Flourish Excel & Marimo Moss Balls

Flourish Excel is not a fertilizer per say. It is a liquid algaecide that the main ingredient can also be used by plants to replace CO2 in the water. So in a sense it is a liquid CO2 substitute. Flourish Excel has 2 benefits in that it provides the liquid CO2 substitute while also killing/inhibiting Algae. This makes sure that the algae aren't consuming the good stuff that the plants need.

I have read some where that you should not use Flourish Excel with moss balls as they are just a form of algae and Flourish is suppose to suppress algae I need advice as what to do cause I have a whole lot of Flourish Excel and if I can use it what's a good alternative???????





Wideload

 

are Marimo moss balls the only plants you have in your tank?

 

I have read some where that you should not use Flourish Excel with moss balls as they are just a form of algae and Flourish is suppose to suppress algae I need advice as what to do cause I have a whole lot of Flourish Excel and if I can use it what's a good alternative???????
Wideload

Flourish Excel is a form of liquid carbon (among other things) but is not a fertilizer. In my tanks it has outright killed the moss balls.

Flourish is a liquid fertilizer.

I use both along with root tabs for the plants that need them. Flourish should not harm the moss balls

 

are Marimo moss balls the only plants you have in your tank?

No I have Italian Vals with a whole lot of marimo moss balls
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Flourish Excel is a form of liquid carbon (among other things) but is not a fertilizer. In my tanks it has outright killed the moss balls.

Flourish is a liquid fertilizer.

I use both along with root tabs for the plants that need them. Flourish should not harm the moss balls

I understand that but Flourish Excel Is suppose to hinder stop algae growth and marimo moss balls are a form of algae not moss

 

I understand that but Flourish Excel Is suppose to hinder stop algae growth and marimo moss balls are a form of algae not moss

That was my point. If you are looking for a liquid fertilizer Flourish should be ok for the moss balls. I guess I am not understanding what your goal in using Excel would be other than the benefits of extra carbon for the plants. But you can have a healthy planted tank with out it. The plants will just not grow as fast. Worse comes to worse you could go to CO2 injection. We have several members that have had very good results with it.

 

I guess I am just being over cautious I have a good deal of money wrapped up in my moss ball collection and I would hate to see me kill it off with a liquid fert

 

Let's see if Dolfan will shed some light on this. He is very knowledgeable about aquatic plants.

 

Let's see if Dolfan will shed some light on this. He is very knowledgeable about aquatic plants.

I also have a question in to Seachem about this issue lets see what there support team has to say.
Thunder_o_b thanks for your help in this matter you have been very knowledgeable in trying to help me figure this out I really appreciate your time and efforts.



Wideload

 

Florish and Florish Excel are two different products Alison

 

Florish and Florish Excel are two different products Alison

Very ture they are differant products Flourish Excel Is an algaecide and it works like like liquid co2
And flourish in a liquid fert

Which means I can not dose my tank with it cause it is an algaecide and it would kill my moss ball collection I think

 

I have 11 marimo moss balls divided between my three tanks. And I won't take chances either. I really like them. Alison

 

I have 11 marimo moss balls divided between my three tanks. And I won't take chances either. I really like them. Alison

Yes I know the feeling I love them almost as much as I do my fish tank. I just know that I have an unopened 2 ltr bottle of flourish excel that I cannot use. And now I have to find something I can use for a fert on my Italian Vals

And P.S. I have 25 in my 55 most are small under 1 1/2

Wideload

 

I would think root tabs under the vals would work. I have a couple the size of golf balls six of mine are the size of a baseball or a little bigger the rest are between the the two sizes. Did you get that picture in your avatar from a video or article on the moss balls?. I find them fascinating. soft furry little pet plants.Alison

 

Wideload Thunder_o_b - Excel can and will harm marimo moss balls. As stated they are really a form of cladophora algae, which is one reason I avoid them. You can make similar looking "moss balls" out of real moss, just take a little effort and pruning.

Some may have ok results using Excel and marimo moss balls, as the Excel doesn't really penetrate into the moss ball, so regular or lower dosing probably would cause no issues. On the other hand, it wouldn't benefit the moss balls at all, probably slow their growth if anything.

Another point to note would be that Vals are somewhat sensitive to Excel as well. Vals can be acclimated to Excel over the course of a few weeks or month. But it is better to start with low dosages and slowly work your way up to standard dosage. Never use the higher initial dosage mentioned on the bottle, as this will certainly shock them, as well as the marimo moss balls perhaps.

If you just have Vals and marimo moss balls, than you have no need for Excel. Stick with Flourish Comprehensive, an all around liquid fert. Some root tabs would benefit the Vals if you want to go that route.

 

Thank you for for your insight Dolfan. This would explain why I can not keep Vals alive.

 

Thank you for for your insight Dolfan. This would explain why I can not keep Vals alive.

As mentioned I have acclimated mine Vals to using Excel and now I use the normal daily dosage most days (unless I forget, haha) and they do great. I mainly have Italian/leopard vals, if that helps. Maybe your species of vals are more sensitive than mine.

 

As mentioned I have acclimated mine Vals to using Excel and now I use the normal daily dosage most days (unless I forget, haha) and they do great. I mainly have Italian/leopard vals, if that helps. Maybe your species of vals are more sensitive than mine.

The next time I get vals I will acclimate them. I have need of then in one of the tanks.

 

The next time I get vals I will acclimate them. I have need of then in one of the tanks.

A good way to acclimate them is like so....

1st week use 1/4 daily dose of excel
2nd week use 1/2 daily dose
3rd week 3/4 daily dose
4th week full daily dose

They should be good by that point. If at any point you think they are stressing you could back off a bit. I know my Italian vals do really great and I do full daily dosage and sometimes a bit extra and they show no stress or issues. Growing like weeds.

 

S

A good way to acclimate them is like so....

1st week use 1/4 daily dose of excel
2nd week use 1/2 daily dose
3rd week 3/4 daily dose
4th week full daily dose

They should be good by that point. If at any point you think they are stressing you could back off a bit. I know my Italian vals do really great and I do full daily dosage and sometimes a bit extra and they show no stress or issues. Growing like weeds.

Copy that. Thank you

 

Thanks to everyone that helped me with this topic I have learned so much about flourish excel.
Dolfan Thunder_o_b thank you both for all the help you gave and your knowledge about plants and fertilizers.

 

Thank you for this thread! I will be getting some moss balls today and was also thinking about (new to) Flourish and Flourish Excel. I'm glad I read this!

 

Thank you for this thread! I will be getting some moss balls today and was also thinking about (new to) Flourish and Flourish Excel. I'm glad I read this!

SwissCheeseHead I am glad that someone other than me has benefited from this topic. I really think it cool that we can all learn from one another

 

I did a little search on the net and saw that several people have used Excel without negative impact on their moss balls. This thread appeared first after doing a search.



After reading this, I am going to try to use the recommended dosage for my tank.

 

You can make similar looking "moss balls" out of real moss, just take a little effort and pruning.

How is that done?

 

A good way to acclimate them is like so....

1st week use 1/4 daily dose of excel
2nd week use 1/2 daily dose
3rd week 3/4 daily dose
4th week full daily dose

They should be good by that point. If at any point you think they are stressing you could back off a bit. I know my Italian vals do really great and I do full daily dosage and sometimes a bit extra and they show no stress or issues. Growing like weeds.

I know you'll talking about Vals in this post but I'm a big Seachem user and after some months I worked in a program using some of there line and it seems to be doing well. I always used 5ML excel every day. I always wanted to float Anacharis but after hearing stories about them and Excel I decided not to bother. I emailed seachen and they said cut your dose and use Excel every other day.

After reading your post about trying to acclimate Excel I figured to give it a go and I think I'm going to do two weeks each before increasng doing it your way every day.What do you think about the Anacharis getting acclimated to Excel. I bought 5 plants today and each had 8 stems and my guy gave it to me real cheap as he should I'm in there almost every day. My DG just loves and it's alway around it. Really like to see this work.

Thanks for post it was what I needed to hear even if it was about Val's and if this works I'll try some Val's in the other tank.

 

I know you'll talking about Vals in this post but I'm a big Seachem user and after some months I worked in a program using some of there line and it seems to be doing well. I always used 5ML excel every day. I always wanted to float Anacharis but after hearing stories about them and Excel I decided not to bother. I emailed seachen and they said cut your dose and use Excel every other day.

After reading your post about trying to acclimate Excel I figured to give it a go and I think I'm going to do two weeks each before increasng doing it your way every day.What do you think about the Anacharis getting acclimated to Excel. I bought 5 plants today and each had 8 stems and my guy gave it to me real cheap as he should I'm in there almost every day. My DG just loves and it's alway around it. Really like to see this work.

Thanks for post it was what I needed to hear even if it was about Val's and if this works I'll try some Val's in the other tank.

As for anacharis, I'm not sure it will ever fully acclimate, you may have to just stick to lower dosage.

 

Dolfan

So far so good but it's only been 5 days so will see. I'm also going to take it to 2 for a total of 8 weeks instead of the 4 week acclamation maybe that will help. The other plants are doing well and sometimes less is more. The Hornwort is growing and hopefully it will cover that whole corner. Then I'll look up how to trim it lol never had one. I also planted one next to the Hortwort just to see if any there's any difference. I also floated and planted one( (anacharis ) in the QT tank which gets nothing and so far they look the same. The DG loves the floating anacharis but If it has to go it goes. Thanks

Forgot the picture it's on it's way.

 

You can trim hornwort like your anacharis, anywhere you want along the length, both pieces will continue to grow.

 

Dolfan

Well a week as passed which really isn't much time concerning any type of results with plants. But the Anacharis looks great the floating two and the planted one while dosing 1.25 Excel cutting back from my 5ML a day before getting the Anacharis. I have a question hows water sprite react to Excel? The fish (most anyway) are enjoying the plant floating but held to the side with plant achors and an suction cup.

I'm looking for a back-up plan or some water sprite for the other tank if this doesn't work out. One week and part of the Hortwort has grown about 6" if I can get the other part to grow hopefully it would be perfect covering the corner and the Cories love hanging there. I assume because there's a little corner in the front about 6"/8" where they get there shrimp pellets and late night sinking wafers. Today after looking as I do every day the Anacharis that's planted has seem to spread out and isn't as tight as it was before and a beautiful green. Another week of 1.25 before moving on to the next level hopefully.

 

Huh, well now I know to avoid flourish excel for my marimos - guess I'll just stick with small doses of ferts and water changes to help them grow.
Thanks for this.

 

Dolfan

Yes they Melted and I took them out before the bigger mess you would right Dolfan and that was with a low dosage. Thanks for the help just thought I would give them a shot.