Good News!!!

GreenStuff

Prolific Poster
Feb 11, 2005
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Canada
FINALLY!!! After more than 3 years, I have gone through an entire week without algae.

Out of total frustration, I decided to add a little potassium and a capful of Excel to the mixture. (I was basically throwing in the towel.) After day 3 I noticed there was no algae, so I added them again on day 4. NO ALGAE at the end of the week. I'm not sure which one is making the big difference, but that shouldn't be hard to figure out. I think it's the potassium.

......aaaaaaand, the good news is that all of this occurred after taking out most of the fast growing stem plants and putting my "nice" arrangement back in. Can you imagine???? Annubias for a week without algae????? This is big news, people. :)
 

chubasco

Guru Class Expert
Jan 24, 2005
284
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Re: Good News!!!

I want to go out and buy you a cigar....a bubblegum one, of course :)

Bill
 

[email protected]

Prolific Poster
Apr 24, 2005
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Vermont
Re: Good News!!!

There was a thread on Aquatic Plant Central about someone who overdosed their tank with Excel and the algae all cleared out.

Bill
 

GreenStuff

Prolific Poster
Feb 11, 2005
62
0
6
Canada
Re: Good News!!!

Thanks, Bill. That's just what I needed to hear. :rolleyes:

Actually, I've been adding very little Excel, (about 1/3 of recommended). Over-dosing has never been my problem. ;)

My fish seem so much happier as well.
 

GreenStuff

Prolific Poster
Feb 11, 2005
62
0
6
Canada
Re: Good News!!!

Still maintaining after 3 weeks. Tiny bit of green dust by day 7, which is acceptable, but the plants are growing well and doing a water change is now a pleasure. This is good. It used to take me Bach's entire 6 suites to do a water change, now I can do it in a suite or two.

And I must give a big thanks to Tom. I've had "advice" from many forums over the last 3 or 4 years and it turns out what I needed was a good "MORE CO2, C02, C02" from Tom to get things off in the right direction. Thank you, Oh Great Master of the Algae". :)

Interesting to note though. I could not get enough C02 in the tank without adding Excel. The fish just couldn't handle it. I lost all but 2 mollies and 4 ottos. Now that I turned the C02 down a bit and started adding some Excel, the fish (that are left) are active and happy again. It's always possible that something else killed them but, hey, I'm not changing what's working.

I'm going to try slowly adding a few more fish soon.

I'll have some pictures in a week or two. Thanks again, Tom.

Shirley
 

Ian H

Guru Class Expert
Jan 24, 2005
265
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16
Shipley, West Yorkshire, UK
Re: Good News!!!

I'm very pleased that it's working out for you. Sorry that there were fish casualties along the way.

When Tom advises ramping up the CO2 levels I personally think he should always advise watchful caution. Excess CO2 can rapidly kill fish. Some fish are more prone than others. I did lose 2 catfish when I went too far.

There are many ways to an algae free nirvana, although generally if you ignore the underlying principles you will have a bumpy ride. If it works for you, stay with it but be prepared to modify things if they drift.

Ian
 

Greg Watson

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
5,023
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United States
Re: Good News!!!

After banging his head against the wall for a moment, I think Tom will just sit back a smile ...

He's been ranting on saying its all about CO2 CO2 CO2 and plenty of nutrients for a long time ... Excel provides an organic form of Carbon that the plants can use, which serves the same purpose as CO2 ...

Congrats!!!!!

Greg

P.S. Now for the rest of us ... crank that CO2 ...

P.P.S.S. I've been using a Venturi Reactor on my 180 gallon tank for the last few weeks (one of our subscribers sent me his own version of Tom's design), and I have to report that it is working fantastic. I'm going to start asking some niggling questions about Reactor Efficiency here in a month or so, because it appears that I am using about 1/2 the amount of CO2 that I used to be using when I was using a reactor with bioballs ... I don't have enough hard data yet, but it sure appears that the Venturi design is a huge improvement in efficiency in disolving CO2 into the water column.
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
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Re: Good News!!!

I'm not sure why folks doubt me so much anytime I suggest something ardently.

I have not been wrong much. I have made lots of mistakes........that's why I don't get many things wrong, I've done made most of the mistakes already.

Regards,
Tom Barr