Good for plants equals good for fish?

[goldenpuon]

I realized I have a bottle of Flourish Excel by Seachem at the back of my cabinet where I keep my fish supplies.

That said, I would like to use it but am not planning on getting live plants. Could adding it to my water benefit my fish at all?

I know it has carbon in it which might release CO2 (that is the basic idea I got from skimming the instructions/info on the bottle.)

I would not want much CO2 released into my aquarium if I used it since I don't have live plants and also because I would not want to make oxygen levels due low for my fish.


Last, could it encourage the growth of green algae at all? (Algae are not plants I know. ) Still, I am curious if it would increase the likelyhood of green alage growing (not the invasive/hard to get rid of kinds) since a bit of green algae is beneficial.

Thanks.

Renee

[parker002]

What reason would you have for using it other than feeding plants?

I'm not 100% certain, but my personal opinion is that at best it's going to poison your fish with excess CO2, at worst it's going to super-charge algae growth...

[goldenpuon]

The reason is it has been sitting in the cabinet for 3 years and I don't want to waste it by leaving it sitting there or throwing it out. I bought it when I tried keeping plants (they were quarantined) which grew hair algae or similar on them and died. I would like to use it sometime since it is such a good product.

[Carl]

I agree with parker; since the only reason to add this is for bio available carbon, which fish do not use, there would be no benefit for your fish (or worse)

This is unlike light energy which a some very recent research I just read confirms my previous assumptions aids in improving Redox Balance, indicating good lighting benefits more than just plants.

Carl

[goldenpuon]

Thanks for the help Carl and Parker. I will use it then if I ever get plants. I will not add it only for the fish then.

Renee