Hello everybody I am new to the site and would like to get some helpful advice. I have a tank 180gals. with both plants and fish. I am adding Seachem Flourish excel to the tank twice a week. My question is will the adding of this organic carbon cause a change to my ph ? Any help anyone can offer will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Matt

Flourish Excel doesn't affect pH. Only gaseous CO2 has the pH effect that we discuss so often. How much light do you use on that 180 gallon tank? That is what determines the need for CO2.

I have 2 36" flora-glo and 2 36" flora-sun. The lights are on timers, 3 hours in the morning and 7 hours at night. Natural sunlight between morning and evening hours.

I use excel, my water is very soft and I have never seen any affect on pH from it. Even when dosing twice the normal amount daily.

Excel will be costly on a 180 gallon tank, but it can be used well on such tanks.

Generally about 300-400w is all you;d need, you can use CO2 and have wonderful results in this range.

I have a 180 as well, and I have about 2/gal on Pc lighting on a pendent.
Then I also have several MH's as well I use for more light if I seek faster growth rates and plan on gardening more.

Most folks are better off with 2w/gal though and smaller tanks for Excel.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Right now tkos I am only dosing the tank twice a week, I don't have tuff plants mostly jave ferns and anubius. There is still much to learn but I also want to keep fish in the tank.

Thanks for the info Tom but alot of the lingo is greek to me. I am new to planted tanks and have alot to learn. Are there any good books I can get to read up on it?