I've been having problems with bottle brush algae so I started using excel. I'm not overdosing, just using the recommended dosages. It seems to be clearing up but I had 3 large snakeskin val plants that have totally withered and I'm not sure if it's the excel or not. I just medicated my tank for ich at the same time I started using excel so I'm not sure which one is responsible. Maybe I should cut them down and see if they'll regrow? The were so big and beautiful. I also did buy (as recommended from my LFS) a white filter that is supposed to help eliminate algae. I haven't put it in yet though.
excel killing my plant?
- Thread starter Diann62
- Start date
Oh that's too bad. I might have to opt for another plant then because I don't want the algae back.
A lot of people have bad luck with vals and excel...I personally haven't but I am not dosing even close to the recommended amount.
Excel will melt Vals, as mentioned, and spot treatmeat of excel will melt many other plants. I mix up a 3 to 1 dilution of excel in a spray bottle to spot treat different hardscape items and the glass. During water changes I'll spray it directly on affected areas. I've found that a good number of plants seem to burn up.
Plants I've noticed having a negative reaction to spot treatment with 3 to 1 excel include:
R. macrandra
Bolbitis
Ammannia Gracillis
A. reineckii
Red Tiger Lotus
R. Wallichi
Plants I've noticed having a negative reaction to spot treatment with 3 to 1 excel include:
R. macrandra
Bolbitis
Ammannia Gracillis
A. reineckii
Red Tiger Lotus
R. Wallichi
I've read that several mosses and liverworts are also sensitive to Excel.
My Jungle vals seem to tolerate it, but I've not added enough to kill off all of my algae yet, either... I have personally killed a patch of moss by getting too aggressive w/ it during a water change.
My Jungle vals seem to tolerate it, but I've not added enough to kill off all of my algae yet, either... I have personally killed a patch of moss by getting too aggressive w/ it during a water change.