Tetra EasyBalance

HI there,

I've been checking out all the aquarium additivey things that I'm going to need for my fish. This morning I came across this product:

"Tetra EasyBalance
Happily, the fishkeeper's life is about to change forever

It's all thanks to EasyBalance - a revolutionary new liquid water additive, which cleverly eliminates the need for frequent water changes.

Until now, there was really only one way you could keep your aquarium water properly balanced. That was by removing some of the old water every few weeks and replacing it with fresh - a messy and time-consuming chore.

Now EasyBalance changes everything - researched and developed over many years, long term tests have proved conclusively that TetraAqua EasyBalance actually eliminates the need for frequent water changes.

In effect, when EasyBalance is added to the aquarium, it replicates the 'refreshing' action of traditional water changes - so now fishkeeping will be much easier and cleaner.

Now, using a little EasyBalance every week will keep your aquarium water in chemical and biological balance for six months."

Sounds great! But how well doesit really work? Has anyone had experience of using this product? I'd be interested to hear.

Thanks

~Bill

 

Sounds interesting, if not wonderful ,that is if it works, of course!
Any idea what the price is like?
Like Bill, i'd like to know if anyone used this product before...

 

The prices I found were:

100ml: £2.98/$5.94US

250ml: £5.79/$11.53US

500ml: £9.98/$19.88US

I'm guessing the prices would be different in the US or elsewhere, but those are the converted prices I'm also wondering about Tetra SafeStart - trouble is you need to use 5ml per 6 litres of aquarium water, and with a 160 litre tank, that's a lot of SafeStart. I'm looking at plant health additives, stress treatments and all sorts of other things too - they're all pretty expensive and it's kind of hard deciding what I really should buy :-[ As a 14 year old I am pretty much skint most of the time, and all the aquarium costs are starting to add up! :'(

 

It does actually work as several of our members who had problems with nitrates in their water (from the tap they already had more then they should) have found it lowered their levels quite a bit. The truth is though, if you are looking for a way to do less water changes and gravel vacuuming, then there isn't an easy answer to that (well you could get someone else to do it for you but aside from that). This may help but when all of the things that drop down into the substrate over time all of a sudden cause your tank to change overnight into a cloudy nightmare with quite possibly a lot of dead fish, this won't help at all. Now that isn't to say that it is a bad product, and for certain conditions on some tanks it can be actually pretty helpful. If you have live plants in your tank, this actually creates CO2 which they will appreciate. However, if you do not have live plants, then you MUST have good aeration in your tank or you could have a lot of problems on your hands. So there are pluses and minuses to this products, but really nothing replaces regular maintenance. In fact other then a tap water conditioner (which in some cases isn't even necessary) you don't really 'need' any chemicals. Weekly water changes, and regular maintenance will keep your tank healthy and happy, and you can save the money for better quality foods and other things for your fish.

 

Thanks for the advice Luniyn It's sounding easier now ;D I'm definitely adding some live plants, so I guess My tank wil take care of itself for a lot of things. With cycling I think I'll just set the tank up with plants, then add a few fish and see how I go. I'm still wondering whether I should invest in a test kit though - they're quite expensive, and I don't think the kit would get used that often. I could buy single kits but they are even worse value :-X From what I've read on this site, though, it sounds like a good idea to have one. I'll keep researching

 

Definitely skip all chemicals over being able to afford a test kit. It is a must unless you have a pet store that is close by that you can take samples of your water to. But if they are just using test strips though, you are better off getting your own kit. The one that most of us recommend is . And it will get used a lot, especially if there is a problem in your tank, the first thing we are going to ask is what is your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH in your tank. Test strips are a waste of money so skip on them, but get a good liquid based test if you can't find that API kit locally.

 

Also, you can order that test kit online for quite a bit less than what most lfs charge for it, if cost is an issue.

 

I've been wanting to get the API test kit for a while now and was going to ask my LFS if they've got as I thought buying online will be more costly.
I just checked out the link Lunyin put up...
19$is =R133 and I paid R165 for just a nitrate test kit!!! ??? >

 

I'm also wondering about Tetra SafeStart - trouble is you need to use 5ml per 6 litres of aquarium water, and with a 160 litre tank, that's a lot of SafeStart.

In general, I avoid Tetra products because the instructions always arrive in German here!!!

I tried SafeStart, and I have to say, I am not impressed. There was nothing safe about my levels of ammonia/nitrite. Nor did it seem to precipitate the cycle.

 

It does actually work as several of our members who had problems with nitrates in their water (from the tap they already had more then they should) have found it lowered their levels quite a bit.

There's nitrates in tap water?

 

I've been wanting to get the API test kit for a while now and was going to ask my LFS if they've got as I thought buying online will be more costly.
I just checked out the link Lunyin put up...
19$is =R133 and I paid R165 for just a nitrate test kit!!! ??? >

Same thing happened to me with an ammonia test kit. I had the paper strips for the rest, and figured I only needed the extra liquid test for ammonia. Cost me an arm and a leg and now I've got the full liquid test kit anyway. Ah well, you live and learn.

 

There's nitrates in tap water?

There can be. That's why it's always a good idea to run a full set of tests on the water right out of your tap to be sure what you are starting with.

 

Oh, funny. I did that on mine and it showed no nitrites/nitrate/ammonia/metals (tested for a couple), and a pH of 7. I assumed everybody's water was like that.

Interesting.

 

Oh, funny. I did that on mine and it showed no nitrites/nitrate/ammonia/metals (tested for a couple), and a pH of 7. I assumed everybody's water was like that.

Interesting.

No you have everyone's dream water there then. I have a pH of 7.5 and an ammonia level of 1.0ppm. There was another person on here that had 25ppm of nitrite right out of the tap. And another that had a pH of 9.0. In one of the cities here in the US (Chicago I think, or maybe it was Boston) has very high levels of phosphates in their water which would lead to lots of problems with algae. So no you are one of the fortunate few if you have that nice quality of water there.

 

That sounds horrible! 1ppm ammonia in tap water? Where on earth does that ammonia come from? I dread to think about this.

 

Oh, funny. I did that on mine and it showed no nitrites/nitrate/ammonia/metals (tested for a couple), and a pH of 7. I assumed everybody's water was like that.

Interesting.

water quality can vary a lot over different locations and even time of the year. pretty surprising if you didn't think of it, but I guess kinda expected if you do think about it.

not something you need to test frequently, but good to know as a baseline. or you could just get the info from the water source. they have much better test kits

 

My localest FS keeps track of that, and tells me about it. He's a pretty good guy. Am lucky. Only problem is his store is tiny so aside from knowledge, I can't get much there.

 

My localest FS keeps track of that, and tells me about it. He's a pretty good guy. Am lucky. Only problem is his store is tiny so aside from knowledge, I can't get much there.

lol - I wish other fish stores were good at giving out good info!

 

I've been wanting to get the API test kit for a while now and was going to ask my LFS if they've got as I thought buying online will be more costly.
I just checked out the link Lunyin put up...
19$is =R133 and I paid R165 for just a nitrate test kit!!! ??? >

I found this wonderful online fish site that you can order almost anything to do with fish, except buying very large tanks. I bought my "Fresh Water Master Kit" from them a couple of years ago for $15.99. As far as which is cheaper; online buying or LFS, for me it's online buying because I live appox. 50 miles in every direction from a LFS, so it's cheaper to pay shipping than to pay for the gas it takes to go to the semi-local fish store. Anyway, here's the link:

It's called Big Al's Online. Check it out.

 

Thanks!! I will.

 

I know it says on the bottle that it reduces water changes. But I still feel better about weekly water changes. It says on the bottle to use weekly. My question is, it says you start off with 2 teaspoons every ten gallons. Would that be 2 teaspoons every week after as well? Or would you just add less to the new water?

 

I have a 29 gallon, and I purchased EasyBalance before reading reviews. Most everyone said that it didn't change or help, but may maintain Ph levels. I am using every two weeks as directed and have had no problems, but I still do a weekly 25% WC. DON'T STOP DOING WC!!!!

 

oh I'm not. I just noticed his ph was a little off. And since I already had the bottle. I decided to use it. I think the only thing it does is regulate ph and alkalinity. I was just curious about the dosage. Two teaspoons for every ten gallons weekly?

 

2 teaspoons to 10 gallons is correct

 

2 teaspoons to 10 gallons is correct

ok thanks. I know its a silly question but I just wanted to make extra sure lol

 

It's not a silly question.... asking no questions is silly

 

Can I go wrong with using Tetra easy balance water conditioner?

 

I wouldn't use these products that claim to reduce the need for water changes, quite simply water changes are the best and most important thing you can do to keep the tank healthy. They not only remove nitrates they replenish macro and micronutrients and dilute any harmful substances In the water. Don't try to reduce the need for water changes, just do water changes.
All you need in a water conditioner is something that will remove harmful components of tap water and they all do that. If your tank is new or has ammonia issues then you might want to use something like prime that also locks ammonia.

 

I went to PetSmart today and got some API Quick Start and some API stress coat bottles. What do you think of that?

 

They are both good for their purposes. I use quick start when I'm cycling a new tank and have been very happy with the result. It is basically what people call bacteria in a bottle, it adds beneficial bacteria when you are trying to cycle the filter. Stress coat is also quite good, it helps the fish's slime coat which reduces the risk of illness when the fish may be stressed unavoidably by things like being put in a bag for transit or large water changes, it also helps if you use it when medicating with other meds.
They are both things it is good to have in case you need them but they are not water conditioners.
Are you looking for a water conditioner or have I misread your original question?. A water conditioner is something that just removes chlorine and chloramines etc. from the tap water to make safe for fish. They are the most essential product in fishkeeping, plenty of water changes with conditioned water will often be all you need to keep a healthy aquarium.

 

If your tank is new or has ammonia issues then you might want to use something like prime that also locks ammonia.

I may be wrong here but I'm pretty sure you don't want to 'lock' any ammonia in your tank. You need for your de-chlorinator to combine with your water to get it though your filter to oxidize the ammonia to remove it. This assuming you have efficient media in your filter. If you have inefficient media it could take 24-48 hours or more to oxidize the ammonia.

 

Ammonia locking simply means it converts any free ammonia to a less harmful form until the bacteria can convert it to nitrites.

 

Ammonia locking simply means it converts any free ammonia to a less harmful form until the bacteria can convert it to nitrites.

That's correct so when any de-chlorinator is added it is mixed with the water and immediately starts to get processed by the bacteria in your filter.

 

That's correct so when any de-chlorinator is added it is mixed with the water and immediately starts to get processed by the bacteria in your filter.

Please Please Please understand. That only happens in a cycled tank. If there is not enough bacteria in the tank or on the filter it will take time to process the ammonia. The amount of time depends on the amount of bacteria a tank has grown. If there is not enough bacteria yet a product to detox the ammonia for a short period of time will protect the fish while it is slowly being processed.

Can I go wrong with using Tetra easy balance water conditioner?

Before we can answer your questions we need to know what you are trying to accomplish. Are you trying to cycle a tank? or Is your tank cycled and you need to know what to use to remove harmful elements when doing a water change in a cycled tank?

 

Please Please Please understand. That only happens in a cycled tank. If there is not enough bacteria in the tank or on the filter it will take time to process the ammonia. The amount of time depends on the amount of bacteria a tank has grown. If there is not enough bacteria yet a product to detox the ammonia for a short period of time will protect the fish while it is slowly being processed.

There are many articles on the web but this one sums it up very well.
Reference: Ammonia and Nitrite Using Chemicals to Remove or Neutralize Ammonia in a Fish Tank

Basically means they don’t work and what the hazards are if you try to use them.

 

I will not hijack the OP's thread with something that has been debated to death. I just want to let the OP know there are options out there if needed to get a tank cycled.

 

I will not hijack the OP's thread with something that has been debated to death. I just want to let the OP know there are options out there if needed to get a tank cycled.

That's fine. Have a good day.

 

That's fine. Have a good day.

Same to you. BTW, I do enjoy our debates, I just didn't want to derail this thread.

 

They are both good for their purposes. I use quick start when I'm cycling a new tank and have been very happy with the result. It is basically what people call bacteria in a bottle, it adds beneficial bacteria when you are trying to cycle the filter. Stress coat is also quite good, it helps the fish's slime coat which reduces the risk of illness when the fish may be stressed unavoidably by things like being put in a bag for transit or large water changes, it also helps if you use it when medicating with other meds.
They are both things it is good to have in case you need them but they are not water conditioners.
Are you looking for a water conditioner or have I misread your original question?. A water conditioner is something that just removes chlorine and chloramines etc. from the tap water to make safe for fish. They are the most essential product in fishkeeping, plenty of water changes with conditioned water will often be all you need to keep a healthy aquarium.

I'll point out stress coat is a conditioner that removes both chlorine and chloramine.

 

Can you overdose on water conditioner?