Deckape said:Will do. Wait till I get some good lights. Ill be a planting fool...
Deckape said:Thanks guys. This is my first attempt at the plant side of the hobby. I am more of a fish guy. They come before the plants. I just want them to thrive. Maybe the plants can make them more comfortable
eco23 said:Keeps getting better and better . But yeah, you gotta get some lights in there.
eco23 said:I've been using Flourish Excel for the last couple weeks (which is kind of a roundabout co2 substitute). I add a half dose every other day. Vals are supposed to be sensitive to it, but no problems yet. Another thing about Excel is that it supposedly works miracles for algae...but for whatever reason Seachem can't market it that way...it's a well known fact though.
Deckape said:Great. I was about to PM you about that very subject. I am gonna let the tank ride for a few days, test the nitrates and see if I need to dose fertilizer.
jetajockey said:The next fixture I'm getting is going to be this one
48" T5 HO Aquarium Lighting Freshwater Plant 162W Timer | eBay
Not as great as some of the others but it looks like it has a lot of features and the price is hard to beat if it works. I'll definitely give a review once I get it.
The excel thing, most people that use excel religiously actually move over to glutaraldehyde, which can be found in metricide or cidex. If they sound vaguely familiar they should, they are used to sterilize medical equipment.
It's just a cheaper route to get the same active ingredient.
As far as excel being a herbicide,it definitely can be, but use caution because it can also kill the plants you want to keep, along with the inverts and fish. I never overdose this particular product. That said I've never had an issue with vals or anacharis or any other delicate plant melting.
Finally, it's meant to be dosed daily (mimicking a consistent carbon source) as it dissipates 12-24 hours after contact.