Flourish Excel killed fish?

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remington

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Jun 17, 2004
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I've had a tank running for almost a year now and have only lost one fish up until now. Wednesday evening I put in the first dose of flourish excel (6 caps for 55 gal) after a substantial water change (I know you guys may blame the water change, but I do them all the time and having all these fish die after using a product is pretty suspicious). I've had live plant in the tank for around 4 months, just with no CO2. I get home Thursday evening, and both of my mature pictus catfish, 1 orange platy, and 1 black widow tetra are dead. The other 7 tetras, 2 clown loaches, 3 platys, gourami, red tailed shark, and chinese algae eater are all fine. What gives? Any ideas?
 
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I have been using Flourish Excell in my smaller tanks so I use 1 capful (10 gallon). So far after many doses my fish are fine. I do know that it says to be careful not to overdose but this is just a liquified form of carbon so I doubt that it killed your fish.

Did you test your change water. Perhaps something wierd got into the water system and a large water change was enough to hurt your fish.

How often and what size water changes do you do? And what are the exact params of your tank and your change water?
 
I'm doubtful about the Flourish causing the problem as well, but it was quite an amazing coincidence. Water conditions were fine before (don't have the measurements in front of me), and it's possible that something in the tap killed them even though it hasn't before. Don't have measurements after the water change as all I had time to do was scoop the dead fish out. Yes I know I should have done another test and I will tonight if I can. I always use Tetra Aqua Safe when doing water changes.
As a side note, I figured if there was ever a problem, the Clown Loaches or the Red Tailed Shark would be the first to go. Granted, I'm glad they aren't dead, but my Pictus Catfish were the biggest and healthiest I'd ever seen. :sad
 
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It said to use 1 cap per 10 gal to start out. So I put in 6 caps for my 55. I wouldn't consider 1/2 cap to be massive overdose. And why the sarcasm about the happy Excel user? Everything I read said it was a good product.
 
I think she just meant she, herself, really IS happy about Excel.

I also can't say that I think it was the excel....something must have altered the water supply (either externally from the source or soap/lotion/filter malfunction)...presuming good maintenance.
 
After starting with the flourish line, the only problem I've ever had is that all my anacharis died, but I can't prove it was a flourish product.

Do you have well or city type water?
 
I do not know what seachem defines as overdose, but just as an FYI, a 55 does nor hold 55 gallons. One of my 55s holds 41 with the current setup, the other 42 at last setup. Both use deep substrates, so significant water displacement there. I do measure volume at setup, and if dosing is required, I dose by water volume, not nominal size. I know that I am in a minority on that, but it fits with my neuroses.
 
I've got city water. It must have been the water change, it just doesn't make sense. Like I said, it's an amazing coincidence.

edit: Thanks all for the responses.
 
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