Re: [GSAS-Member] Anyone successfully using "Seachem Excel" in their planted tanks?

[matt kaufman <igotadose@hotmail.com>]

A bit more info. I did indeed post to Seachem's web site, and they called me up 
to apologize! They mentioned that some of the 'older' bottles (I'd bought mine 
online) were mislabeled. I was impressed that they followed up. In fact, 
they're sending me a 'plant pack' in apology for the problems their product 
caused.
 
My faith in humanity actually went up a couple notches when they called me. I 
definitely didn't expect that. I've long held the tropical fish industry in 
pretty low regard and, in fact, rarely use any chemical products regularly 
other than dechlorinator (I didn't use that in the past, either, when I had 
well water) and polyfilter when packing fish. WhetherI  actually use the 
product, however, remains to be seen. Right now, the fish are much happier 
after a couple 90% + water changes. Algae, with those rockin' ancistrus, has 
ceased to be a problem (that plus reducing the photo period and increasing the 
plant volume.) 
 
Still, I'm impressed with Seachem. Very professional and are trying the best 
they can to undo the damage. Plus now I have more room for fish from the 
Aquarium Event of the Year coming up on 4/14, the GSAS auction!
 
Matt



> Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2007 07:47:33 -0700> From: kathy@thekrib.com> To: 
> gsas-member@thekrib.com> Subject: Re: [GSAS-Member] Anyone successfully using 
> "Seachem Excel" in their planted tanks?> > Matt,> > Seachem has been really 
> responsive to hobbyists and I have always found > them very concerned about 
> what people have to say. You should email them > and let them know.> > I know 
> we use seachem products in our tanks but I can't remember which > ones, ask 
> Erik.> > In terms of planted tank fertilizers/trace elements etc....I think 
> they > are one of the best along with the tropica fertilizers. I think the > 
> planted tank folks use this stuff heavily and I haven't heard complaints.> > 
> I will send this email onto Karen Randall and see what she says too.> > But I 
> would email your experience/observations to seachem. Let me know > what they 
> do. We know the folks....they have helped at a lot > of ACA/AGA conventions 
> and been very generous to the hobby. The AGA is > considering holding a 
> convention near one of their plants.> > Sad about loosing the fish.> > Take 
> care,> Kathy> > On Sun, 1 Apr 2007, matt kaufman wrote:> > > Clarifying. 
> Here's what really happened:> >> > The label on the bottle says, "5 ml per 
> capful." I blithely added 5 capfuls.> >> > Trouble is, the bottle I have, is 
> the 2 liter bottle (it was on sale.. oh well.) The cap, as I've now measured, 
> holds *15* ml. So, 5 capfuls is *75 ml* or about 3 times what's needed.> >> > 
> Of course, overdosing an aquarium product shouldn't kill your fish, but hey, 
> since the FDA or any recognized testing body isn't involved, caveat emtpor 
> and this emptor didn't caveat enough.> >> > Nice of Seachem to not get the 
> dosage information right on their damn bottle. My guess is they just used the 
> same label from the smaller bottles.> >> > Something that kills fish at high 
> doses probably should not be used even at the recommende, low doses.> >> >> 
> >> >> >> >> From: igotadose@hotmail.com> To: gsas-member@thekrib.com> Date: 
> Sun, 1 Apr 2007 17:06:08 +0000> Subject: [GSAS-Member] Anyone successfully 
> using "Seachem Excel" in their planted tanks?> > I tried it for the first 
> time yesterday.> > Followed the directions for 'setting up the tank.' Tank 
> had been set up for about 6 weeks, had 6 Hyph. amandae and 6 N. marginatus 
> pencilfish, plus the rocking ancistrus and a few odd killies. 55 gallon tank, 
> so I added 50 Ml of this stuff after doing a 20% water change.> > This Excel 
> stuff is *bad news*. > > Next day: All but 2 amandae dead (and one isn't 
> looking good.) Lost 2 marginatus. Catfish and killies seem fine, killies are 
> notoriously tough when it comes to polluted environments.> > Plants look the 
> same.> > > Just did a big water change and added polyfilter to get that junk 
> out. *Then* (stupid me) I looked at the data sheet for this stuff.> > It's an 
> aldehyde (like in Form-aldehyde.) It's rated 1.5 on a 1-3 scale as a toxic 
> pollutant. It smells funny - now I know why I recognized the smell. It's not 
> formaldehyde, exactly, but it's an aldehyde that when in water releases iron 
> and carbon into the water (and will preserve speciments at a high enough 
> concentration.) > > The stuff should have a skull and crossbones on the 
> label.> > So, does anyone actually use this garbage successfully? Anyone want 
> a big bottle of it before I bring it to toxic waste recycle?> > Man, the 
> stuff the tropical fish industry promulgates onto the unsuspecting 
> hobbyist... Just another reminder to not trust the tropical fish industry as 
> far as you can throw them.> > Matt> 
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