Acurel / Water Clarifier?

[JayJay]

I've seen this product around but haven't given it a shot quite yet for some reasons:
1. Does it really work? I may seem overly-biased for saying this, but the packaging to me looks a bit...outdated. I'm not sure if a product that looks like it's been around for awhile and not changed packaging is one that has kept up to date with current standards on these things?
2. Does it harm the fish or plants?
and lastly
3. Do I need it?
In my case, one of my tanks looks a TINY BIT cloudy. Hardly. But alas, I would like to have a perfectly clear view of my beloved fishies. I'm tempted to buy this product- or one like it- but I'm just unsure of whether it would do more harm than good, or be effective at all.

[troy tucker]

If your tank is cycled it should be clear. A bacteria bloom means the tank is having a many cycle. that will clear up in a few days on its own. As for using Chemicals to fix it. Not the best way to go. try floss in your filter and if that's not enough try purigen.

[ptran]

Try purigen. You can notice the difference in clarity in just few days.

[JayJay]

Alrighty, I'll check out Purigen on my next pet store stop tomorrow then :) Thanks!
The tank was fine and pretty clear until one day I messed up and opeted to just take out the filter carttridge, rinse it under water, and put it back in since I was low on money at the time (I know, I'm a terrible person huh?)
Definitely not doing that ever again. Even after this fresh cartridge, the waters still been looking a teensy tiny bit funky.

[ptran]

You probably lost some bacteria on the filter cartridge if you rinse it under tap water. That caused the cloudiness.

How big is your tank and what is the filtration?

[ptran]

Alrighty, I'll check out Purigen on my next pet store stop tomorrow then :) Thanks!
The tank was fine and pretty clear until one day I messed up and opeted to just take out the filter carttridge, rinse it under water, and put it back in since I was low on money at the time (I know, I'm a terrible person huh?)
Definitely not doing that ever again. Even after this fresh cartridge, the waters still been looking a teensy tiny bit funky.

I usually buy the 100ml bag online to save some money. That way i can buy more fish.

[troy tucker]

I messed up and opeted to just take out the filter carttridge, rinse it under water, and put it back in

This is why you are having a cycle. The Chlorine in the tap water kills the bacteria in your filter. It will go away after a few days.

It is OK rinse the filter pad but you need to use old water from the tank.

[morpheus]

i second the purigen. its much better than carbon, you can recharge it, and it works well in HOBs or canisters. amazon has a good price usually, and sells the micron bags for it that you need. very tiny granules so it gives max water contact.

my my plant tank was REALLY cloudy and maybe 2 days of purigen it was clear. the small blooms i agree can be due to the rinse, but it will clear up. my tanks sometimes get a haze too for maybe 24-48 hours after a water change.

[JayJay]

Is the Purigen something that's fish/plant friendly? Would I put it in with them still in there, or is it something more like that I'd have to remove the fish and plants and let it cycle around for a bit? (Never really messed with drops of any kind with the exception of tap water conditioners)

[ptran]

Fish love purigen.

[JayJay]

How? :confused: What does it do for them?? :o

[ptran]

Purigen is a super synthetic adsorbent that controls ammonia, nitrites and nitrates by removing nitrogenous organic waste that would otherwise release these harmful compounds into the water column.

[JayJay]

I don't mean to be annoying for asking questions like this- but now I'm genuinely curious :) How does it do that, and where do those things go/ turn into, if you don't mind me asking?

[ptran]

Not at all. You can find more info here:

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Purigen.html

Off course that is their advertising to sell the product, but many people use Purigen and validate what they advertise. I have not heard any complain so far.

[ptran]

Is the Purigen something that's fish/plant friendly? Would I put it in with them still in there, or is it something more like that I'd have to remove the fish and plants and let it cycle around for a bit? (Never really messed with drops of any kind with the exception of tap water conditioners)

It's not recommended to use purigen in planted tank because it is a redundancy. The plants would naturally remove nitrate and organic waste, so purigen is not required. If you use root tab to feed the plants, you can still use purigen as polishing agent for the water column.