Liquid CO2

[beowulf]

What are your views on liquid CO2.  I bought my normal liquid fert at big al's and the dude was telling me to look-up the seachem pack of 3 which includes a bottle of liquid CO2.

Thoughts?

[PaleoFishGirl]

Liquid CO2? Isn't Excel just... carbon??

K I found this on the Excel web site:

Q: Is Flourish Excel a replacement for CO2 in a planted aquarium?
A: Yes and no. It provides the same benefit as CO2, i.e. it provides the plants with a source of carbon for growth just as CO2 provides them with carbon. However CO2 by itself will give you quantitatively more growth than Excel by itself, although Excel does provide a substantial amount in comparison. If CO2 is a 10, Excel is a 6-7. Using both together provides additional benefit. One of the advantages of the Excel is no up front equipment costs and complexity of valves, hoses and regulators, etc.

Seems to me adding it would be a LOT more expensive than just using CO2 though?

[Aquaviewer]

Excel on its own, while providing some carbon benefit would get expensive, especially for large tanks.  I used it in a 5 gal planted nano i had set up for a while where I didn't feel like setting up a CO2 system.  In that case the bottle lasted a long time and had reasonable growth. 

 

[beowulf]

Thanks for the link was going to due some research and ya did it for me.    He was selling it to me as CO2 but it would seem it is a carbon replacement for CO2.  Not sure if I am going to try it next time or stick with the one I am use to.

[PaleoFishGirl]

I can't imagine how much it would cost on a large tank, they want you to dose EVERY DAY.  The whole Flourish product line seems like a bit of a scam to me, you can get amazing results without adding all this crap to your tank. 

Check out their Plant Dosing Chart (pdf) and see what they want you to purchase and add to your tank on a daily basis.  I wonder how many people waste their money and actually do this?! 

[BigDaddy]

Excel is a complex carbohydrate substitute for CO2.  It has a negative impact on some plants like Vallisneria.  It is also painfully expensive for anything larger than a 20 gallon tank.

[beowulf]

Funny how the guy at BA's only mentioned that a cap full is good for 50g but did not mention I would have to do it every day.

[dan2x38]

Check out their Plant Dosing Chart (pdf) and see what they want you to purchase and add to your tank on a daily basis.  I wonder how many people waste their money and actually do this?! 

Holy Crap that is whacked...  Did you do the Math?

[kennyman]

Unless you are using high light you dont need to dose excel, or anything else at those rates. Remember you only need to supply as much nutrients as light can dive the reaction. I use excel on my 55 at one capfull twice a week. A bottle lasts me six months. By far the best option for my situation.

How much light are you using?