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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2014 19:36:02 GMT -5
Greetings All, I know most of you have ordered from AAP already... Well today, it was like Christmas. I had two of my little boxes from AAP (and my Stability from Amazon -- I ordered that with 2 day shipping). I had to smile when I opened up my boxes.... everything packed so carefully like precious treasures - fine artifacts. Thanks to Carl's article on "Common Myths", I am not going to be concerned if my GH creeps up. I do set it fairly soft with RO Right -- and all of the fish I buy are swimming in water much harder than mine in the stores anyways. A funny for you - A while back, I noticed I was dosing the RO Right wrong (Liquid has dose per 5 gallons - but the powder dose is for 10 gallons). I was adding enough for 10 gallons of water. In a panic, I put some water softening pillows in the filter of a couple of my tanks (that had the most recent changes with the double dose) - which brought the hardness back down. I didn't do any harm after all by doubling the measurement. Anyone who wants to see the detailed benefits of Wonder Shells can look here: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/medicatedwondershell.htmlI put a small one in my ten gallon, but need to break up the larger ones. Maybe they could make some "Wonder Rocks" for folks like me (chuckles). I am sure by morning, all of my fish in the ten gallon will be smiling. Hey, I just got an idea! These would make a fun stocking stuffer for my son. My son always gets fish care gifts for his birthday and Christmas.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2014 21:23:09 GMT -5
I forgot to add.... the large shell says it will encourage sexual activity.....Hmmmm....I better keep an eye on my fish.
That benefit really made me chuckle. I don't plan to ever try to breed fish....and I don't buy livebearers. My male rainbows show very little interest in the few female rainbows I have. The two male yellow rainbows were really showing off the other day for the small female Kamaka. Since they were interested, I thought about getting them a lady friend (the store still has two females). I don't have a big enough aquarium to follow "the rules" - 2 females for every male. My males definitely out number the females.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 19:21:23 GMT -5
Greetings All,
First, I want to start you with a funny:
"Help! I used a Wonder Shell and one of my fish died! What do I do?"
No.... it isn't the fault of the Wonder Shell....I am just being silly. The fish that died was my Tiger Barb with suspected internal infection/Dropsy (I had moved her to the 10 gallon for closer observation). She had gotten a lot better, but took a turn for the worse when I was out of town. Hubby didn't have time to check in on my fish (I was gone a little over 24 hours).
Unfortunately, the silly fish fed on poor Lily (good name for her since she was a Tiger). Now I need to watch my fish for signs of belly aches and such. I cut that tank down to Spirulina (Cobalt with probiotics) and smaller veggie rounds for a few days. Poor Lily was not a pretty sight..........
Here is more funny.... My largest YoYo loach (male???) won't leave the middle size (female?) one alone. That must be that "increased sexual activity" the Wonder Shell package warned about (laugh out loud). The GH was indeed a bit higher, so I took the shell out for a while... I put the shell into the 20 gallon since I bought an angel fish that came for a store with higher GH than mine. I figured that was a safer way to raise GH than dump anything in the water.
I will be adding a Wonder Shell to my 75 gallon as well -- for the same reason (gradually raise GH). I bought 2 small rainbows - a red Millennium boy and a blue female Kamaka (Yes, "One fish - Two fish - Red Fish - Blue fish"). Those came home with names "Red" and "Blue". I know what the dippy stick color is for all of my tank's parameters so I had them do a dippy stick of their (the store's) water. Their water has a higher GH.
I will have to watch for increased "sexual activity" then with all of my Kamakas - I will have one girl for every boy (3 and 3).
Cheers,
Judy
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2014 10:20:20 GMT -5
Success story!
Now if I am all off base here, don't tell me I am wrong (grin).
I bought an angelfish (freshwater) from a store with high GH (in the hard range on the dippy stick). Their pH was about the same as mine. I slowly acclimated the angel by adding some of my water -- taking out water -- etc (I use one of those little clear plastic holding bins like that stores use - rather than an acclimation bucket and drip. While the fish is adjusting I inject more oxygen by taking water out - and pouring it back in above the container).
The angelfish was showing stress -- staying close to the bottom - not "socializing" with the other angels. She was eating good, though -- but was waiting for the food to drop down to her. I put a small Wonder Shell in the aquarium (Just one of the mini size so as not to stress out the rest of my fish). Within one day, the angel was up and about enjoying the whole aquarium. I will use this method now every time I buy fish as all stores from which I buy have hard water (local stores are the hardest. This little gal came from forty miles away).
That water is now showing a reading in the hard range on dippy stick. I didn't do an API test reading as I knew it just wasn't necessary. One rainbowfish is showing a little sign of stress today (one virus bump) so I took the little shell out for a while. The virus bump will heal. It is soooo important to just watch the fish and know your fish (smile)
I have many beautiful angels now (freshwater) thanks to my son. He bought me a subscription to a tropical fish magazine for Mother's Day (2013?). The first one had an article on keeping angelfish (that they can live in harder water and don't need a low pH -- etc). My first three are now quite large (three ladies - one striped and two marbled -- all with Goddesses names) and are living in a 20 gallon Xtra High (all South American fish - plus one Featherfish Catfish named Ceres). I was going to give them to my son for his 55 gallon - but they just have too much "personality" -- way too fun to give up. Their bodies are a good 3 inches - not including fins. I have four smaller angels in the 20 gallon high...each from a different store now. I couldn't seem to get the black angels purchased locally to live more than a few months. I will let you know how Michala does (female name for Michael - Archangel Michael). The other smaller angels in the 20 high don't have names... Not all fish get names.....and sometimes, I don't know what their name is until closer to their death.
I know Wonder Shells are a great product.... but I will probably only use them when acclimating new fish or when fish are recovering from disease treatments -- and will use the Seachem Fresh Trace regularly. I can't control the amount of minerals released into the water when using the Wonder Shells - while with Fresh Trace, I know what is being added.
Next trip to my son's (in about two weeks), I am taking some pieces of Wonder Shells for his 90 gallon aquarium. I will see him -- and his aquariums - again at Thanksgiving so will be able to see if there is any noticeable improvement in fish health. I know some of his fish had hole-in-the-head (and are improving just will better water quality and added Vitamin C). I read that Wonder Shells can help fish with Hole-in-the-Head/Lateral Line Disease.
My son's girlfriend has taken over the day to day care of the fish (feedings, natural treatments) - so all my son needs to do is enjoy them (smile).
Carl, don't take offense, but I may write positive reviews for Wonder Shells on other retail sites (Just ones from which I still make purchases. There is one I will never buy from again as they mainly sell old products). I can't tell folks to come to your site to buy them... I just want the right information out there. I can tell readers to "Google" the benefits of Wonder Shells --- and your site will come up(I think even higher up than that naughty forum). Hope you had a nice weekend! Yesterday was just a perfect day in my hometown.
Judy D.
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Post by Carl on Oct 13, 2014 11:55:43 GMT -5
Judy, please keep in mind while I think these are an excellent product and probably the most simple/reliable method to ensure constant mineral Cations, it is possible th Angelfish might have bounced back on his/her own if only because you did a good job in slowly acclimating the fish to his/her new aquarium, not from the Wonder Shell. For me, my recommendation is based on many test I have preformed over the years, not because of what even the packaging of this product says. Frankly IMO Weco got lucky when they stumbled upon this product, which is why I prefer to not necessarily send person to our Wonder Shell selling page, but to articles such as our Aquarium Chemistry article, our Aquarium Answers Osmoregulation article or even an outside Fish Beginner Chemistry article (which recognizes that we have done all the work in the whys and why nots of this product). This way potential consumers are educated on what this product can and cannot do for their aquarium, along with how they work. This way, too I am hopeful these persons might then be grateful and follow our product links to us for purchase rather than parasite resellers. References: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumKH.htmlwww.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2006/12/how-do-fish-drink.htmlwww.fishbeginner.info/home/aquarium-gh-kh-ph-chemistry-what-to-know/Yes it is nice to have a full weekend off for a change, but catching up with all the work after just 48 hours along with personal appointments is ridiculously miserable Glad to read your hometown weekend was perfect Carl
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Oct 13, 2014 17:24:39 GMT -5
I know Wonder Shells are a great product.... but I will probably only use them when acclimating new fish or when fish are recovering from disease treatments -- and will use the Seachem Fresh Trace regularly. I can't control the amount of minerals released into the water when using the Wonder Shells - while with Fresh Trace, I know what is being added. I think the importance of the WS is being missed. Its the constant (long term) use of minerals and electrolytes, which improve Osmotic function of a fish. Trace does not contain the important aspects of the WS. It's the charged ions of electrolytes, calcium carbonate, magnesium sulfate, which are importance. Trace does not contain electrolytes or calcium, which are the main two important ones. Only a small amount of mag. I would consider switching it up. I understand what you are saying about dosing, but you are now not dosing any of what is really needed IMO. Trace Guaranteed Analysis Boron (B) 0.0028% Cobalt (Co) 0.00003% Copper Cu) 0.0032% Manganese (Mn) 0.0085% Molybdenum (Mo) 0.0003% Zinc (Zn) 0.0169% Rubidium (Rh) 0.000008% Nickel (Ni) 0.000003% Vanadium (V) 0.000002% Derived from: copper sulfate, cobalt sulfate, manganese sulfate, boric acid, sodium molybdate, zinc sulfate, rubidium chloride, nickel chloride, Related Products
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Post by parker002 on Oct 13, 2014 18:22:48 GMT -5
Seachem has several products that contain the name "Trace". I think you're looking at Flourish Trace, which does not contain Calcium or Magnesium as it is intended as plant fertilizer. Seachem Fresh Trace is to provide mineralization for fish and does contain both. www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/FreshTrace.htmlFresh Trace™ supplies a broad range of trace elements demonstrated to be necessary for proper fish health and growth. Unlike terrestrial animals, fish obtain nutrients from both their food and environment. Trace elements are normally depleted by utilization, oxidation and precipitation, thus it is important to restore them on a regular basis. Fresh Trace™ contains only those elements actually demonstrated to be required by fish. Sizes: 250 mL, 500 mL, 2 L, 4 L, 20 L Directions Use 1 capful (5 mL) for every 80 L (20 gallons*) once or twice a week. Guaranteed Analysis Calcium (min) 2.40% Calcium (max) 2.64% Magnesium (min) 0.792% Iodine (min) .1% Potassium (min) 0.1% Copper (min) 0.032 mg Fluorine (max) 0.001 mg Iron (min) 0.007 mg Manganese (min) 0.002 mg Selenium (min) 0.000006 mg Zinc (min) 0.007 mg Ingredients: calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium iodide, copper sulfate, iron sulfate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, sodium fluoride, selenium AAC
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2014 18:38:15 GMT -5
Yes, I use FRESH Trace.... They are different products. Fresh Trace is harder to find. I was worried about the trace metals, but Seachem assured me they are 100% safe in that small amount. Years ago, I thought Fresh Trace reacted with something I was using so I stopped using it.....It wasn't the Fresh Trace at all. It was what the local treatment plant was adding to the water supply. I did use up the big bottle I had left and waited until I heard back from Seachem if the smaller bottle was still good (I gave them the lot number... I knew that came from a company that typically sells old product).
I am still using the Wonder Shells.... but am going at it slowly so as not to shock them with too much of a good thing (just using the small ones upstairs in ten and 20 gallon tanks - and will break up the larger ones a bit). Something sure made my YoYo Loaches go bonkers! They are much calmer now since I took the shell out of that tank for a while. I could just imagine them saying "I want sex!... I want sex!"....chuckles.
Thanks Guys!
Judy D
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Post by rusalka on Jan 28, 2015 3:08:29 GMT -5
I have a question. I have both Replenish and WS. Is there anything in WS that Replenish doesn't have and the other way around? WS are kind of expensive to use and water changes that I did a lot recently make the effect temporary, so I'm wondering...
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Post by Carl on Jan 28, 2015 10:35:22 GMT -5
Replenish also has soft mineral salts such as Potassium & sodium that Wonder Shells do not have. Wonder shells have a lot more Calcium too. This said, when used correctly, these are actually different products, as Replenish is best used with RO water and after water changes when water is suspected to be incomplete in mineralization. Wonders Shells are best for constant Mineral Cation replacement, which even when dripped, my tests have shown that Replenish (nor SeaChem Equilibrium) cannot still duplicate. This is also why Medicated Wonder Shells are such excellent disease preventatives as they truly address mineral Cations while adding buffered medications in low doses. As for costs, to utilize the main benefits of Wonder Shells does not require a full dose as described by the manufacturer, so unless you have live bearerers, African Cichlids, or similar; just fragments of Wonder Shells is all you need Resources: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Seachem.html#replenishwww.americanaquariumproducts.com/MedicatedWonderShell.htmlCarl
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Jan 28, 2015 17:36:49 GMT -5
I have a question. I have both Replenish and WS. Is there anything in WS that Replenish doesn't have and the other way around? WS are kind of expensive to use and water changes that I did a lot recently make the effect temporary, so I'm wondering... I would watch the GH when using wonder shells. They shouldn't be as expensive as you are thinking. Using only 1/2 a shell rated for your size tank is all that is required. I only have to use a 1/2 piece like once every month or every other month. Otherwise my GH will climb to high. I think I purchased like 3 shells and they have lasted me for almost a year... This also depends on how your well/tap is rated before the use.
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