View Full Version : vals melting from Excel?
Linda S
09-30-2009, 10:30 PM
I'm a member of the Aquatic Plants Digest (APD) and there is dicussion there about vals and some other plants being "alergic" to excel and dieing when excel is used as a supplement. Has anyone here had this experience?
timwag2001
09-30-2009, 10:34 PM
anacharis just about completely disappeared on me with excel.
i've heard tat riccia doesnt do to well with it but mine grows like crazy
coach_z
09-30-2009, 10:38 PM
yes vals dont do well at all.
I have had vals melt after adding small doses of excell. Many others report this. I also had some melting with green hygro and even some crypts. Some folks swear by this stuff but I stay away from it now. Definately don't want to chance it with vals.
coach_z
10-01-2009, 9:31 AM
people have also said that their vals were unaffected. or, after their vals melted they were unaffected. so your results may vary.
tanker
10-01-2009, 2:59 PM
If you does half or less==No.
If you follow the instructions==Yes.
From Experience!!
There is also a product called Florin-Axis by brightwell aquatics... I use this and it works great for me.
Now, it's not the same thing- and some say it's not quite as good as Excel- certainly doesn't kill Algae...
Nonetheless- I notice a difference when dosing it and when I don't dose it.
Florin Axis is safe with all plants. (lot cheaper than Excel too)
kyryah
10-01-2009, 5:13 PM
Ack - I just ordered some Excel to zap bha - on my vals :( So I am assuming this will not work then? What if it is just a quick dip?
Kristina
SoDakJeep
10-01-2009, 5:44 PM
anacharis just about completely disappeared on me with excel.
i've heard tat riccia doesnt do to well with it but mine grows like crazy
I tried some type of excel like product and it melted away all of my anacharis as well. Kind of sucks I had a bunch of really nice stems growing. Just doesed yeseterday and this morning everything was melted away.only just the tops growing but growing very bright green.
customdrum
10-01-2009, 5:45 PM
the excel will melt the vals on a dip to, you can use h202 on the vals and will kill the bba
kyryah
10-01-2009, 7:21 PM
the excel will melt the vals on a dip to, you can use h202 on the vals and will kill the bba
Yeah, I tried that. It did NOTHING. Crap. I guess I am going to have to just trim the snot out of them, since it is only on the tops.
Kristina
jpappy789
10-01-2009, 7:27 PM
If you does half or less==No.
If you follow the instructions==Yes.
From Experience!!
:iagree:
If you does half or less==No.
If you follow the instructions==Yes.
From Experience!!
That's been my experience too. I dose my tanks with Excel twice a week (every Sunday and Wednesday) and my vals do just fine.
TechAquaria
10-02-2009, 5:13 AM
There is also a product called Florin-Axis by brightwell aquatics... I use this and it works great for me.
Now, it's not the same thing- and some say it's not quite as good as Excel- certainly doesn't kill Algae...
Nonetheless- I notice a difference when dosing it and when I don't dose it.
Florin Axis is safe with all plants. (lot cheaper than Excel too)
"Ingredients in FlorinAxis provide the following:
Citric Acid and Citrate - Organic carbon source and a confirmed stimulator of the Krebs cycle; carbon is required for all organic compounds.
Magnesium - Krebs cycle catalyst, component of chlorophyll, required for enzyme activation.
Humic and Fulvic Acids - Promote nutrient uptake, stimulate root- and overall-growth, aid in photosynthesis, stimulate plant enzyme production.
Kelp - Provides natural phytohormones necessary for plant growth and flowering.
Protein Hydrolysate - A source of slow-release nutrients and soluble peptides and amino acids, the building blocks of plant proteins."
The above was copied from here:
http://www.aquabuys.com/page/aqb/PROD/ba_fna500
Why not just powder a vitamin C tablet, mix with water, and add to the aquarium.
In the past, I have used vitamin C in such a matter as a dechlorinator; I knew it had the added benefit of adding carbon. I believe it works well as a carbon source. However, in tanks with plantings which allow the use of Excel, I believe the algae killing effect of Excel is much more worthwhile!
Regards,
TA
In the past, I have used vitamin C in such a matter as a dechlorinator; I knew it had the added benefit of adding carbon. I believe it works well as a carbon source. However, in tanks with plantings which allow the use of Excel, I believe the algae killing effect of Excel is much more worthwhile!
Regards,
TA
Perhaps so, especially if you don't mind paying the high price tag for Excel. You need less of Florin-Axis, costs less anyway- so financially works out much cheaper.
It certainly seems to help the plants grow- I notice big differences when I don't use it for a week compared to when I do... although I've read from others it's not quite as good as Excel... don't know- haven't run tests.
Re: Algae- with the exception of some annoying hair algae on some of my taller plants near the water surface I'm blessed to have very little algae in my tanks.
Excel probably is better if not just for the Algaecide properties... but Florin Axis is cheaper and safe for all plants. I doubt I would ever switch unless I got a really good deal on Excel.
I didn't realise Vitamin C alone could be added as a Carbon source... out of curiosity, what kind of dosing, and how would one dose that way?
thesixis
10-02-2009, 8:18 AM
I would like to hear more about Vitamin C.
beeZer350
10-02-2009, 8:39 AM
the excel will melt the vals on a dip to, you can use h202 on the vals and will kill the bba
Careful with the H2O2 on the vals too. I've been battling some algae and dosed my tank with H2O2...after about three days my vals and anacharis melted.
Do vals typically bounce back after a melt or am I SOL?
My Italian vals did not bounce back after melting. Some of them survived in a stunted form. Two years later they are still alive, replanted toward towards the front and serving as a groundcover plant.
coach_z
10-02-2009, 1:40 PM
i was thinking...how effective is a 1/2 dose of excel??? does a 1/2 dose (inorder to not melt vals) effective? or is it a waste of money?
beeZer350
10-02-2009, 2:01 PM
My Italian vals did not bounce back after melting. Some of them survived in a stunted form. Two years later they are still alive, replanted toward towards the front and serving as a groundcover plant.
:(
Hopefully my corkscrews won't have the same fate. They were really starting to take off too...