question on excel dosing

Its best to follow the manufacturer's directions when using Excel. On the initial dose or more then 40% water change, it is 5 ml per 10 gallons and then 5 ml per 50 gallons per day or every other day. To determine a dose for 29 gallons takes some minor math. For daily use, 5 divided by 50 = 0.1 and this will be your multiplyer.
29 gallons X 0.1 = 2.9 0r 3 ml per day or every other day.
If you want to be more precise in the actual tank capacity, measure the inside dimensions, length X width and for the height, measure from the top of the gravel to where you keep your water line. Then divide the result by 231 will give you the actual capacity of your tank.

But take a look at the warning below the directions of Excel and you may not want to use Excel for raising fry. It is listed as a hazardous substance. Some hobbiest's have dosed 2 to 3 times the recommended dose to kill algae and had success. I tried that once and my adult fish loss most of their appetite. So I stopped using it. But there's another reason; it promotes the ferrous state of iron which is more easily taken in by the plants. But there is a tradeoff. It is the ferrous state of iron that Iron bacteria consume also and they leave behind the red sludge as a result on the inside of your water lines, pumps and filters. Ferric iron will also cause this sludge but less of it over time.
However, for adult fish and a tank with plants, you should be ok. Its just that I am not sure what will happen to fry.

 

I also have not had great experiences with Excel - my platys became noticeably distressed - even with a bit less than manufacturer's dosing recommendation - and I didn't notice much benefit to plants... so I also stopped using it...

 

Whenever I use excel I do not do the first big dose after a large water change. I only use the daily dosing part. I have seen it help the plants even skipping that part.

Whenever I followed the instructions step by step, putting that initial does in, is when I see my fish and even some plants react negatively.

 

I would not use it on a tank with fry. Most of mine died after using it and I did not see any changes in my plant nor the algae.

 

I bread guppies and rams in a highly planted excel tank, didn't have any problem. They were conieved and born into that environment....... so maybe that had something to do with it. I didn't take them from a non-excel tank and put them into it, however- it was all they knew.

 

Glad to see I am not the only one who has had problems with Excel. I think the main problem with it is the one dose fits all. How heavily planted makes a great deal of difference as well as just starting out with room to grow. I backed mine down to 1/2 suggested dose 3x a week, but if the DIY CO2 setup I am going to try works out I hope to stop using it all together.

 

I have been using Excel for years and have found it a nice alternative to CO2 for "most" plants. Excel doesn't last that long, so I think for it to be effective you do have to use it everyday, though the above poster said every other. I think you might have better results cutting it in half, but every day at first. In a 29 gallon tank, that is less than a capful a day.


I do not use Excel as an algaecide, I think your odds of something going badly aren't worth it. But if you just use Excel in the recommended dose, keep your algae in check by balancing your phosphates, having enough plants, not overdoing the lights etc... I have grown just about everything but the really high light plants in tanks before.