I recently saw in a Tetra brochure the presentation of a product named Tetra Easy Balance. This product claims that it has the ability to absorb phosphates, neutralize minerals etc., and - most importantly - completely neutralize nitrates, which are the main reason for doing water changes. So the period between water changes extends - according to Tetra - to an awesome 6 months!!!, which I find very hard to believe. I would like to know your opinions on this one.
Easy Balance: Water changes every 6 months(!?)
- Thread starter BillyHal
- Start date
My father always says: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
There HAS to be a downside to this product.
~Tara
edit: which reminds me, i think i'm going to do another water change today... did one on friday morning, but since my plans for the night with my friend just got cancelled, i'll spend some quality time with my fish friends instead!
There HAS to be a downside to this product.
~Tara
edit: which reminds me, i think i'm going to do another water change today... did one on friday morning, but since my plans for the night with my friend just got cancelled, i'll spend some quality time with my fish friends instead!
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No good, not recommended to follow those instructions. When you do a partial water change you are removing far more harmful contaminants in the tank than just Nitrates. We just use nitrates as a convenient indicator of how much water we need to change out.
I had some of that stuff when I first started, but threw it in the trash after I learned more.
No magical chemicals or solutions can replace regular water changes.
I had some of that stuff when I first started, but threw it in the trash after I learned more.
No magical chemicals or solutions can replace regular water changes.
Agreed with the above posters, Even if the stuff could magically neutralize everything in the water to a safe level, your TDS would build up to a harmful level pretty quickly, So one way or another, it wouldn't be good for your fish. There are many magic products, but not for my tanks.
The first error is in assuming that the primary reason for water changes is to remove nitrates - that is false. The reason for water changes is to reduce pollution, of which nitrate is to most easily tested component, but it is only one component of many - the organics are impossible to hobby test.
BTW, have you asked just how the product "neutralizes" nitrates, phosphates, etc through the gamut of inorganics in tanks? The last I heard, matter cannot be created or destroyed other than in atomic reactions. I would love to know how you can "remove" minerals from water solutions. What is a neutralized mineral?
Many plant tanks people (myself included) do larger water changes than FO people, even though they commonly have to add nitrates - which in planted tanks are incorporated into plant mass.
BTW, have you asked just how the product "neutralizes" nitrates, phosphates, etc through the gamut of inorganics in tanks? The last I heard, matter cannot be created or destroyed other than in atomic reactions. I would love to know how you can "remove" minerals from water solutions. What is a neutralized mineral?
Many plant tanks people (myself included) do larger water changes than FO people, even though they commonly have to add nitrates - which in planted tanks are incorporated into plant mass.
Amen RTR--- and might I add, I would seriously like to know how people do their skimpy little 10-15% water changes (usually in non-planted tanks) once a week and still get by with nitrates of 20-30 ppm.
My tanks aren't as forgiving. Some are lightly stocked, some have a heavy-er stock. None of them would get by on 10-15% w/c's, so like I said I am curious as to how others do it.
I always replace at least 40% of my water at w/c time.
<shrugs>
My tanks aren't as forgiving. Some are lightly stocked, some have a heavy-er stock. None of them would get by on 10-15% w/c's, so like I said I am curious as to how others do it.
I always replace at least 40% of my water at w/c time.
<shrugs>
aquariumfishguy,
I'm with you on that, right now my cichlid tank is the lightest stocked tank I have ever owned ( big tank baby fish and not very many of them), I do a minimum of 30% at least 6 times a month depending on my schedule, change intake sponges weekly, and internal sponges bi-weekly. with plants in place, and very light feedings, my nitrates push the 20 ppm mark on a regular basis. I often wonder if people are testing properly for nitrates when they mention the numbers they do. If I skip maintenance for two weeks I'm looking at 40-50 ppm of nitrate.
I'm with you on that, right now my cichlid tank is the lightest stocked tank I have ever owned ( big tank baby fish and not very many of them), I do a minimum of 30% at least 6 times a month depending on my schedule, change intake sponges weekly, and internal sponges bi-weekly. with plants in place, and very light feedings, my nitrates push the 20 ppm mark on a regular basis. I often wonder if people are testing properly for nitrates when they mention the numbers they do. If I skip maintenance for two weeks I'm looking at 40-50 ppm of nitrate.
I used to do 25-30% water changes weekly. I've upped that to 50% water change weekly. I found that in my tank (few plants) the nitrates were reaching 20-40 in a week... I also do a thorough gravel vac every water change. Which also means replanting some plants.. fixing the driftwood... rearranging pot with java moss tied to it... and so on... and on... and on...
~Tara
~Tara
I'll happilly spend hours pruning, cleaning, moving plants in my tank. Trying to find a placement that looks just right, reorganising to try to give a little more light to a plant that's growing slowly. I guess it's just my zen garden, or maybe 'cause I've only got 1 display tank that I spend so long looking at it and finding little things here and there that must be dealt with.
As for water changes, I've been so busy this past month that I've fallen to 50% weekly. I consider that a minimum and no matter how busy I am, I'll always get in at least that. But, I prefer to do twice weekly.
I'm in agreement with RTR on the product though, anything that makes those claims isn't going in my tank, or getting my dollars!
As for water changes, I've been so busy this past month that I've fallen to 50% weekly. I consider that a minimum and no matter how busy I am, I'll always get in at least that. But, I prefer to do twice weekly.
I'm in agreement with RTR on the product though, anything that makes those claims isn't going in my tank, or getting my dollars!