This site is supported by the advertisements on it, please disable your AdBlocker so we can continue to provide you with the quality content you expect.
  1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.
  2. We are after as many aquarium plant images that we can get, doing so will assist us in completing the aquarium plant database.

    https://barrreport.com/threads/aquatic-plant-images-wanted.14374/
    Dismiss Notice
Cookies Aquarium Plant Images Wanted

Excel vs. CO2

Discussion in 'CO2 Enrichment' started by George Farmer, Jan 12, 2007.

  1. George Farmer

    George Farmer Lifetime Members
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2006
    Messages:
    135
    Likes Received:
    1
    Local Time:
    2:55 AM
    I'm considering trying out Flourish Excel instead of CO2 in my 2.5 gal. nano.

    Plants are hairgrass and riccia (tied to stones).

    Light is 24w PC T5 - 6 hour photoperiod
    I dose KNO3 and TMG with each water change (50% every other day).

    Would the riccia be ok? I'm not bothered about pearling. I figured growth rates would be a lot lower, but would there be any other consequences i.e. algae?

    Your thoughts most welcome.
     
    #1 George Farmer, Jan 12, 2007
  2. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
    Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2005
    Messages:
    18,657
    Likes Received:
    583
    Local Time:
    2:55 AM
    Excel is an effective selective herbicide that can be used to kill Riccia.
    I've not found Excel that useful for Hair grass either.

    Generally, for msaller tanks, the Excel idea is useful.
    It works well with say, HC.

    All liverworts and things without stomata are killed pretty quick, it's not just Riccia, but the Pellia and a red liverwort and another type I've kept all died rapidly.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #2 Tom Barr, Jan 12, 2007
  3. shane

    shane Lifetime Charter Member
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2006
    Messages:
    269
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    2:55 AM
    I have been using Seachem Excel to help exterminate green alagae in my tank. I have Riccia in my tank (at least I think it's Riccia) with no ill effects on it. It is growing like a weed.
     
    #3 shane, Jan 12, 2007
  4. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
    Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2005
    Messages:
    18,657
    Likes Received:
    583
    Local Time:
    2:55 AM
    Several other folks use it and it's killed their Riccia, I've used it on other liverworts specifically and it killed it in a few days.

    If you are dosing at the lower end, it might not kill it.
    I'd suggest easing into the use if you have sensitive plants.

    Others have reported rapid death of their Riccia when used.
    I guess I'll have to test it myself specifically.



    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #4 Tom Barr, Jan 12, 2007
  5. George Farmer

    George Farmer Lifetime Members
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2006
    Messages:
    135
    Likes Received:
    1
    Local Time:
    2:55 AM
    I've heard many reports of overdosing Excel killing "simple" plants - vallis and egeria too.

    I shall dose according to the bottle and see what happens. I'm planning a new layout soon anyway, so if it does go wrong then it's not the end of the (riccia) world...

    Cheers.
     
    #5 George Farmer, Jan 13, 2007
  6. 2wheelsx2

    2wheelsx2 Lifetime Members
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2006
    Messages:
    109
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    2:55 AM
    It doesn't kill my Vals exactly, but it seems to stunt the growth. My vals and java fern were growing wildy at one point, so much so that there was inadequate water (and CO2) distribution in parts of tank. I was hitting little spots of bba in these area weekly, and what I noticed was that my Vals in that area stopped growing and also starting have a lot of yellowing leaves.
     
    #6 2wheelsx2, Jan 14, 2007
  7. detlef

    detlef Subscriber

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2005
    Messages:
    239
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    2:55 AM
    What about mosses? Anyone know if mosses like Javamoss is affected negatively by Excel with normal dosing amounts? Or would Excel even encourage growth? Currently I'm adding 0,8ml daily on a 21g. It seems as if Javamoss does not grow as fast as I was used to seeing it.

    Thank you,
    Detlef
     
    #7 detlef, Jan 14, 2007
  8. 2wheelsx2

    2wheelsx2 Lifetime Members
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2006
    Messages:
    109
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    2:55 AM
    My java moss grows great with Excel.
     
    #8 2wheelsx2, Jan 15, 2007
  9. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
    Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2005
    Messages:
    18,657
    Likes Received:
    583
    Local Time:
    2:55 AM
    Mosses also did fine for me too.
    Moss have stomata, Riccia does not nor do other liverworts, Vals do, but Hydrilla and Egeria also lack stomata.

    Excel may block the CA enzyme of these plants that have to take the CO2 through their outer epidemal layers.

    Hydrilla does not take uop Bicarb directly, rather, it produces lots of H+'s and acidifies the water and then reduces the HCO3 to CO2 and takes that up.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #9 Tom Barr, Jan 16, 2007
  10. George Farmer

    George Farmer Lifetime Members
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2006
    Messages:
    135
    Likes Received:
    1
    Local Time:
    2:55 AM
    Any thoughts on dosing Excel with Utricularia graminifolia - a bladderwort?

    This will be the only plant in my next layout, 6 pots on their way direct from Tropica, Denmark as we speak. :D
     
    #10 George Farmer, Jan 16, 2007
  11. detlef

    detlef Subscriber

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2005
    Messages:
    239
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    2:55 AM
    Good luck for your graminifolia nano, George. I'm sure it'll look as gorgeous as the last one.

    Thanks Tom, I'll see what I can do for the Javamoss and will continue adding Excel. I suppose I was too low on Ca and/or Mg. I'm growing Javamoss in an ADA soil tank which stripped the water column off of Ca down to around 7 to 10ppm for several weeks.

    Best Regards,
    Detlef
     
    #11 detlef, Jan 16, 2007
  12. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
    Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2005
    Messages:
    18,657
    Likes Received:
    583
    Local Time:
    2:55 AM
    I've seen moss growing just fine in granite snow melt regions here in the mountains, I could not get a Ca or Mg reading with a Lamotte test kit.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #12 Tom Barr, Jan 16, 2007
  13. George Farmer

    George Farmer Lifetime Members
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2006
    Messages:
    135
    Likes Received:
    1
    Local Time:
    2:55 AM
    Thanks Detlef. The UG arrived this morning actually. I've got PFK's photographer around for a photoshoot of the current layout, then it will be torn down, ready for the UG. I will also be running Aqua Soil (powder) this time.
     
    #13 George Farmer, Jan 17, 2007
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Loading...
Similar Threads - Excel CO2
  1. geektom

    CO2 + Excel

    geektom, Jul 20, 2017, in forum: CO2 Enrichment
    Replies:
    5
    Views:
    357
    rajkm
    Jul 20, 2017
  2. Tino Vyatkin

    Non-CO2 carbon sources: BioPellets with Excel together?

    Tino Vyatkin, Jun 29, 2015, in forum: Advanced Strategies and Fertilization
    Replies:
    0
    Views:
    132
    Tino Vyatkin
    Jun 29, 2015
  3. tgenega

    Non-CO2 - EI - Excel Tank: Water Changes?

    tgenega, Jan 29, 2014, in forum: Non-CO2 Methods
    Replies:
    10
    Views:
    347
    kevinmichael77
    Jun 2, 2015
  4. Christophe

    Transition from Excel to CO2 -- It's a Gas Gas Gas!

    Christophe, Dec 18, 2013, in forum: CO2 Enrichment
    Replies:
    11
    Views:
    66
    Christophe
    Feb 24, 2014
  5. barbarossa4122

    Co2 and Excel/Metricide

    barbarossa4122, Dec 24, 2010, in forum: CO2 Enrichment
    Replies:
    9
    Views:
    85
    barbarossa4122
    Jan 15, 2011

Share This Page