Easy Carbon killing my Christmas Moss?

[Adee]

I’ve always used Easy Carbon but now my Christmas Moss are turning brown. Any idea? 

[rockfisher]

 Most carbon products do have negative effects on moss. Unless unless the algae is very bad I would try to stay away from it as much as you can. It seems worst in smaller tanks at least for me.

[Seattle_Aquarist]

+1 for @rockfisher

Most mosses do not do well when dosing glutaraldehyde based carbon supplements.  Don't ask me how many times I killed moss portions before I learned this. -Roy

[Adee]

Thank you. Thought I was just killing algae. Poor moss

[anewbie]

If liquid carbon is the same as excel it is not a good product for introducing carbon; it is an algae-cide and will kill delicate plants including mosses but other plants can be impacted such as some vals.

 

There are also folks who express concern that glutaraldehyde at any concentration is not healthy for fishes though this is probably more open to debate at what concentration and what long term effect. 

 

You should read this article:

https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/liquid-co2

[jwcarlson]

I just started using my EC, but I think I'll stop now.  I don't have too much algae issue, but on some anubius there's algae on the leaves that I just can't seem to scrub off or otherwise dislodge.  It's very "tight" to the leaves and not necessarily a big deal.  But would like it to go away.  Could I spot treat the leaves with EC during a water change or something?

[Seattle_Aquarist]

On 8/23/2022 at 11:42 PM, anewbie said:

If liquid carbon is the same as excel it is not a good product for introducing carbon; it is an algae-cide and will kill delicate plants including mosses but other plants can be impacted such as some vals.

 

There are also folks who express concern that glutaraldehyde at any concentration is not healthy for fishes though this is probably more open to debate at what concentration and what long term effect. 

 

You should read this article:

https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/liquid-co2

Hi All,

Actually if the reason for poor plant growth is insufficient available carbon molecules the glutaraldehyde based carbon supplements will improve plant growth. Tom Barr (yes the Tom Barr the plant guru / Estimative Index fame) did a presentation for the Greater Seattle Aquarium Society (gsas.org) where he discussed carbon supplements and how they can insert carbon molecules into the Calvin Cycle of photosynthesis allowing the plant to make more glucose for energy and growth.  Carbon supplements are not as good as using CO2 as a method to increase available carbon for plant growth but they do work.  -Roy

[rockfisher]

True but I think there is an 18 hour window am then it begins to break down and moss and algae. I can’t quote and will defer to you I thought I had read that some time ago. I think there is a fine line when you have moss. I have a tank that has moss on the sides and back. I have used easy carbon and been ok. I think it slowed the grow of the moss and took care of the algae but other times I have spent 6-8 months grow a part of the wall back. 
I don’t think you said that you wanted to add CO2 to the tank. I know that the cheap do it your self CO2 get knocked but I found they do well as long as you go slow. 
You didn’t ask for it but here it is