A SCEPTICS REPORT ON TETRA EASY BALANCE

Ron Ruth


Maintaining a healthy thriving tropical aquarium without the necessary input of regular water changes does not rest easy with an aquarist who remembers slate bottomed tanks, and nine-inch swordtails. 'No hands' fish keeping was introduced to me in September 2002 by my very good friend Ken Wrightson. (Who also remembers slate bottomed tanks, if only he will admit it!) I had been having much trouble in re-establishing my four foot bow front tank on my return from some months away in Viet Nam, when he sprang this product upon me following a visit to his favourite aquatic establishment - Wayside Aquatics at Doddinghurst* "Here" he said, "This could be the answer to your problem" and gave me a 250ml bottle of 'Tetra Aqua Easy Balance' and a small tub of 'Tetra Nitrate Minus'.

A short history of the tank is appropriate here. Set up at a guess some ten years ago in an alcove adjacent to a patio window, plants flourished from the start with just two 36" 30watt Triton tubes, under gravel filtration was incorporated in the early days, although covered by a 3 to 4 inches of gravel. Around 1998 I fancied trying my hand at Discus, so once again Ken was there to assist, advise and even provide me with half a dozen specimen fish at some expense to himself. The standard gravel was replaced with lime free, my prized flourishing Cryptocorynes replaced with Amazon swords and any other plants withstanding soft water at higher temperatures. All went along swimmingly and the Discus even spawned but the wrigglers soon disappeared with six adults in the tank. The set-up remained this way for a couple of years until my planned extended trip forced me to empty it all but the gravel.

Soon after my return it was set up again and the first few weeks saw a heavy coating of dark green algae covering glass, gravel and plant life. Getting a balance between lighting intensity and time, and volume of plants was proving unusually difficult. The Triton lighting had been changed for four low energy lamps of lower intensity but on for longer hours. It was at this stage Ken came up with 'Easy Balance.'

The green mess was cleaned from the tank and gravel, and the few remaining cleanable plants retained. A bargain bundle of new mail order plants (unspecified end of the week clear out) from 'Java' were installed, 50% water changed and the 'Nitrate Minus' and first dose of 'Easy Balance' added. All of these changes taking place on 22nd.September last. Since that date, a little more than a half-bucket of water has been added to replace that lost by evaporation, and none has been changed. The internal Interpet power filter has been cleaned weekly, and the appropriate dose of 'Easy Balance' added. Occasionally, carbon has been used in the filter. The tank is stocked with a large shoal of Ken's homegrown Glowlights, a couple of Corydoras, and recently a shoal of Ken's Platies. A trio each of Botia striata and macracantha became necessary to see off the explosion of three varieties of free snails that arrived with the plants.

Plants now visibly growing healthily includes: - Amazon Swords, Elodea, Ludwigia, Hygrophila polysperma, Vallisneria twisted, Cryptocoryne wendtii, Bacopa and Java moss. Currently the plants are growing beautifully to the extent that some pruning is now overdue to let some light into the tank. Two of the four low energy lamps are rated at 20W the other two at 11W. The only algae present is the soft blanket type, which breaks away very easily when removed from the plants on the surface where it mainly resides. All of the fish are visibly increasing in size, and even one of the Clown loaches that seemed to be wasting after a couple of weeks appears to be recovering.

Another couple of weeks will bring the six months that Tetra specify before a 50 to 75% water change is necessary. In that time I will have used three 250ml. bottles of 'Easy Balance' at around £6.00 each. I have since discovered that a larger bottle is available which obviously becomes even more economical. I am bound to say that this product works for me and at 10p per day I consider it very good value. Of course even that cost will reduce pro rata for smaller tanks. I appreciate this trial would have proved even more informative had the water conditions been tested and logged over this period, but I parted with all my test equipment when I expected to part with the tank, furthermore, I did not know that I would be asked to report on the result of using 'EasyBalance' until the project had begun.

"How EasyBalance works" (To quote): "Easybalance stabilizes the ph and mineral salt content of aquarium water preventing sudden and dangerous swings in its acidity. It also controls phosphate to help reduce the unsightly growth of algae. EasyBalance also adds vitamins and trace elements to the water promoting increased fish and plant health."

The moral is: Don’t knock it until you have tried it. Who knows what those nine inch Swordtails may have attained had this been available in the 'Good old days?’ - to coin a phrase. I have to bow to technology - at this rate we may even walk on the moon one day soon!

*Wayside Aquatics have used Easy Balance in their 3ft show tank for the past two years. The water is crystal clear, the plants are flourishing and algae-free and the fish look in good condition with plenty of colour.

Ron Ruth.


Back to Top    Articles    Home Page