Hi, I have been using Aquasafe till now. But after reading a few posts here and on aquamaniacs, I figure that it is equipped with dealing better with already cycled tanks than cycling tanks. Am I right?

Would Prime then be a better choice in all situations. Do I need to combine Prime with any other slime protecting product?

I have heard a lot of good about Easy life. But from what i read on its site, it seems like a wonder product and I'm a bit wary of 'wonder products'. -
Easy-Life fluid filter medium (Easy-Life ffm) represents a completely new product generation in aquatics. Its application range is so wide, that a certain name never fully covers all the workings of this product.
Think about the following when you read this page : Easy-Life does not contain any chemicals, bacteria or enzymes, but is comprized of thousands of natural minerals which produce over 30 different effects in fresh water and marine systems, without any unwanted side-effects.
Effects on fresh water and marine fish - Koi - pond fish
prevents and eliminates stress
fish show improved physical resistance and become less prone to disease
fish show improved appetite
fish show their colours better
protects the slime coat of fish
fish become more active
stimulates the breeding of (sensitive) fish
young fry grow much faster (2x)
greatly reduces fish mortality during transport and quarantine
prevents bacterial infections
accelerates the healing process of bacterially infected fish (e.g. sticky fins, inflammations)
after medical treatment the fish recuperate much faster

Aquarium plants
adds a wide range of essential minerals and trace elements enhances the growth of plants


Effects on corals / lower animals / live rock
Live rock / corals open much quicker and easier
all water inhabitants will grow better
the lower animals become more active
the animals are less prone to disease
adds a wide range of essential minerals and trace elements


Water quality / biofilters / useful bacteria
makes the water crystal clear
removes heavy metals (e.g. Copper, Zinc, Cadmium)
removes ammonium, chlorine, chloramine and other harmful compounds (chlorine compounds only in fresh water)
removes harmful bacteria
absorbs residue of medication and chemicals
eliminates bad odours
prevents algae problems
continually adds oxygen to the water
improves the water quality and keeps it stable
protects against sudden alterations in the water quality
improves the overall water condition spectacularly
useful bacteria multiply much faster
biofilters become more efficient and longer lasting
accelerates the bio-activity: ideal for starting up new filter systems

Sorry for the long post. But I would really welcome all suggestions.

I think aquasafe and prime contain the same chemical (sodium hydroxymethanesulfonate), but prime just has more of it. Aquasafe detoxes just the amount of ammonia released when chloramines are broken into chlorine and ammonia. so yea, Prime would be better when cycling. Prime has a slime coat chemical in it.

I've never heard of the easy life filter media before. Pretty amazing stuff eh! LOL Wonder how it does all that.

The effects of easy life is more of an unseen feature in the sense that it would have help in maturing your filter media in principle, but if you have not used it what would have happen, it is very much a product based on faith.

Personally I had used it before and now stop. Why did I stop, because I ran out of it and did not get another bottle. As for effects in my aquarium I really can't tell the difference.

I started out with aqua safe, and it has done a good job for me, so I'm still using it 6 months later.

I have never heard of easy life, but the claims listed are quite impressive. I tend to take claims like that with a grain of salt.

Robin

Thnx for all the inputs. Dataguru, Since I saw my fish not doing so well in the small tank, I transferred the big fish to my bigger tank. It still hasnt cycled but the fish looks a lot happier. Its' been 5 days after the transfer. I see amonia reading but the fish isnt reacting too bad.

Q1. Do I still do daily water changes to cut NH3 levels. NH3 is lowest reading on the scale. The fish surfaces only once in a while. No flashing etc. Ph is 7.8. temp. 24deg.

Q2. After i do water changes is it normal for the fish to surface more than usual or does it indicate something is wrong wth the water?

Q3. I see that the gravel gets all flattend up. so can I again make the small mounts at the back of the tank during PWC or do I run the risk of H2S. It is 3-4" deep at the mounts and elsewhere it is 1-3 inches deep.

Q4. I heard that Easy life has zeolite in it. Can I combine it with Prime and Flourish excel or do u think its too many chemicals.

Q5. I see that my small filter in the small tank is quite clogged up. So in the weekend if i clean the sponge in the tank water and put that water in my bigger tank will it help cycle faster OR
do u think I can just transfer the fish and the filter + gravel to the bigger tank. Will I still c ammonia spike? Which do u think would be a better alternative?

Thnx in advance Dataguru.
Vandana

Sorry, I forgot to add, I tried to smell the tank. It doesnt smell of rotten eggs.!! Just earthy smell.

Q1. Do I still do daily water changes to cut NH3 levels. NH3 is lowest reading on the scale. The fish surfaces only once in a while. No flashing etc. Ph is 7.8. temp. 24deg.

I'd base water changes on your ammonia and nitrIte levels. with pH of 7.8 and temp of 24C, keeping ammonia below 1ppm is the goal. the lower the better of course. You can also use Prime to help with that. Are you seeing nitrItes yet?

Q2. After i do water changes is it normal for the fish to surface more than usual or does it indicate something is wrong wth the water?

I don't know. Do they seem irritated or like they can't get enough oxygen?

Q3. I see that the gravel gets all flattend up. so can I again make the small mounts at the back of the tank during PWC or do I run the risk of H2S. It is 3-4" deep at the mounts and elsewhere it is 1-3 inches deep.

My goldies move the gravel around a lot. Don't know how long it would stay mounded up. Also, I'd worry about H2S with the gravel that deep as more poop, etc builds up in the gravel.

Q4. I heard that Easy life has zeolite in it. Can I combine it with Prime and Flourish excel or do u think its too many chemicals.

I wouldn't use it if it does have zeolite in it, cuz that sucks up the ammonia and makes it unavailable for the biofilter bacteria to eat. The description does suggest it has carbon and zeolite.

Q5. I see that my small filter in the small tank is quite clogged up. So in the weekend if i clean the sponge in the tank water and put that water in my bigger tank will it help cycle faster OR

I think it should help. I've read accounts of Doc Johnson pulling sludge out of his pond filter and using that to jumpstart an undergravel filter.

do u think I can just transfer the fish and the filter + gravel to the bigger tank. Will I still c ammonia spike? Which do u think would be a better alternative?

That should work fine, I'd think. I don't think you'd see a large spike if the smaller tank is cycled.

Hi, last when I checked the site was still not loading. But I finally have some good news. I shifted all my fish to the bigger tank and I am having no Ph swings or Kh problems. My plants are growing. And I also discovered that i had CO2 in my water to lower the Ph. SO now I let my water set for a day before PWC. That way the fish dont get sudden PH shock at the time of PWC. And my fish are absolutely happy for now. Wonder how long it will last. Still I am making the most of it. Thnx all of u for all the help I have had till now.

Now I know what a pleasure it is to see healthy fish swim about in a green lush tank.

Simply Awsome!!!