guide to setting up a planted tank
Re: guide to setting up a planted tank
Seachem says the active ingredient in Flourish Excel is similar to gluteflakedehyde, but not the same - I'm not sure if I believe them, but it reminds me of the whole "soy boys" thing online. Some people claim soy protein lowers testosterone due to its phyto-estrogens, but studies have shown that's not the case - it's just a chemical similarity. I think something similar might be happening with the Flourish Excel debate. In my experience, using it has actually helped reduce nitrates in my tank, and I've even seen a decrease between water changes when I've underfed the fish slightly. It's also been slowly getting rid of the black algae, which is a bonus - I discovered that when I saw dead black algae coating my filter sponges after a tap-water pressure wash.
Re: guide to setting up a planted tank
I found this really helpful for beginners, it's a simple guide on setting up a planted aquarium. It covers things like choosing the right plants, substrate, and equipment. I think it's worth checking out if you're just starting out.
Re: guide to setting up a planted tank
I've taken a closer look at the link and it seems that polycycloglutaracetal is indeed a polymerised isomer, not glutaflakedehyde itself. Shapes of molecules can be more important to biology than chemical formulae, after all. I also noticed that the safety sheet mentions no harm to fish, only to certain kinds of plants, and even that is likely anecdotal.
It's possible that Seachem wouldn't be allowed to describe it as non-hazardous if it truly was hazardous. I'm not saying I'm right, but it's worth considering. Lack of evidence isn't evidence, of course, but I think the aversion to Flourish Excel is partly due to fear of unknown and perhaps unnecessary chemicals. I suspect liquid carbon might be safer than pH swings caused by too much CO2 injection, but I also suspect that people who don't like liquid carbon might not be fans of CO2 injection either.
It's possible that Seachem wouldn't be allowed to describe it as non-hazardous if it truly was hazardous. I'm not saying I'm right, but it's worth considering. Lack of evidence isn't evidence, of course, but I think the aversion to Flourish Excel is partly due to fear of unknown and perhaps unnecessary chemicals. I suspect liquid carbon might be safer than pH swings caused by too much CO2 injection, but I also suspect that people who don't like liquid carbon might not be fans of CO2 injection either.
Re: guide to setting up a planted tank
On the Excel, I strongly advise against adding it to your aquarium. It's not safe for fish, plants, or beneficial bacteria. The recommended dose on the label can already harm some plants, like Valisneria, which seems particularly sensitive. Overdosing can have disastrous consequences, killing not just plants but also bacteria and fish. This might explain why nitrates disappear, but at what cost?
Glutaflakedehyde is a toxic disinfectant, and its use in aquariums is baffling. It's used to kill algae, but it's still a killer that can harm fish. API's CO2 Booster contains the same disinfectant, making it just as hazardous.
There's no justification for using this product. The same goes for diffused CO2.
Glutaflakedehyde is a toxic disinfectant, and its use in aquariums is baffling. It's used to kill algae, but it's still a killer that can harm fish. API's CO2 Booster contains the same disinfectant, making it just as hazardous.
There's no justification for using this product. The same goes for diffused CO2.
Re: guide to setting up a planted tank
It's not glutaflakedehyde that's the issue, the point I was making is that the active ingredient in Seachem Flourish Excel is a polymerised isomer of it, not the same thing. The biochemical properties are different, it's not just a matter of chemical formulae.
I'd love to see some actual studies that prove it's dangerous, rather than just speculation about its raw materials. If Seachem are lying on their safety data sheet, then that's a serious issue. But let's not jump to conclusions.
Overdosing can be harmful, that's true of many things, not just this product.
I'd love to see some actual studies that prove it's dangerous, rather than just speculation about its raw materials. If Seachem are lying on their safety data sheet, then that's a serious issue. But let's not jump to conclusions.
Overdosing can be harmful, that's true of many things, not just this product.
Re: guide to setting up a planted tank
I recently came across a beginner's guide to setting up a planted aquarium, which I found really helpful, but there were a couple of points that I felt needed correcting.
The guide states that gravel substrate is not suitable for planted aquariums and that you need to choose between inert or active substrate. However, I've found that you can easily grow beginner-friendly plants in gravel, as long as it's not too large in size. Normal tank gravel works just as well as sand for growing plants, and both require occasional root tabs for heavy root-feeding plants like swords and cryptocorynes.
Another point that caught my attention was the emphasis on CO2 supplements as an essential component of a planted aquarium. While it's true that plants require CO2 for growth and survival, there's usually enough CO2 naturally present in the tank for easy-to-grow plants. Adding CO2 supplements is more advanced and can be tricky, so I wouldn't recommend it for beginners.
Personally, I've never used CO2 or liquid CO2 in my tanks, and my plants have always done just fine in both gravel and sand. I also tend to forget to add fertilizers, but my plants seem to thrive regardless.
So, if you're new to planted aquariums, don't worry about needing a special plant substrate, expensive fertilizers, or a CO2 system. You can create a healthy and thriving tank without all that. Just remember that plants don't like being moved once established, so decide whether to keep your gravel or switch to sand before buying plants.
Also, consider what type of fish you plan to keep, as some bottom-feeding fish require sand. Sand is also easier to keep clean than gravel, in my experience.
The guide states that gravel substrate is not suitable for planted aquariums and that you need to choose between inert or active substrate. However, I've found that you can easily grow beginner-friendly plants in gravel, as long as it's not too large in size. Normal tank gravel works just as well as sand for growing plants, and both require occasional root tabs for heavy root-feeding plants like swords and cryptocorynes.
Another point that caught my attention was the emphasis on CO2 supplements as an essential component of a planted aquarium. While it's true that plants require CO2 for growth and survival, there's usually enough CO2 naturally present in the tank for easy-to-grow plants. Adding CO2 supplements is more advanced and can be tricky, so I wouldn't recommend it for beginners.
Personally, I've never used CO2 or liquid CO2 in my tanks, and my plants have always done just fine in both gravel and sand. I also tend to forget to add fertilizers, but my plants seem to thrive regardless.
So, if you're new to planted aquariums, don't worry about needing a special plant substrate, expensive fertilizers, or a CO2 system. You can create a healthy and thriving tank without all that. Just remember that plants don't like being moved once established, so decide whether to keep your gravel or switch to sand before buying plants.
Also, consider what type of fish you plan to keep, as some bottom-feeding fish require sand. Sand is also easier to keep clean than gravel, in my experience.
Re: guide to setting up a planted tank
I've just shared my own experience with using Flourish Excel, not recommended it to anyone else. My tank's doing great, fish, shrimps, plants, and bacteria all thriving. Zero ammonia and nitrites, nitrates barely detectable. I wish the OP all the best with their planted tank setup.
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