Flourish Excel

[Box]

Guys,
Just got some flourish excel
Will I see much of a difference by using this
I won't be using co2
It's quit a new set up with young plants

Box

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Excel will do about 1/3 of what the gas can. Also, there are some plants which Excel will stunt or even kill. Vals are one.

 

[babygod]

I use flourish excel and it seemed to help my non rooted plants like hornwort, java moss, and floating plants at the surface. I've never tried c02 because I don't need it. It's all preference I guess.

 

[minnnt]

I find its working ok, the crypts look very healthy indeed! Also dosing with tpn+ though.

How come it stunts some plants?

 

[RadaR]

It's generally not very nice stuff so the more sensetive plants will suffer. Bladderworts and some species of Vallisneria.
Overdosing is a no no and lots of things suffer then.
It can't beat gas but its a good alternative as long as the tank doesnt have megawatts of lighting and its huge. I'd choose it over DIY yeast CO2.
minnnt, you're dosing TPN+ which is good but too many folks are getting these liquid carbon products and not realising that they need to dose extra macro (and micro) nutrients and do large weekly water changes. They wonder why their plants start dieing.

 

[minnnt]

Right. Thanks. I'm doing 2 25% weekly water changes. My vallis has always done well and can't say I have noticed much of a diffrence with that, but the java fern, crypts and swords look great.

 

[Rickzayne]

Sorry to hi jack but I'm using TNC complete now, could I use CO2 supplements as well?

 

[RadaR]

Sorry to hi jack but I'm using TNC complete now, could I use CO2 supplements as well?

Yes. Keep up the nutrient dosing and large weekly water changes or 2x25% like minnnt.
If liquid carbon products are being used, then they should be used daily.

 

[Box]

So no point me using this on its own
So should I get some tnc too?

 

[RadaR]

So no point me using this on its own

Correct. If anything you'd make things worse if you used Excel on its own. The plants metabolism would increase but the required nutrients that the plants now demand would not be there so the plant would break down. An unhealthy plant system = algae.
TNC complete is good

 

[Box]

Cheers
Will get some

 

[DD2510]

can you just use TNC complete? or would using it with flourish be better?

 

[RadaR]

can you just use TNC complete? or would using it with flourish be better?

TNC complete is an all in one fert. Macro and micro nutrients. See here.
TNC Lite is just trace elements/micro nutrients (that's what Flourish is). See here

 

[DD2510]

TNC Complete it is then.. Going DIY co2 at the end of the month

 

[minnnt]

Is there any plants that really take off when using ferts and liquid carbon then?