Easy Balance with Nitraban - WARNING!

This thread is for all the people using or thinking of using Easy Balance. I ask you this question:

WHY?

Nitraban is not a substitute for regular WEEKLY water changes.

The KH (Carbonate Hardness) of the water in your tank is what keeps your pH stable. KH is consumed by natural processes in the tank. If you do not change out the water in your tank on a regular basis the KH will be used up. When the KH is used up, the pH begins to fall. If the KH gets to 0, all of your bacteria will die. This is also known as a "pH crash". If your bacteria die, your tank will start to recycle.

Secondly, it's not only nitrates that must be removed from your tank. There are DOC, Dissolved Organic Compounds, that we cannot measure for, that are also produced by natural processes. Then the TDS, Total Dissolved Solids. The longer the water sits, the "thicker" it gets and harder it is for the fish to live in it. The only way to remove any of those is via water changes.

Now, that you have a very very basic understanding of the above, let me tell you what Easy Balance will do and why it is not a good idea:

Using Easy Balance will increase your KH and pH. Since your pH will not drop and your KH will not be consumed, your tank will remain "stable" in that regard. If you do no water changes, like Easy Balance says you do not have to do, the water will become heavy with DOCs. Think of your fish as swimming in nitrifying jello.

This state is known as OTS, or Old Tank Syndrom. It is what happens when a FW tank does not get regular water changes. Once you have OTS, any new fish you try to add to the tank will die almost immediately. Eventually, your older fish will die. The bottom dwellers will go first, followed by your more sensitive fish and then the rest.

Here are some wonderful articles on the importants of water changes and OTS:

http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/water/waterchange.html
http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/water/waterchangemath.html
http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/small/ots.html
http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/water/otswater.html

Although I'm sure there is some use somewhere for this product, frankly if you can't miss one water change without your nitrates going through the roof, then you have some SERIOUS overstocking problems going on with your tank. THAT needs to be addressed, not masked with chemicals.

My advice is to run from Easy Balance. Screaming, if need be. They should change the name to "Easy OTS". It's pure snake oil.

Roan

Wishful said:

I thoroughly agree that regular water changes are key to good health, but I do wonder if this product (or one similar to it) has a potential use as an emergency short term fix in the hobby. There are times when even the best fishkeeper gets busy or distracted and can have a tank get into trouble. Murphy's law dictates that at least some of the time it'll be detected when it's impossible to make the time to get in an immediate waterchange.

My LFS suggested having it on hand for just such emergencies--essentially to buy a little xtra time until you can fix the problem properly.

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Wishful,

I agree with this as it pertains to products such as Ammolock and its ilk, however, I cannot, in the foggiest way, shape or form, see how having Easy Balance can help in *any* emergency situation.

The ONLY time I can see Easy Balance as being of any help is if you have high nitrates out of the tap, no plants, and do regular water changes anyhow.

Anyone else see an honest use for this stuff?

Roan

Penfan66 said:

Excellent points Roan. You could also add Waste Control, Cycle, and water clarifiers to the list as well.

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I smell a Top Ten+ List of Snake Oil Products, but that's something I'd want on AquaFacts. I'm going to start a thread there.

Roan