I've read that SeaChem's Flourish Excel will deal with BBA/Brush Alage. Is this true? If so how? Isn't Excel mostly carbon?
In 1 tank I got BBA but only on 1 side of the tank. I think the CO2 does not diffuse well enough in that tank. Would excel do a better job then DIY CO2 in thaty tank? Is is 30 gal. med. planted with double tube t8 lighting.
Excel is not carbon exactly. It is an advanced carbohydrate that plants can metabolize into a viable carbon source.
I have heard of individuals dosing excel in double and triple doses to kill BBA, some with success, some without. My opinion regarding algae is and always will be that dumping meds or chemicals into a tank to deal with algae is a short term solution that will eventually become a long term expense.
Excel seems to be most efficient when directly dosed onto the algae ... but as BD pointed out: you will have to apply it a couple of times (1-2 weeks every day at least) to get rid of all algae and it doesnt assure at all that it wont come back.
Quote from: dan2x38 on September 11, 2007, 03:05:58 PM
I've read that SeaChem's Flourish Excel will deal with BBA/Brush Alage. Is this true? If so how? Isn't Excel mostly carbon?
Like BigDaddy said , it is a short term remedy, that can be used to eradicate the outbreak , you still need to find the cause & fix it for the long term, it is widely said that lack of good consistent supply of co 2 is the cause of BBA, this is where the DIY sugar / yeast reactors fall short.
The reason it works is attributed to the thought , that the main active ingredient is a algaecide ( i don`t know this for a fact).
QuoteIn 1 tank I got BBA but only on 1 side of the tank. I think the CO2 does not diffuse well enough in that tank
If you think that is the cause, you can always try a power head to get better circulation in the tank.
Regards
I would also suggest that Excel works on bba not just as a control but as a viable alternative to co2. It will do the same thing co2 will. Provide plants with carbon which allows them to grow faster provided light and other nutrients are also in sufficient supply. And that helps plants outcompete bba for available resources.
Be aware, Excel and Val don't mix. If you have a nice grouping of Val, you might not anymore after a few doses of Excel.
Quote from: BigDaddy on September 11, 2007, 06:17:13 PM
Be aware, Excel and Val don't mix. If you have a nice grouping of Val, you might not anymore after a few doses of Excel.
I noticed that crypts dont like Excel too much either.
I agree. I used to have some nice vals and then a dose of excel wiped them out. My crypts were mostly fine, but i noticed a bit of discolouration.
is BBA the stuff that grows on anubias...and could excel help my poor plants? :-\
Well thanks guys... I added a different DIY CO2 diffuser this evening on the side where the BBA grows it is not bad but I did have to do a black out a month or so ago... I am sure it is an imbalance of CO2... there are no vals in that tank but one bronze cyprt... In this tank I was using a glass diffuser...