light over it, would it be good for me to
use this, currently I only use tetra florapride...I do have 6 150g carbon
baggies between my 2 fluval 404 canister filters (won't this give carbon
back to the system?)

let me know if I need this...as I cannot seem to get my java fern to do
well...it might be too much lighting


"Mary Alice Kropp" wrote in message
.. .
I am thinking of using Flourish Excel as a carbon source for my planted
tank
and have a few questions:

I use Excel on my 10 gallon, low (1.5 watt/gallon) light, low tech plant
tank, and I have been happy with it for this one, which is in a location
that does not lend itself well to CO2 injection. On my 55 gallon, with 2
watts/gallon lighting, I do use a CO2 canister.

1) Will it cause PH fluctuations (like CO2 injection) ?

I 've not noticed any fluctuation in the pH- it stays quite steady for me.

2) Other than PH, will it alter my water chemistry ?

Not that I've seen in my tank.

3) Are there any issues with it that I should be aware of ?

Be careful of overdosing- there have been some people who have reported
that
some plants (mainly crypts) will melt if they overdose Excel too much.
I've
never had the problem myself, but I'v never tried to go way over the
recommended dosage, either. I also do not add it all at once- I add a bit
every day with a measured eyedropper.

4) Based on anyone who has tried it, how effective is it ?

I would say that for a relatively low light, low tech set up, it works
just
fine. My 10 gallon has been doing quite well on Excel as the only carbon
source for over a year now.

-Mak
http://www.thirtytwopaws.com/mak
Updates 1/30/03

You can't ask to start over just because you're losing the game.

I have a 125g planted with 120W of light over it, would it be good for me to
use this, currently I only use tetra florapride...I do have 6 150g carbon
baggies between my 2 fluval 404 canister filters (won't this give carbon
back to the system?)

let me know if I need this...as I cannot seem to get my java fern to do
well...it might be too much lighting


"Mary Alice Kropp" wrote in message
.. .
I am thinking of using Flourish Excel as a carbon source for my planted
tank
and have a few questions:

I use Excel on my 10 gallon, low (1.5 watt/gallon) light, low tech plant
tank, and I have been happy with it for this one, which is in a location
that does not lend itself well to CO2 injection. On my 55 gallon, with 2
watts/gallon lighting, I do use a CO2 canister.

1) Will it cause PH fluctuations (like CO2 injection) ?

I 've not noticed any fluctuation in the pH- it stays quite steady for me.

2) Other than PH, will it alter my water chemistry ?

Not that I've seen in my tank.

3) Are there any issues with it that I should be aware of ?

Be careful of overdosing- there have been some people who have reported
that
some plants (mainly crypts) will melt if they overdose Excel too much.
I've
never had the problem myself, but I'v never tried to go way over the
recommended dosage, either. I also do not add it all at once- I add a bit
every day with a measured eyedropper.

4) Based on anyone who has tried it, how effective is it ?

I would say that for a relatively low light, low tech set up, it works
just
fine. My 10 gallon has been doing quite well on Excel as the only carbon
source for over a year now.

-Mak
http://www.thirtytwopaws.com/mak
Updates 1/30/03

You can't ask to start over just because you're losing the game.

also should I be using any other fertalizer other than florapride?
(I have 15lbs of laterite under my gravel)

"Christopher" wrote in message
hlink.net...
I have a 125g planted with 120W of light over it, would it be good for me
to
use this, currently I only use tetra florapride...I do have 6 150g carbon
baggies between my 2 fluval 404 canister filters (won't this give carbon
back to the system?)

let me know if I need this...as I cannot seem to get my java fern to do
well...it might be too much lighting


"Mary Alice Kropp" wrote in message
.. .
I am thinking of using Flourish Excel as a carbon source for my
planted
tank
and have a few questions:

I use Excel on my 10 gallon, low (1.5 watt/gallon) light, low tech plant
tank, and I have been happy with it for this one, which is in a location
that does not lend itself well to CO2 injection. On my 55 gallon, with 2
watts/gallon lighting, I do use a CO2 canister.

1) Will it cause PH fluctuations (like CO2 injection) ?

I 've not noticed any fluctuation in the pH- it stays quite steady for
me.

2) Other than PH, will it alter my water chemistry ?

Not that I've seen in my tank.

3) Are there any issues with it that I should be aware of ?

Be careful of overdosing- there have been some people who have reported
that
some plants (mainly crypts) will melt if they overdose Excel too much.
I've
never had the problem myself, but I'v never tried to go way over the
recommended dosage, either. I also do not add it all at once- I add a
bit
every day with a measured eyedropper.

4) Based on anyone who has tried it, how effective is it ?

I would say that for a relatively low light, low tech set up, it works
just
fine. My 10 gallon has been doing quite well on Excel as the only carbon
source for over a year now.

-Mak
http://www.thirtytwopaws.com/mak
Updates 1/30/03

You can't ask to start over just because you're losing the game.

also should I be using any other fertalizer other than florapride?
(I have 15lbs of laterite under my gravel)

"Christopher" wrote in message
hlink.net...
I have a 125g planted with 120W of light over it, would it be good for me
to
use this, currently I only use tetra florapride...I do have 6 150g carbon
baggies between my 2 fluval 404 canister filters (won't this give carbon
back to the system?)

let me know if I need this...as I cannot seem to get my java fern to do
well...it might be too much lighting


"Mary Alice Kropp" wrote in message
.. .
I am thinking of using Flourish Excel as a carbon source for my
planted
tank
and have a few questions:

I use Excel on my 10 gallon, low (1.5 watt/gallon) light, low tech plant
tank, and I have been happy with it for this one, which is in a location
that does not lend itself well to CO2 injection. On my 55 gallon, with 2
watts/gallon lighting, I do use a CO2 canister.

1) Will it cause PH fluctuations (like CO2 injection) ?

I 've not noticed any fluctuation in the pH- it stays quite steady for
me.

2) Other than PH, will it alter my water chemistry ?

Not that I've seen in my tank.

3) Are there any issues with it that I should be aware of ?

Be careful of overdosing- there have been some people who have reported
that
some plants (mainly crypts) will melt if they overdose Excel too much.
I've
never had the problem myself, but I'v never tried to go way over the
recommended dosage, either. I also do not add it all at once- I add a
bit
every day with a measured eyedropper.

4) Based on anyone who has tried it, how effective is it ?

I would say that for a relatively low light, low tech set up, it works
just
fine. My 10 gallon has been doing quite well on Excel as the only carbon
source for over a year now.

-Mak
http://www.thirtytwopaws.com/mak
Updates 1/30/03

You can't ask to start over just because you're losing the game.

also should I be using any other fertalizer other than florapride?

I would either use Seachem Flourish as well as the FloraPride, or use Tropica
Mastergrow instead. You need a more complete fertilizer.

As for carbon...Excel would be mucho expensive for a tank the size of yours.
I'm not sure what carbon baggies are, but if they are the kind of carbon people
put in their filters to absorb impurities, no, that won't help your plants. In
fact, a lot of people remove the carbon from their filters, so it won't absorb
nutrients the plants need.

The best source of carbon for a tank like yours would be compressed CO2. Your
tank is simply too big for many of the other methods. However, you don't
*need* to add carbon, at your lighting levels. It would help, but it's not
necessary. Try improving your fertilizing regimen. That might be all you
need.

Java fern grows well at all lighting levels, so I don't think you have too much
light for it. However, it doesn't compete with other plants for nutrients very
well at high lighting levels. More and better fertlizer might help.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

also should I be using any other fertalizer other than florapride?

I would either use Seachem Flourish as well as the FloraPride, or use Tropica
Mastergrow instead. You need a more complete fertilizer.

As for carbon...Excel would be mucho expensive for a tank the size of yours.
I'm not sure what carbon baggies are, but if they are the kind of carbon people
put in their filters to absorb impurities, no, that won't help your plants. In
fact, a lot of people remove the carbon from their filters, so it won't absorb
nutrients the plants need.

The best source of carbon for a tank like yours would be compressed CO2. Your
tank is simply too big for many of the other methods. However, you don't
*need* to add carbon, at your lighting levels. It would help, but it's not
necessary. Try improving your fertilizing regimen. That might be all you
need.

Java fern grows well at all lighting levels, so I don't think you have too much
light for it. However, it doesn't compete with other plants for nutrients very
well at high lighting levels. More and better fertlizer might help.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

I have a 125g planted with 120W of light over it, would it be good for me
to
use this, currently I only use tetra florapride...

Excel would probably end up being expensive for you to use on a tank that
large. I only use it in my 10 gallon- even for the 55, it would not be cost
effective. If you want to add CO2, either DIY yeast or a pressurized
cannister would be more cost effective in the long run. But with your low
light, you probably don't really need to add anything in CO2.

I do have 6 150g carbon baggies between my 2 fluval 404 canister filters
(won't this
give carbon back to the system?)

No, actually, the carbon will pull some of the stuff you are adding into
your system out of it. I'd get rid of the carbon bags altogether.

let me know if I need this...as I cannot seem to get my java fern to do
well...it might be too much lighting

Again, you probably don't need to add CO2 with your lower light levels. Java
fern is one of the plants that will do well with lower light, so I don't
think that is your problem. And it does depend on what you mean by "doing
well." IME, Java fern tends to be a slower grower than some other plants, so
if you simply mean that it isn't growing like a weed, that's probably quite
normal.

I don't remember off the top of my head what the formulation of FloraPride
is, but you may need to add a more complete fertilizer- something like
Flourish and/or Flourish Iron and Trace.

-Mak
http://www.thirtytwopaws.com/mak
Updates 1/30/03

You can't ask to start over just because you're losing the game.

I have a 125g planted with 120W of light over it, would it be good for me
to
use this, currently I only use tetra florapride...

Excel would probably end up being expensive for you to use on a tank that
large. I only use it in my 10 gallon- even for the 55, it would not be cost
effective. If you want to add CO2, either DIY yeast or a pressurized
cannister would be more cost effective in the long run. But with your low
light, you probably don't really need to add anything in CO2.

I do have 6 150g carbon baggies between my 2 fluval 404 canister filters
(won't this
give carbon back to the system?)

No, actually, the carbon will pull some of the stuff you are adding into
your system out of it. I'd get rid of the carbon bags altogether.

let me know if I need this...as I cannot seem to get my java fern to do
well...it might be too much lighting

Again, you probably don't need to add CO2 with your lower light levels. Java
fern is one of the plants that will do well with lower light, so I don't
think that is your problem. And it does depend on what you mean by "doing
well." IME, Java fern tends to be a slower grower than some other plants, so
if you simply mean that it isn't growing like a weed, that's probably quite
normal.

I don't remember off the top of my head what the formulation of FloraPride
is, but you may need to add a more complete fertilizer- something like
Flourish and/or Flourish Iron and Trace.

-Mak
http://www.thirtytwopaws.com/mak
Updates 1/30/03

You can't ask to start over just because you're losing the game.

I think I will try what leighmo recommended and try mastergrow instead. I'm
not too keen on spending another $200+ on this tank at the moment to get CO2
injection...plus it would lower my pH (not good for my cichlids)

if I remove the bagged carbon from my canister filters then what should I
put in there? Also it seems that when I add fertalizer I get VERy rapid
algae grown, like the rough green stuff shows up on my glass overnight
almost.
"Mary Alice Kropp" wrote in message
. ..
I have a 125g planted with 120W of light over it, would it be good for
me
to
use this, currently I only use tetra florapride...

Excel would probably end up being expensive for you to use on a tank that
large. I only use it in my 10 gallon- even for the 55, it would not be
cost
effective. If you want to add CO2, either DIY yeast or a pressurized
cannister would be more cost effective in the long run. But with your low
light, you probably don't really need to add anything in CO2.

I do have 6 150g carbon baggies between my 2 fluval 404 canister filters
(won't this
give carbon back to the system?)

No, actually, the carbon will pull some of the stuff you are adding into
your system out of it. I'd get rid of the carbon bags altogether.

let me know if I need this...as I cannot seem to get my java fern to do
well...it might be too much lighting

Again, you probably don't need to add CO2 with your lower light levels.
Java
fern is one of the plants that will do well with lower light, so I don't
think that is your problem. And it does depend on what you mean by "doing
well." IME, Java fern tends to be a slower grower than some other plants,
so
if you simply mean that it isn't growing like a weed, that's probably
quite
normal.

I don't remember off the top of my head what the formulation of FloraPride
is, but you may need to add a more complete fertilizer- something like
Flourish and/or Flourish Iron and Trace.

-Mak
http://www.thirtytwopaws.com/mak
Updates 1/30/03

You can't ask to start over just because you're losing the game.

I think I will try what leighmo recommended and try mastergrow instead. I'm
not too keen on spending another $200+ on this tank at the moment to get CO2
injection...plus it would lower my pH (not good for my cichlids)

if I remove the bagged carbon from my canister filters then what should I
put in there? Also it seems that when I add fertalizer I get VERy rapid
algae grown, like the rough green stuff shows up on my glass overnight
almost.
"Mary Alice Kropp" wrote in message
. ..
I have a 125g planted with 120W of light over it, would it be good for
me
to
use this, currently I only use tetra florapride...

Excel would probably end up being expensive for you to use on a tank that
large. I only use it in my 10 gallon- even for the 55, it would not be
cost
effective. If you want to add CO2, either DIY yeast or a pressurized
cannister would be more cost effective in the long run. But with your low
light, you probably don't really need to add anything in CO2.

I do have 6 150g carbon baggies between my 2 fluval 404 canister filters
(won't this
give carbon back to the system?)

No, actually, the carbon will pull some of the stuff you are adding into
your system out of it. I'd get rid of the carbon bags altogether.

let me know if I need this...as I cannot seem to get my java fern to do
well...it might be too much lighting

Again, you probably don't need to add CO2 with your lower light levels.
Java
fern is one of the plants that will do well with lower light, so I don't
think that is your problem. And it does depend on what you mean by "doing
well." IME, Java fern tends to be a slower grower than some other plants,
so
if you simply mean that it isn't growing like a weed, that's probably
quite
normal.

I don't remember off the top of my head what the formulation of FloraPride
is, but you may need to add a more complete fertilizer- something like
Flourish and/or Flourish Iron and Trace.

-Mak
http://www.thirtytwopaws.com/mak
Updates 1/30/03

You can't ask to start over just because you're losing the game.