Tetra Easy Balance

[Incredulous_Ed]

What exactly does this do? It claims if you use it monthly yyou won't have to change the water for 6 months. This can't be good for the fish, can it?

[gm72]

I would hate to see the condition of the fish IF they even survived 6 months. Here is what I found about it, taken from the Amazon website description:

"Product Description
Reduce the need to perform frequent water changes in your freshwater aquarium with Tetra's EasyBalance, enhanced with Nitraban(TM), an additive that reduces nitrate levels in aquariums. EasyBalance offers a number of benefits, including: reduction of phosphate levels for improved water quality; stabilization of pH and alkalinity (KH) to avoid sudden, dramatic changed in pH that could be harmful to fish; and adds the vitamin, essential trace elements, and minerals for a healthy aquarium. Nitraban adds nitrate reducing granules to the water. The white biodegradable granules settle into the gravel where they are broken down by bacteria. The bacteria consume nitrate, which reduces food for unsightly algae in the aquarium. Do not use in aquariums with low oxygen conditions; aeration with an airstone is highly recommended. Add one teaspoon for every five gallons of aquarium water. Repeat dosage weekly. Change 50 - 75% of your aquarium's water at least once every six months if using EasyBalance. The 3 fl. oz. size treats gallons 89 gallons. The 8.45 fl. oz. size treats 250 gallons."

Think I'll pass. My tanks are just fine!

[Dave66]

I believe its a buffer/bacteria product; in other words, it stabilizes your pH and accelerates the nitrogen cycle, or so it claims. Snake oil, IMHO. No shortcuts to weekly maintanence, I'm afraid.

Dave

[Lady Hobbs]

Honestly. Just another thing to sell people. I can't believe people would even want to go 6 months without fresh water for their fish. duh!

[Chrona]

I've use it, though I've done my own "modification" to the product. The nitraban granules do indeed bind with nitrates and effectively remove them from the water, so you could go for a very long period of time without nitrates rising assuming a moderately stocked tank. However, the main killer is that the liquid part of the stuff contains a pretty strong pH regulator that will change the pH to 7.0 quickly, meaning that if you have something like 8.0 well water, it'll be really stressful for the fish. Thus, after trying the product and discovering that little issue, I decided to just let the granules settle (don't shake) and pour the majority of the liquid out. So I had a small batch of nitrate eating crystals left, which isn't bad considering I could get a the bottles for like 3 bucks each at Walmart. The other thing is that, of course, nothing can truly replace water changes, as water changes also removes growth inhibiting hormones, introduces trace elements, etc, etc. So all in all, it does do what it says it does (regulates pH, reduces nitrates), but there are better ways of doing it (don't bother regulating pH and get a python instead)

[Incredulous_Ed]

I think i'll I'll stick with water changes. Thanks

[salman]

I was going to start a thread on this too asking what it did. I saw it 2 days ago on plastic bag my LFS gave me.

[Incredulous_Ed]

That's what I saw too, lol.

[salman]

That's what I saw too, lol.

Hahaha! Thank god i hadn't looked at the bad when i was in the store, i would have bought it lol.