Tetra's Easybalance

[Rynoah]

I sent my mother after some water conditioner, as I've been running low, and she came back with what I'd sent her for, and a small bottle of something called EasyBalance by Tetra. It claims to keep aquarium water "biologically balanced" for up to six months, stabilize pH and alkalinity levels, and reduce nitrates and phosphates.

I've never heard of this stuff, so I'm looking for opinions from anyone who's used it. If you have, what fish have you used it with? I have three bettas, three rosy red minnows, and a three spot gourami.

 

[Teelie]

It's bogus. Nothing can keep a tank balanced for 6 months without water changes and maintanence. Whatever it actually does, it doesn't work for that long if it does anything at all.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

mmmm, if that actually works, it wouldnt work 6 months on one dosage

 

[Qube77]

I found this on the website about it

"Eliminates frequent water changes. Keeps aquarium water biologically balanced for 6 months. Stabilizes pH and alkalinity. (KH) levels for fish and plants. Reduces phosphate levels for improved water quality. Also adds vitamins and trace elements. Use 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons weekly. Freshwater use only."

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

It's bogus. Nothing can keep a tank balanced for 6 months without water changes and maintanence. Whatever it actually does, it doesn't work for that long if it does anything at all.

How do you know that, have you actually used it?
I don't think a company the size of Tetra would release a product that doesn't work. There must be some truth in the claims on the website otherwise they could get sued over it.

 

[Bloo]

Tetra Easybalance - Compendium !

Tetra Easy Balance, Has anyone tried this?
Easy Balance -- Any good?
Tetra Easy Balance any good?, Supposedly reduces need for water change
Tetra Easy Balance, No more water changes?!
Tetra EASY BALANCE and new tanks..., when would you start using it?
Dont water change for 6 months, new tetra product, in testing.

 

[Teelie]

And it might be true, for a week or two. Then back to needing water changes and other maintanence it might claim to elminate. It may reduce phosphates, but I seriously doubt it truly elminates water changes. Besides which, if you don't keep up with proper changes, you risk getting "old tank syndrome."

Also, it's primary way of reducing phosphate is ferric chloride, which is illegal to dump down the drain. Skeptical Aquarist

It's bogus. Nothing can keep a tank balanced for 6 months without water changes and maintanence. Whatever it actually does, it doesn't work for that long if it does anything at all.

How do you know that, have you actually used it?
I don't think a company the size of Tetra would release a product that doesn't work. There must be some truth in the claims on the website otherwise they could get sued over it.

Therein lies the catch. You have to keep using it. Weekly. And who knows what the long term effectss of it are. The company is out to sell you something you don't need, and as my above post on OTS points out, potentially dangerous long term.

 

[jarmado]

mmmm, if that actually works, it wouldnt work 6 months on one dosage

6 months with weekly dosage according to them.


ooppsss.
I missed Teelie's reply.

 

[ncjharris]

There is somewhere on the forums a post on this - someone did some quite extensive research into it and its effectivness. Have a search.

Long and short of it is, if it didn't make money (i.e by selling), it wouldn't be on the market. It either works, or there are enough people who believe it does, to make it worth selling still.

EDIT: teach me to be so hasty! Bloo has done the searching already!

 

[Teelie]

A lot of people buy junk chemicals that do absolutely nothing, but they believe it does so they keep buying it. I could rattle off a long grocery list of just vitamins and supplements in the "health" industry that go right through your body and do little to increase your health but it's a multi-billion dollar industry based off useless supplements. Scientifically proven but again people ignore that in the belief the "miracle" pills they take will defy science.

 

[diademhill]

Long and short of it is, if it didn't make money (i.e by selling), it wouldn't be on the market. It either works, or there are enough people who believe it does, to make it worth selling still.

Doesn't that apply to a lot of things

 

[Bloo]

EDIT: teach me to be so hasty! Bloo has done the searching already!

Oh, I've given that list many a time
It's easy to search for my little compendium on Tetra Easybalance - and just re-post it every time the same question comes up

 

[jarmado]

Long and short of it is, if it didn't make money (i.e by selling), it wouldn't be on the market. It either works, or there are enough people who believe it does, to make it worth selling still.

Doesn't that apply to a lot of things

yes, like placebo tablets/drinks/syrup/etc

 

[lljdma06]

There is actually a type of tank that I've been researching where water changes are kept to a minimum according to some sources that I've visited. According to some sources, one of the principals behind keeping a low-tech, natural, planted aquarium is the lack of water changes. A few sources has said to go some 2-4 months between waterchanges! But, the tank is densly planted and very understocked with minimal waste fish. I'm trying a low-tech tank, but I don't think I could NOT do weekly water changes. That would drive me nuts.

I am a nerd.

I have never used Tetra's Easybalance. I really like Tetra's Aquasafe, but in a tank with standard stocking (fish only, no plants), I don't think that there's really anything out there that can replace a nice 25% water change and gravel vac everyweek. It's not that hard to do. Took me 15-20 minutes tops when I was well-practiced and kept multiple tanks. It only takes me about an hour to do my high-tech planted tanks, and that's with pruning and rearranging and stuff.

Like Bloo said, the research has been done here, and I suggest you have a looksy.

llj

 

[Bloo]

There is actually a type of tank that I've been researching where water changes are kept to a minimum according to some sources that I've visited.

Are you thinking about Diana Wahlstad ?