Report: Seachem Excel as algaecide

It seems the poster who reported that Seachem Excel works as an
algaecide on top of being a source of organic carbon was right!
I had a lot of hair algae in my 110g heavily planted tank. So much that
the outflow of my eheim filter had to be scrubbed and cleaned at least
once every two weeks. Algae grew very fast and was very happy.
I started dosing Excel daily for a week or so, then forgot about it.
Four weeks later (or so), almost all the algae is gone. I'll be sure to
order another large bottle of Excel to continue dosing as a preventative.
It works!

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And the rooster causes the sun to rise. You are jumping to conclusion.

Watercress wrote:
And the rooster causes the sun to rise. You are jumping to conclusion.

Really? Then by all means explain to me what exactly caused the hair
algae to die off. I didn't change anything else in my routine.

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Victor M. Martinez
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"Victor Martinez" wrote in message
...
Watercress wrote:
And the rooster causes the sun to rise. You are jumping to conclusion.

Really? Then by all means explain to me what exactly caused the hair algae
to die off. I didn't change anything else in my routine.

There may be something in this:

I use Seachem Flourish and my algae gets out of control after using it. I
can't find Excel around here, so I can't quantify your observations. It'd be
nice though if the liquid plant fertilizer could help with my algae which is
about as bad as yours was.

I really don't think it's an algaecide per se, but rather, it's bringing the
tank into a balance where the plants can out compete the algae.

I think I have an excess of something in the tank, or an out of balance
situation because it grows on large leaves too, spoiling the plants
eventually. I thought the plants (lots of them) were supposed to out-compete
algae?

Oz

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Ozdude wrote:
I really don't think it's an algaecide per se, but rather, it's bringing the
tank into a balance where the plants can out compete the algae.

I recommend you guys google for the thread discussing this last time. It
has a very good explanation on why seachem excel *is* an algaecide.

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Victor M. Martinez
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Wow, it is on the web, so it got to be true. (^_^; Yes, I am trying
to **** you off.

I recommend you guys google for the thread discussing this last time. It
has a very good explanation on why seachem excel *is* an algaecide.

It is not an algicide. It hurts algae bad and can kill it though.

The US Govt. thinks there's a difference.


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Victor Martinez wrote:
Ozdude wrote:

I really don't think it's an algaecide per se, but rather, it's
bringing the tank into a balance where the plants can out compete the
algae.

I recommend you guys google for the thread discussing this last time. It
has a very good explanation on why seachem excel *is* an algaecide.

Which thread is this? Googling on "seachem excel algaecide" gave me two
threads - this one and one titled "Which fert should I reduce to cut
algae growth?" from January.

In it I saw a lot of back-and forth, but nothing I would class as a
"very good" explanation of the algaecidal properties - the best I saw
was "nudge-nudge-wink-wink" type quotes allegedly from the Seachem CEO
that danced around the issue.

That's not to say that I doubt that Excel can kill algae, or at least
make its life miserable - it's just I can't find any sort of
*explanation* of why it kills algae, just anecdotal claims that it does.
I'm curious for the reason behind it - what's in it that might cause the
effect people see?

Victor Martinez wrote:
Ozdude wrote:
I really don't think it's an algaecide per se, but rather, it's
bringing the
tank into a balance where the plants can out compete the algae.

I recommend you guys google for the thread discussing this last time.
It
has a very good explanation on why seachem excel *is* an algaecide.


I'd call it an algae inhibitor.
I tried it on Cladophora, it had no effect with a controlled tank full
of plants.
None, nada, zip.

The tank has good CO2, nutrient levels etc.
Cladophra was added and was allowed to grow well first prior.
Then it was added, 8 weeks later, ther BBA and Cladophora are still
there.

The Cladophora grows, slowly, the BBA not at all.
But neither dies.............

If we added Copper, they would certainly die.
In some tanks, like many snake oils, Excel will work, but unlike a
snake oil, Excel adds something that the plant needs: Carbon.

If you approach the issue from the plant's need, then these cases are
much easier to tease apart and show why some folks do not have issues
and others do.

If you have algae, you are likely, or have neglected the tank in some
way.
So you are starting with a problem already and the tank needs some
help.

I have gotten rid of every species of algae without using Excel or any
snake oil, pruning etc will go a long way.

But I will say try using Excel, it may help you, and if so, take a long
look at the CO2.

Take care of algae problems before they get so bad next time also, that
way they are much much easier to address.


Regards,
Tom Barr

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Regards,
Tom Barr

I can't find Excel around here

Try these folks. I use them all the time for seachem products.

http://www.aquaria.com.au/catalog/