Overdosing

[Wrams]

If i want to overdose my tank with Flourish Excel will it or can it kill my fish? It says on the container "DO NOT OVERDOSE" but when i've read posts they say to overdose if Algae is a problem. Also the directions for use are: 1 capful per every 10 gallons.

 

[waterdrop]

re overdosing excel.. might have to query the plant guys over in the Planted section if you haven't already.. its an interesting question, I'll be watching if you get an answer

 

[Wrams]

Does anyone know how much Epson Salt to put into a 30L tank?

 

[Corleone]

According to the bottle, overdosing excell is a very bad thing, but it doesn't give specifics. It does say that in heavily planted tanks, you can slowly increase the dosage to find the level you need.

 

[waterdrop]

But I think I'm remembering that the guys over in Planted do some "different" things with the Excel-type products (like painting algae-covered leaves briefly with it??), so maybe there are some different practices out there. (just speculating, can't really remember what I saw that well...)

~~waterdrop~~

 

[rabbut]

Can't answer the Excel problem, but I can the Epson Salt one...

On a routien basis, never. As an anti-constipation remady, about 1tsp per litre, or a three minuite topical bath at a dose of 1tbs per litre.

For any other disease bath, use marine salt instead, as Epson salts won't help there. Marine salt basis is 1tsp ber litre in the main tank.

Add ay salt slowly to avoid osmotic shock. I add about 1/5 of the dose at a time every hour or so untill it's all in.

Salt as a long-term bath can be very dangerous IMO, as it puts the fishes body under increased osmotic pressure. Essentially this could lead to premature internal organ failure, so I'd advise only using it on a one-off basis

HTH
Rabbut

 

[MattM1124]

Can't answer the Excel problem, but I can the Epson Salt one...

On a routien basis, never. As an anti-constipation remady, about 1tsp per litre, or a three minuite topical bath at a dose of 1tbs per litre.

For any other disease bath, use marine salt instead, as Epson salts won't help there. Marine salt basis is 1tsp ber litre in the main tank.

Add ay salt slowly to avoid osmotic shock. I add about 1/5 of the dose at a time every hour or so untill it's all in.

Salt as a long-term bath can be very dangerous IMO, as it puts the fishes body under increased osmotic pressure. Essentially this could lead to premature internal organ failure, so I'd advise only using it on a one-off basis

HTH
Rabbut

But don't some fish require aquarium salt? So for those fish shouldn't you add mroe salt in at every water change? or is the salt just for diseases?

 

[Wrams]

Can't answer the Excel problem, but I can the Epson Salt one...

On a routien basis, never. As an anti-constipation remady, about 1tsp per litre, or a three minuite topical bath at a dose of 1tbs per litre.

For any other disease bath, use marine salt instead, as Epson salts won't help there. Marine salt basis is 1tsp ber litre in the main tank.

Add ay salt slowly to avoid osmotic shock. I add about 1/5 of the dose at a time every hour or so untill it's all in.

Salt as a long-term bath can be very dangerous IMO, as it puts the fishes body under increased osmotic pressure. Essentially this could lead to premature internal organ failure, so I'd advise only using it on a one-off basis

HTH
Rabbut

But don't some fish require aquarium salt? So for those fish shouldn't you add mroe salt in at every water change? or is the salt just for diseases?

Some people put a small amounts of Aquairum salt in a tank to help kill Paracites and help with infections and for fish that require salt water. Unfortunately catfish and sorts are very delicate to salt so shouldn't be subjected to any. Epson salt however helps to draw out water in a fish if it has say, stomuch trouble, ie: Dropsy where they take on water and bloat out so need it to reduce swelling. Thats just an example of what Epson Salts do.

Theres alot of difference between Epson Slat and Aqurium Salt.

 

[Wrams]

Here is a link to one of the guys in these forums. Algae

Oedogonium

Description: A fairly short length filamentous algae that can give a fuzz look to plants.

Cause: Low CO2. Low nutrients.

Removal: Check CO2 levels. Add nutrients. Overdosing Flourish Excel can help. Amano shrimps, Rosy barbs and mollies will often eat it.

 

[waterdrop]

Matt, the topic of tropical fish and salt is much more complicated than many beginners think, so be very careful if someone in a LFS tells you to use salt. Take your time and read more before coming to decisions about it.

Wrams has given you a taste of the complications...

~~waterdrop~~

 

[rabbut]

Fish that require salt are brakish species and marines. No others require salt as, as their type-name surgests, they are freshwater...

Some fish that are sold as freshwater require salt because they are acctually bracish, such as mollies. Research your fish before purchase and avoid mixing brakish fish with freshwaters. Freshwater fish won't last long with enough salt in the water to make the tank bracish. The same argument is true for bracish fish in a freshwater tank with no salt at all... Going halves will give the worst of both scenarios, but may take more time to set-in for the unfortunate occupants of the tank...

The recomended dose of salt for freshwater disease medication is about 1/10 of full marine strength, or 1/5 of bracish at an SG of 1.010(unit forgotton, sorry). Salt as a medication is usualy dosed at 3-5ppt, or 1.002-1.003(forgotten unit)

All the best
Rabbut

 

[tennis4you]

How much are you looking to overdose with? If you have bba (black brush algae) then an overdose can help. If you have bga then it will not help.

I recently over dosed with Excel with bba and it did the trick. Of course realize that in the end it is just masking the issue. I ended up adding CO2 to my planted tank to eliminate the cause.

I dosed ever day the recommended amount that they say to dose every 2-3 days. I spot treated that amount though so I was basically putting it right in the area of the bba in the tank, that helps to so I hear.

What kind of algae do you have?

 

[Wrams]

How much are you looking to overdose with? If you have bba (black brush algae) then an overdose can help. If you have bga then it will not help.

I recently over dosed with Excel with bba and it did the trick. Of course realize that in the end it is just masking the issue. I ended up adding CO2 to my planted tank to eliminate the cause.

I dosed ever day the recommended amount that they say to dose every 2-3 days. I spot treated that amount though so I was basically putting it right in the area of the bba in the tank, that helps to so I hear.

What kind of algae do you have?

Oedogonium

Description: A fairly short length filamentous algae that can give a fuzz look to plants.

 

[tennis4you]

Not bba so it appears...

How long are your lights on per day? Do you have any plants? CO2? Ferts?