TetraAqua -- EasyBalance

I found this text on the net:

Here is the link to the Walmart.com MSDS for Tetra Easy Balance. http://msds.walmartstores.com/cache/2258_1.pdf

Here is a snip from the MSDS list of "dangerous components:"
Sodium Hydroxide (up to) 2.5%
Tartaric Acid (up to) 2.5%
Formaldehyde (up to) 2.5%

The other ingredients are Sucrose and Water (89.4%) and an undisclosed 3.1% of something.. or maybe it's 3.1% Sucrose but the MSDS doesn't clarify what the missing 3.1% is made up of.

It appears that the Sodium Hydroxide (lye, a base) would react with the Tartaric Acid to form "Sodium Tartrate" or "Sodium Hydroxide Tartrate."

Since I suspect this to be the main active ingredient, wouldn't Cream of Tartar (Potassium Tartrate) be just as effective, if not better?

Regards,
JS

Thanks for catching that error ... yes, well consider "Bi" in from of the mention to tartrates ...

Regards,
JS

Hmm ... that didn't work. Let me try again ...

I added the Cream of Tartar to a 10g aquarium, containing guppies, I use for such. Within a day, I noticed a reduction in nitrates; the next day, a further reduction was noted and seem to have stabilized for the past few days (~1/8 tsp. -- and 1/8 tsp. sucrose.)

Now, this may be unrelated. However, my first suspicions led me here to get others opinions. Perhaps, even, get what others have noticed actions/re-actions from; and, to embark on further experimentation.

Also, Ph was 7.4 and stable, it now appears to be 7.1 and stable ... perhaps slight, but worth noting and watching (I have a chunk of marble in the tank to keep ph on the high side--I would expect it to climb back up.)

Why I used this aquarium in question, is that it always has appeared to gain nitrate values very quickly--with no real relation to food, fertilizer, etc. added to the tank. Almost, as if a strain of bacteria were present which could fix nitrogen from the air ... and required frequent water changes to correct.

Regards,
JS

Anyway ...

J double R said:

that said.. Easy Balance is largely a snake oil product, stable pH and hardness is something that is attained through proper tank maintenance and care..it even says that it reduces water change intervals.. :nono:

i wouldnt bother wasting your time attempting to replicate it.

interesting discovery though.. i wonder (for the pure curiosity of wondering) if it would work the same.

Click to expand...

I almost forgot my manners, you will excuse me, please--I actually was raised better and my forgets are not my lines fault(s.)

Thank you for your comments and thoughts. They are greatly appreciated on this end. You see, this is mainly exploratory. I was hoping, maybe, someone had already been over this ground.

Stiff upper lip man, and you are greatly enjoyed here! :goldfish:

Thanks,
and warm regards,
JS

Absolutely.

Another benefit from this seems to be that it is eventually going to dissolve some, if not all, of the mineral buildup on the top of the tank! (I have made additional additions of the potassium bitartrate ... )

However, all that said, it does appear I am finally going to get some rest from the daily or every-other-day water changes to this particular tank ...

Regards,
JS

Well, I was looking at the ACTIVE INGREDIENT. However, with the labs they should have at their disposal (TetraAqua), who am I to argue? So, I have given that some thought, this ingredient, sucrose, most likely, would stimulate bacterial growth--I guess they are betting it is beneficial bacteria this is feeding.

Anyway, I think you are correct, the sucrose could be ignored and the beneficial action(s) of the Potassium Bitartrate still realized.

Regards,
JS