Should I Use This Stuff?

[corygirl]

someone gave me a 10 gallon tank and a bunch of stuff with it, i need to know if it would be a good idea for me to use any of this stuff. all of my tanks are cycled and currently housing freshwater fish.

1. TetraAqua EasyBalance -- reduces frequent water changes: keeps aquarium water biologically balanced for up to 6 months, stabalizes ph and alkalinity levels vital for fish and plants, reduces nitrates and phosphate. new formula with nitraban nitrate reduction granules. water conditioner for all freshwater aquariums.

2. Jungle brand ammonia, chlorine, and chloramine eliminator.

3. Jungle brand Start Right -- complete water conditioner. reduces stress, removes chlorine and chloramine, stimulates natural protective slime coat.

4. Algae Destroyer Liquid -- controls the growth of many algae in freshwater aquariums containing fish.

5. Jungle brand Clean Water -- for established aquariums, removes odors and cloudiness.

6. HBH brand Bowl Prep -- protects and coats fish while safely conditioning tap water.

7. PH indicator solution -- without instructions.

8. PH up -- makes aquarium water alkaline. (obviously i shouldnt use this or PH down at least until i get the instruction for testing the ph)

9. PH down -- makes aquarium water acidic.

 

[celaeno]

none of those should be needed.

 

[Chuka1212]

I would have to disagree slightly and say that depending on what water you use (if you are using tap water particularly) a dechlorinator is a very good idea. Fish can become easily stressed/sick with too much chemicals in the water courtesy of city water processing plants. Everything else is typically not needed, I hear the pH changing chemicals can cause unhealthy pH swings.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

1. TetraAqua EasyBalance -- reduces frequent water changes: keeps aquarium water biologically balanced for up to 6 months, stabalizes ph and alkalinity levels vital for fish and plants, reduces nitrates and phosphate. new formula with nitraban nitrate reduction granules. water conditioner for all freshwater aquariums. Wouldn't advise it for general use, however i think it's OK for once in a while, like if you have a disaster at home and don't have time for a water change, putting some of this in should tide the tank over for a few days extra

2. Jungle brand ammonia, chlorine, and chloramine eliminator. that's just dechlor so it's fine

3. Jungle brand Start Right -- complete water conditioner. reduces stress, removes chlorine and chloramine, stimulates natural protective slime coat. again dechlor is fine

4. Algae Destroyer Liquid -- controls the growth of many algae in freshwater aquariums containing fish. personally i think algae controlling stuff is rubbish, if you have a problem find the route of it, don't mask it with chemicals

5. Jungle brand Clean Water -- for established aquariums, removes odors and cloudiness. shouldn't have odours or cloudiness in an established aquarium, regular maintenance witll keep the water clean

6. HBH brand Bowl Prep -- protects and coats fish while safely conditioning tap water. dechlor, fine

7. PH indicator solution -- without instructions. no good without instructions

8. PH up -- makes aquarium water alkaline. (obviously i shouldnt use this or PH down at least until i get the instruction for testing the ph) no, a stable ph is infinitley better than a chemically adjusted one which will fluctuate as the chemicals wear off

9. PH down -- makes aquarium water acidic. see above

 

[timmystood]

Agree with Miss Wiggle

 

[corygirl]

thank you miss wiggle (and everyone), i only listed the dechlorinators on there because of the "stimulates slime coat" thing, i didnt know if that was good or not.

 

[rdd1952]

I would use only the dechlorinator that does not mention ammonia. You do not want any thing that removes ammonia from your tank as it will prevent it from cycling. Using both of the dechlorinators is overkill. I would throw everything else in the trash, especially the pH adjusters. Those are big trouble and cause more problems than they fix.

 

[corygirl]

I would use only the dechlorinator that does not mention ammonia. You do not want any thing that removes ammonia from your tank as it will prevent it from cycling. Using both of the dechlorinators is overkill. I would throw everything else in the trash, especially the pH adjusters. Those are big trouble and cause more problems than they fix.

i wouldnt use two dechlorinators at the same time,
is it okay to use the one with the ammonia remover if my tank is already cycled? or is it still bad?
thanks

 

[Miss Wiggle]

depends what it say's about ammonia though really

if it say's it removes excess ammonia it's fine, when the dechlor breaks down chlorine one of the side products is a small amount of ammonia, in all honesty your filter will take care of this easily, however some dechlors will also go the next step and convert it to ammonium which your filter can still use but is less toxic to fish. (think that's right anyway, science isn't my strong point)

i actually don't like the idea of the slime coating inducing dechlors, what they actually contain is a mild irritant which makes the fish produce more slime coat. bit pointless IMHO, if the tank is healthy the fish should be producing the right amount of slime coating anyway.

 

[rdd1952]

I just don't like anything that messes with ammonia in a cycled tank. If it's cycled, as Miss Wiggle mentioned, the bacteria will take care of any ammonia in the tank with the exception of a major spike. And the likely hood of that is extremely remote.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

I just don't like anything that messes with ammonia in a cycled tank. If it's cycled, as Miss Wiggle mentioned, the bacteria will take care of any ammonia in the tank with the exception of a major spike. And the likely hood of that is extremely remote.

i can well understand that rdd, out of preference i wouldn't use it either. just thought i'd clarify as a lot of people assume these dechlors that say they remove ammonia too are performing a similar function to ammo-lock type products whereas that's not what they actually do.