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has anyone heard of EXCEL CO2 SYSTEM FOR PLANT TANK

How it works: Water is converted into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis. The hydrogen rises up and the oxygen combines with the carbon in the carbon plate to form carbon dioxide, most of which dissolves immediately.

It seems to be a copy of the carbo plus system with a different control unit and new design to the carbon plate. It does create co2 and it does help plant growth alot. The downsides are replacement of the carbon block every few months and the weakest point of carbo plus is the controller. With a new controller the excel system may not have that problem but a carboplus controller must be set on a flat surface with nothing sitting too close to it or it overheats. A carbon block costs minimum $20 but usually $30-$40 US. The plate will collect calcium carbonate lowering your kh to around 5 and the calcium has to be cleaned off the plate occasionally or bubble production goes down. It won't work with soft water. These units aren't worth full price but if you can find one for cheap or have alot of extra cash they do work.

thanks sham.....it is similar to carbo plus with new innovation...but still dependent on regular carbo block replacement. the seller said that u can use it up to 100g and no need to replace for 1 year (depending on how big the tank)..so, my next question...is there really any co2 system out there that is almost maintenance free???

A carbon block will not last a year if it is producing enough co2. The average on a 65g aquarium is 6-8weeks as claimed by the manufacturer. The speed it's used up and bubble production depends on the hardness of the aquarium but still over a few months of use is doubtful. Even if the carbon block doesn't need replaced the holder gets coated in calcium about every 2months and has to be scrubbed or replaced.
Every co2 system needs refilled at some point so none are completely maintenance free. It depends what maintenance you want to do and what works for your tank. I prefer scrubbing off a plate and replacing a block that's delivered to my door to running out and getting a co2 tank refilled. I also don't have space to put a co2 tank.


Last edited by sham at 26-Apr-2005 12:51

thanks again for the info.