Nice, I got my Flourish Excel

[ErrorS]

So.. how long until all my algae dies and my plants triple in size and turn bright colors? The way people talk about Excel I wonder if I'm expecting too much? heh

People have mentioned double dosing, should I? I have a serious hair-algae problem right now (it's moving to the tank glass and equipment). I can prune some of my plants but to get rid of all the visible algae I'd have to remove half of my plants.

It's not dense and disgusting like most algae ridden aquariums, it's just everywhere in small amounts.. water quality is good in all areas (phosphates, CO2, lighting), the algae just seems to have gotten a foothold.

 

[bkw1982]

i wouldnt start off double dosing, i would follow directions and if needed slowly raise the dosage up. excel does wrk on algae and plant growth. i seriously wasnt payin attention til i woke up one morning and my anubias was free of algae a nice healthy green, so was my dwarf sag whcih are puttin out runners. seems all my plants are doing way better now with more light and excel. im now to the point were im 3 times the dosage to see wht effect it will have on my plants. but take it slow and trust me u will see results

p.s. u could always spot treat the algae with excel which will put it directly on the algae.

 

[aardvark1]

My hair algae pretty near disappeared about a week after I started using Excell; OD'ed the first 2 days, then normal dosage whenever I think about it.

Plants doing great-too great! Trimming them back every week or so!

Good stuff!

 

[Marinemom]

Oh, I love my Florish excel! This is great stuff. Your plants will love it too.

Marinemom

 

[ErrorS]

Great, I'm excited

I also added two more CFs to the front of the aquarium.. I only had 50/50s laying around but I sorta like it, the Actinic really brings out the colors in some of the fish.. it was a rush job anyways, just stuck a ballast and bulb inside some gutted 30'' strips I had with the plastic white reflector.. but it might help a small amount

I'll update the progress in this thread but I really, really think this Excel is going to work. There are too many people (you all included) who have had amazing results with the stuff.

I have a 55 and did a total of 6 capfuls with a tiny bit of spillover.. not a real overdose but considering all the decorations I have and the thick layer of gravel, it's a bit more than recommended.

The next few treatments I'll spot the algae in the worst areas and see if that changes anything.. If I don't see results in 3 days I'll consider double dosing (just the capfull a week, I'll move to two capfulls)

 

[jgulecas]

I got Excel, and dosed 5 capfuls in a 75 gallon tank, which is about 2/3 the initial recommended dosage. My fish immediately started exhibiting signs of stress. I got so concerned that I did a large PWC.

They showed no reaction to regular Flourish.

I did some Google searches and found some reports relating to fish deaths stemming from Excel use. Purely anecdotal, but enough to concern me. I haven't used it since.

All that is "official" is that it will kill Anacharis (Elodea).

I would suggest dosing gradually, maybe a capful or two a day.

 

[TommyR]

I just got my first order, the "fundamental pack" from Dr. Fosters, Excel, iron and Flourish. Can't wait to see results! I have Java fern and Hornwort in a 5 gal betta tank and some hornwort in a rubbermaid container.

Planted tanks RULE!

Tom

 

[ergo sum]

Be careful with the excel and the java moss in such a small tank. You can burn the plant quite badly.

 

[ErrorS]

Will it hurt all plants that feed from the water column instead of from the gravel? Java Fern, Wisteria, etc. ?

I have some misc. moss in my tank (not java, it's much softer and denser), I love the stuff but I'm going to lose it if I can't rid the tank of algae anyways, small sacrifice.

 

[bkw1982]

there are only a few plants the excel will melt. i kow ancharis is one(spelled wrong i know), vals are another. look the plant up on plnt geek and it will tell u if the plant is sensitive to excel. ive never heard of it harmin java moss but it would explain why my moss died in my tank but survived in a small bowl. will actual CO2 harm the moss??