anyone use this product in their tank?

[Alestro Bakai]

You are missing the point, I think.

I don't know. I could be. I just have this thing for giving people the advice they're asking for and letting them make up their minds on their own. I simply stated my personal experiences with Easy Balance. I think it does what it says it does. Anyone saying differently isn't using it right, or has no personal experience with it. If you don't choose to use it, it's your personal choice.

How on earth would you know when your tank is polluted with DOCs? When your fish start dying?

I can usually tell rather quickly if anything has gone awry in one of my tanks, because I spend a good amount of time simply watching them.

I've noticed that answers to questions in the forums are usually subject to a personal agenda, instead of giving objective answers. I suppose that's ok too.

It's like someone asking "Are condoms preventing pregnancy?" and someone answering "If you're using condoms you should really think about if you have enough space to house and care for a baby!".

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

I just have this thing for giving people the advice they're asking for and letting them make up their minds on their own. I simply stated my personal experiences with Easy Balance. I think it does what it says it does.
.

Me too. But what the product (and you) DONT mention is the side effects of using the product, and of doing infrequent water changes,. Newbies should be made aware of this too.

 

[vgeorge]

I did have problems in the past with alot of fish dying randomly, but that was way before I even knew about easy balance. I was doing water changes twice a week. My tap water was tested and found to be somewhat hard but otherwise ok, but my tank water's ph somehow got extremely high which may have contributed to the deaths. I have been using the easy balance for awhile now and do water changes much less often, more like every 3 weeks, but I have noticed the tank is WAY dirtier when I clean it.
I have also noticed that after I clean, the water looks way better...I have been debating not using it anymore and going back to regular water changes...just wanted some opinions first

 

[Roan Art]

I did have problems in the past with alot of fish dying randomly, but that was way before I even knew about easy balance. I was doing water changes twice a week. My tap water was tested and found to be somewhat hard but otherwise ok, but my tank water's ph somehow got extremely high which may have contributed to the deaths.

Fish, for the most part, don't care about pH. Your pH increase is either an indication that something else is amiss, or your water company (assuming you are not on a well) made some of their usual changes.

You're not adding anything else to the tank, I hope? pH modifiers? Is the pH out of the tap still high or does it get high a day or so after a water change?

I have been using the easy balance for awhile now and do water changes much less often, more like every 3 weeks, but I have noticed the tank is WAY dirtier when I clean it.
I have also noticed that after I clean, the water looks way better...I have been debating not using it anymore and going back to regular water changes...just wanted some opinions first

Well, I hope I have convinced you to stop using it. At least stop for a few months and do regular weekly changes of a minimum of 25%. More is always better, of course.

See how your fish are. You know your fish better than anyone and should be able to compare before and after to see which is better for them.

Roan

 

[chinnp]

I have seen two different methods of creating an area of anaerobic de-nitrating bacteria. The first involves adding a plenum underneath the substrate that traps water and creates an anearobic environment. Somehow the water is pumped through there and then returned to the tank. I'm honestly not sure exactly how it works. I also know there are products you can purchase (usually expensive I think) that sit outside the tank. They pump water from the tank, through a canister of some sort that houses the bacteria and then back into the tank. By and large, water changes are cheaper, easier and will make the fish happier in the long run.

 

[Roan Art]

I have seen two different methods of creating an area of anaerobic de-nitrating bacteria. The first involves adding a plenum underneath the substrate that traps water and creates an anearobic environment. Somehow the water is pumped through there and then returned to the tank. I'm honestly not sure exactly how it works. I also know there are products you can purchase (usually expensive I think) that sit outside the tank. They pump water from the tank, through a canister of some sort that houses the bacteria and then back into the tank. By and large, water changes are cheaper, easier and will make the fish happier in the long run.

Point of interest -- RTR has/had a plenum filter or six. I think if you search around here you may find some posts from him explaining them.

Roan

 

[dorkfish]

I know from expierience in my own 29g reef that all youy need to set up an anerobic area in yur tank is a deep sand bed, atleast 2" with pool filter sand(what I'm using). This will remove nitrate from the water.