Excel

Excel is the shorted name for a very popular commercial product called Flourish Excel made by Seachem.

This product is a bottle of liquid which provides a ready available source of organic Carbon for aquatic plants and can be used as a CO2 substitute. This causes extra plant growth and less algae.

• If overdosed it may kill shrimp, fish, etc.

Ingredients

Polycycloglutaracetal - A form of Glutaraldehyde (C5H8O2) a potent disinfectant.

Side effects

Algaecide

It's been noticed that even at recommended doses Excel kills of algae, and is popularly used to kill some species of Algae like Hair Algae at 2-3x the recommended dosage. However this is not with the manufacturer's recommendation.

Nitrogen

Some Excel users have noticed a rise in nitrites or nitrates after introduction. Seachem's position is Excel shouldn't affect the nitrogen cycle of an aquarium, but there are online reports of this happening. (Possibly due to the product killing off algae).

Invertebrates

Excel is reportedly hard on Invertebrates.

Obtaining Excel

This product is widely available from the better local aquarium shops.

It is considerably more expensive outside of the USA due to export and shipping costs.

Some retailers selling Excel outside the USA.

• Aqua Essentials UK
• Aquatics Online UK
• Seachem's Dealers in the UK

Links

• Seachem Flourish Excel
• APD Excel Discussions
• APC Discussions on alternatives to Excel
• Glutaraldehyde - Health and Safety (Archived Link)
• Buyer BeAware: SeaChem Excel, a personal account of Excel's effect on nitrate.