Plants keep dying (new lights?)

tophat665

Depends on the light and stocking levels. If the light is high enough that one cannot stock enough fish to generate enough CO2 for the plants without generating excessive levels of other wastes, then artificially adding CO2 via fermetation, pressurized delivery, or covalent carbon via Excel will fill the gap. Generally, the balance point seems to be reached at something between 2 and 3 wpg on mid sized tanks.

Way I look at it is, good enough for Amano San, good enough for me.

fish_4_all

With CO2 levels at a constant level, 30-50ppm and regular Estimative Index Dosing, there are proffesional and amateur planted tank keepers who have never had an algae problem and have the fastest growth I have ever seen from the most stubborn aquatic plant.

Yes Excel will prevent and/or kill most algae but the cost for pressurized CO2 in the long run is 1/10th that of Excel. CO2 injection at almost any light level will give you the best plant growth and the least algae bar none.