Seachem Equillibrium and soft water fishes?

If you're looking at nutrient deficiencies in plants, then I don't think Equilibrium is the product you want to look at. EQ increases the buffering capacity of a tank that is having PH swings, which is probably not your problem.

You want to look at the Flourish line I think. The regular flourish adds various trace elements that plants need, and then they make several products aimed at increasing specific nutrients; Iron, Phosphates, Nitrogen, Potassium and Carbon (excell). Which you may or may not need depending on your tap water/fish load.

In response to the specific question, I believe that Equilibrium will affect a general upswing in PH in your tank.

Actually Seachem's Equilibrium is exactly what you need. Equilibrium does NOT affect pH at all. (Seachem makes other products for that). Equilibrium is designed for planted tanks, to give plants extra nutrients.

Equilibrium is not a buffer.

I have a tank of large Amazon Swords, and for a long while they looked bad and failed to grow. I tried Equilibrium and their growth took off.

Kent Marine makes a product called RO Right. It does affect pH. I think it is just marine salts repackaged.

I have used both products, and Equilibrium is better for plants.

RustyRay said:

Equilibrium is not a buffer.

Click to expand...

I understand that as I look at the product in depth, but it's not a plant fertilizer either.
(from seachem's website)
"Equilibrium™ raises the essential mineral/electrolyte content (General Hardness) of the water to balance with and promote stability of the carbonate hardness."
"DIRECTIONS: To raise mineral content/general hardness (GH) by 1 meq/L (3 dH)"

"Soluble Potassium (K20)
23.0%
Calcium (Ca)
8.06%
Magnesium (Mg)
2.41%
Soluble Iron (Fe)
0.11%
Soluble Manganese (Mn)
0.06%"

Raises GH, which to me seems only useful if you need to adjust the GH of your tank for chiclids. Sure it contains nutrients that plants use, but the concentrations Don't seem right for use as a plant fertilizer.

But then again, I don't actually use the stuff, just pointing out what I see from their website.

Side note, You'd probably get better responses from the Aquatic Plants section of the forums.

Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, etc.

Sounds like plant food to me. Works like plant food too.

If it was just a GH booster it would NOT contain potassium, iron, or manganese.

Potassium, iron, and manganese are plant nutrients.

The Equilibrium bottle even has plants on the label. Seachem designed it for planted tanks.

Trust me. I've done the research. And I've used the product for years.

I would say it probably wouldn't negatively impact your fish. While they are soft water fishes, they are all fairly adaptable to hard water. I keep my corys and tetras in the equivilent of liquid rock because of the extreme mineral content in the water table up here and have no problems.

As with any water chemistry changes, as long as you bring about the change slowly and acclimate them to it, they should be just fine, unless you have a species that absolutely must have soft water.

If you're just looking to increase the trace mineral content of your tank, You might look at regular Flourish by seachem. It has all of the trace elements plants needs at levels that won't affect the GH of your tank in any significant manner. It contains pretty much everything EQ does except the potassium at lower concentrations.

All in all it probably comes down to the specific needs of your tank. I suspect you could make either work for you.

One thing to keep in mind is that plants derive some carbon from the hardness of the water, so there is something to the idea of adding those buffers.


Though I prefer blackwater tanks as everyone well knows. :Angel:

My tank is full of Dwarf Cichlids, Microgeophagus. As long as you are not adjusting the water, or adding too much equilibrium at once, the fish should be fine. Dwarf Cichlids live in harsh environments, where water is can be very hard or very soft.