Jump to content

Using Excel


Bradjames13
 Share

Recommended Posts

I'm currently using Excel in my tank now if I suddenly stop using Excel will it shock the plants and they will die?

I want it too be CO2 free, I'm currently using 5 ml a week sometimes 10ml that's if I remember too put some in and my vallisneria spiralis are melting and not growing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds like the amount you are adding is not a whole lot. Plants will grow slower and you may have a little more algae show up in the tank. I think the vals will grow back in time.

Others may know more than i though.

David

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd like to know if people feel fertilizers are necessary even just to keep plants healthy or if you add them to maximize growth rates. My plants seem to be perfectly happy with no/minimal fertilization (micro-nutrients fertilizer). They could probably grow faster with more fertilizer and especially with added CO2 but that just means more frequent trimming and thus more maintenance. My strategy is to run a "nitrogen-starved tank", so plant growth is limited to the amount of nitrogen they can acquire, which is limited to how much I feed my fish. The idea is that that ensures low ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels to keep my fish happy and robust but not excessive plant growth (although some still grow like weeds). So far out of 9 plants tried, across 3 tanks, all 9 are growing and doing well. Am I just lucky?, are fertilizers over-used?, or are you guys all growing highly demanding plants that need CO2, high light intensity and fertilizers.

PS: my tanks are on soft/neutral water (1 dGH, pH 6.9) using only RO for replacements. Substrate is "dirty sand" but no potting soil, clays, or other nutrient-rich materials.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Biodives "So far out of 9 plants tried, across 3 tanks, all 9 are growing and doing well."

Why mess with a good thing. Looks like you found a balance that works for you. Be carefull with the RO addition only. Usually if you want reduced PH...in Edmonton... mix 25% tap water with prime of course. Some bottom feeding plants like swords like the addition of root tab fertilizers every 4 months or so.

BTW most fish will be fine in edmonton water.......when breeding fish -for some species - may need lowering of hardness and or PH.

"low ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels"

ammonia and nitrIte must be 0 at all times > biological filtration. nitrAtes are removed with water changes and most folks aim for 5- 40 ppm (plants do well at 5-15 ppm in most applications)

Edited by geleen
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm currently using Excel in my tank now if I suddenly stop using Excel will it shock the plants and they will die?

I want it too be CO2 free, I'm currently using 5 ml a week sometimes 10ml that's if I remember too put some in and my vallisneria spiralis are melting and not growing.

just stop no worries. ...Excell is know to kill vallisneria.

As someone mentioned the photo period may need to be adjusted when you get too much algea growth

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...