Can Seachem Excel replace CO2 canister?

[Aquaculture]

I am planning to set up a second tank filled purely by various kinds of moss. Understand from other threads that for moss to thrive - bright lights, CO2 injection and a cool temperature is needed.

As it is a nano tank, I do not have the luxury of space and decided to use other proxies to provide the necessary elements & nutrients. I've discussed this issue with the lfs and all is fine except that they are suggesting that moss need direct CO2 injection and not Seachem Excel.

Has anyone mainly use Seachem Excel solely for moss? May you please share your experience...

Thanks.

[ytlammm]

My personal experience is that moss need cool temp < 26degC. As for CO2 i dun see a definitely need for it unless you want to accelerate its growth. Seachem Excel will only just do its part of supplementing whatever is lacking for the moss and provide a boost.

[Shadow]

from what I read from some where, moss is too primitive to take advantage of excel. Also excel not recomended for big tank, too expensive

[Aquaculture]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not too sure about the moss taking advantage of Excel, thought that plants will be plants...

Did some reading and also found out that moss is less demanding as the other plant species... http://www.aquamoss.net/How-To-Grow-Aquatic-Moss.htm
Seems like light and temperature are their main concerns.

cheaper electrical bills!!!

[riccia]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not too sure about the moss taking advantage of Excel, thought that plants will be plants...

Did some reading and also found out that moss is less demanding as the other plant species... http://www.aquamoss.net/How-To-Grow-Aquatic-Moss.htm
Seems like light and temperature are their main concerns.

cheaper electrical bills!!!

I just leave some leftover spiky moss in a plastic tub for more than 2 months in a corner of my hall with the tank water. I just added tap water when I saw that it was drying up. To my surprise, they were still healthy when I gave them away to a friend. IMO, moss is not a very demanding plant. But with CO2, it will really thrive.

[Aquaculture]

Humm... the site did mention that he added in some Excel from time to time.

[uklau]

Perhaps this may shed some light for your
http://www.barrreport.com/co2-aquati...el-vs-co2.html

[Aquaculture]

Thank Uklau for the link. Think nothing beats the real thing. Better to be safe than sorry as I'm intending to plant riccia.

Talking about Excel, I remembered one of the lfs tell me that Excel is able to prevent algae. I have read of using Excel to 'melt' BBA but does it really help in preventing?

Thanks.

[uklau]

Unfortunately, we can't prevent algae with Excel even though it kills BBA. To me, algae control is a form of art. Balance between nutrients & lighting, which I'm still struggling to perfect it. Good luck & enjoy the process.

[riccia]

hi uklau

i have bba growing in my tank recently due to excess lighting for my APP.
are we saying that excel can kill bba? if so, i will definitely want to try them out. once i have gotten rid of the bba, i will have to introduce more plants into my tank.

Unfortunately, we can't prevent algae with Excel even though it kills BBA. To me, algae control is a form of art. Balance between nutrients & lighting, which I'm still struggling to perfect it. Good luck & enjoy the process.

[Aquaculture]

Yup. Some of the treads were saying to use a syring and pump Excel directly onto the BBA.

[grey_fox]

You don't really need CO2 for moss to thrive but like what ytlammm mentioned in post #2, its an added boost. I had a ultra-low tech nano tank which started out with just a rock and a handful of taiwan moss tied to it, in about 1 1/2 months or so, the entire tank was filled to the brim with taiwan moss. Anyways, if you're looking at having excel dosed maybe once a week or once a month, it'll be less of a hassle, however for a nano tank and if you're thinking of having CO2 injected during its photoperiod, maybe you can opt for having a DIY CO2 unit instead, the by-product composition is definitely cheaper than buying a bottle of excel.

For my nano tank, I gave the moss no CO2, no ferts and it still could thrive well enough.

As for Excel killing BBA, its more of a temporary solution rather than a permanent one. Excel isn't really that cheap and secondly it'll get even more expensive once you overdose those critters in there.

[Puffer]

Overdose of Excel, although proven to be effective in killing bba, can also kill shrimps and some fish! Beware and use appropriately (at recommended level and use during photoperiod only).

[Quixotic]

Note that Excel is NOT an algaecide product. It just *happens* to kill algae as a side effect. Seachem does not sell or promote Excel for that purpose. Overdose at your own risk.

[grey_fox]

Lol, ah yes I forgotten to include what Quixotic mentioned.

[riccia]

hi uklau

i have bba growing in my tank recently due to excess lighting for my APP.
are we saying that excel can kill bba? if so, i will definitely want to try them out. once i have gotten rid of the bba, i will have to introduce more plants into my tank.

I removed the BBA manually from my tank. Cut away those that have infected on my lotus and APP. Add in some excel and up the CO2 slightly. The plants are healthy now and are bubbling when the lights are on at night.