Using Seachem Flourish Excel Instead Of Co2?

[DevUK]

Hey all. I'm weighing up the cost of a pressurised CO2 system versus dosing with Seachem Flourish Excel. I want a low maintenance tank ideally, and the planting is geared for low light (60w) - See my journal in the journals section

I've thought about DIY CO2, but for this size tank I just don't think it'll be good enough. Can you guys give me the pros and cons of using Flourish Excel instead of CO2?

Thanks

 

[montyII]

I'm kind of in the same boat as you, trying to get a good planted tank going without CO2 and with low light. I just found some great info on Tom Barr's forum.

http/www.barrreport.com/articles/433-non...CO2+EXCEL+TANKS

http/www.barrreport.com/articles/1356-lo...highlight=excel

I'm a newbie and just been stumbling along, but I think I'm going try the method described here.

 

[Brette]

I want a low maintenance tank ideally

I was considering a C02 system as well at one point for my little 12 gallon planted tank because after what i've read, I was convinced my plants wouldn't survive without it. But I decided to take the "wait and see" approach instead. I bought "easy" plants. Every few weeks I add a little plant fertilizer and the plants seem to be doing well. They grow slowly but they're nice and green and seem healthy. I've had the tank set up for about 2 months now and it has been incredibly low maintenance. I don't have to prune the plants constantly and I'm not battling algae.

So my point is, it's possible by adding a C02 system to your tank you might end up with more work because you'll have to deal with pruning and perhaps algae, which doesn't sound low maintenance.

 

[voo]

Excel does harm some plants, i know vasillis plants don't do well with it.