Saltwater & Reef

**fort384** · 12-18-2011, 10:31 PM

Sounds like you have the right idea going in. Keep us informed - if you don't see any improvement in 4-5 days there are more drastic measures that can be taken.

WBAC88 · 12-20-2011, 03:53 PM

Did a 50% change this morning, not a whole lot of difference so far, but I'll update. Lights have been off the whole time, I've continued dosing excel and comprehensive. If things don't start to change over the next two days, should I start getting worried?

**fort384** · 12-20-2011, 05:08 PM

Not time to panic yet - but don't dose the excel or comprehensive till the lights come back on. With no light, plants are not uptaking nutrients.

**aqua_chem** · 12-20-2011, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fort384

Not time to panic yet - but don't dose the excel or comprehensive till the lights come back on. With no light, plants are not uptaking nutrients.

I'm not sure about not dosing excel. It's algaecidal properties might very well come from exposure and not be related to the photocycle. Because of this, dosing Excel in a blackout could boost the effects by further stressing the algae.

I think (based purely on speculation) that the half life of Excel in water is based on its breakdown and absorption by heterotrophic and chemoautotrophic bacteria. I just sent an inquiry to Seachem asking them about this.

But yea, ditch the comprehensive dosing.

**fort384** · 12-20-2011, 06:12 PM

Makes sense - I think it is an exposure thing. My next step was going to be to suggest spot dosing the excel - it is much more effective as an algaecide that way as opposed to just dosing the tank.

WBAC88 · 12-20-2011, 11:16 PM

Hm, interesting, ok, no more Comprehensive, but I'll keep the Excel coming. More later.

ejaramillo01 · 12-20-2011, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fort384

Makes sense - I think it is an exposure thing. My next step was going to be to suggest spot dosing the excel - it is much more effective as an algaecide that way as opposed to just dosing the tank.

What do you mean with spot dosing the excel? Directly into the plants or algae?

**fort384** · 12-20-2011, 11:51 PM

Yes - using a medicine dropper or syringe.

ejaramillo01 · 12-21-2011, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fort384

Yes - using a medicine dropper or syringe.

So you don't need to put the rocks or plants (with algae) out of the water? This means that you submerge the syringe into the water column and "spray" the excel as close as possible to the algae?