Seachem Flourish -vs- Excel

My tank is 30Gal.

Twice a week I add 2.5 ml of flourish.
I also have some Excel that I picked up to deal with a break out of Black Hair Algae.

I saw someone on this board suggest using Excel instead of C02 ... so a couple of questions:

Is 2.5 ml twice a week good enough for my plants?
Should I use Excel on a regular basis, or just as needed to deal with algae?
(note: since I took care of the outbreak of the black hair algae, and improved the lighting, there's been no serious algae issues).

Also, will the carbon in my filter leave these products in the water?

 

Excel is a carbon supplement, not a fertilizer like Flourish is.

As for dosage, 2.5 ml sounds about right for a 30G tank. Monitor your plants and algae to determine if dosage is correct for your tank.

A planted tank needs a balance between lighting, fertilization and CO2 supplementation to improve plant growth and to hinder algae outbreaks.

Activated carbon will remove fertilizers in the water.

Hope that helps.

 

So I have been adding the right amount of flourish only to have the carbon remove it?

 

If the carbon is new, yes.

 

D'Oh. I've been replacing the carbon once a month. I'm doing a search on this site for carbon, seems there's quite a bit of debate. If I leave it out, should I have two sponges, or 1 sponge, 1 ammonia remover, and a gap in the filter (aqua clear)

 

I use the sponge and biobeads only in my AC filters. As you have already discovered, there are many opinions on this subject.

 

Biobeads? Do you leave a gap in the filter, or 2 of one type of media? Right now I'm willing to try something new. This year I really want to focus on the plants.

 

Bio-Max. All biological media is pretty much the same, just made of different materials. Sorry if I confused you.

I do not use the Amrid or the Carbon inserts. I prefer that the bacteria and plants convert the ammonia. I have all my filters stuffed with the bio-max to have extra surface area for bacteria, and a single sponge. Even in my canister filters I have them packed with bio-max or bio-beads.

Others who come along may use different media in their filters. This is just my approach.

 

So should I be dosing with Flourish AND Excel?

I was confused with the biomax ...
What's the difference between these two:

Should I use one, both (and no carbon), or are they the same

 

First is the ammonia remover. These types of products, when used long term, can interfere with the cycle. I do not recommend using them.

Second is the bio media. Porous material for bacterial colonization. I use this type of media in all my filters.

Flourish Comprehensive is the plant food. Excel is the carbon supplement. In lower light tanks, Excel can be used once a week or not at all. Another product you may want to consider is root tabs for your swords, crypts ans vals. These are root feeder plants.

Good luck with your tank.

 

Thanks for all the help. Again my goal this year is to get the plants looking their best. Since I've upgraded the lights, is Excel unnecessary (I'm not doing any C02 at the moment)?

 

Let the algae growth be your guide. If you start getting BBA, then use Excel. If your plants are growing and algae is not, then you could do without.

Low lighting rarely needs carbon supplements
High lighting requires it
Moderate lighting is hit or miss. Sometimes you need the carbon and sometimes you don't

By carbon, I mean CO2 or Excel.

 

Low, High, Moderate light.
What's the difference between High & Moderate?

I'll have to check next time I'm at the store what type of UV light I have.

 

Here's a chart I like to use to determine lighting levels.



There are so many options available with lighting that it is impossible to give you a general guideline, such as watts per gallon.

 

WOW, so much to learn. Thanks for all the help, and congrats on being made a mod!

 

Yeah, there is so much info that it easily gets confusing!!

and congrats on being made a mod!

Thanks!