ECO Aqualizer, Molecular Ionization Purification unit [Archive]

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ccones

10-14-2006, 6:58 AM

Saw an ad for this

gadget, is any one using it, and can I get some input on how well it worked. Ad says it's the

worlds only self-cleaning Aquarium System plug it into your existing canister or hang on back

system. Found it in Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine. www.ecoaqualizer.com is the web site. Thanks

the newbe.

fishmaven

10-14-2006, 12:28 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ccones

@ Oct 14 2006, 06:58 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2776"><{POST_SNAPBACK}

></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Saw an ad for this gadget, is any one using it,

and can I get some input on how well it worked. Ad says it's the worlds only self-cleaning

Aquarium System plug it into your existing canister or hang on back system. Found it in Tropical

Fish Hobbyist magazine. www.ecoaqualizer.com is the web site. Thanks the newbe.<!--QuoteEnd--

></div>

I bought one few years ago and installed it on a display tank in

the entryway of a store. The tank got alot of afternoon light so algae was a contant battle, you

want a show tank to be beautiful ALL the time. The tank did NOT have a background on it. We wanted

to be able to see customers as they entered or left. Anyone that's ever set up a tank viewed

for both sides knows how hard it is. I just sliced the return tube from an Eheim 2229 to install

it. Over the period of a day or two the water turned crystal clear.

I have no idea how

the product works but I was pleased with the results. Debris caught up in the Eheim seemed to be

different than before. I'm not trying to give this product magical properties. It did defy

logic.

Some stores in the Houston area stock a selection of sizes. I chose the unit by

the size of the barbed fittings not the tank size. The tank was 150 gallons. Although I liked the

results, I had difficulty figuring out how to sell the units. It's a hard sell to say

"give me $100, install the unit, ...trust me, you'll like it." I've paid

more for products that gave me less in return.

About the website...I don't care for

sites that either turn music on or put me in some sort of loop for banners or pop-ups. I want a

site that will load quickly without all the other BS. I'd give the product an A and the site a

C-.

dstuer

10-25-2006, 12:19 PM

Received the ECO

aqualizer Fri
Had to reconfigure the tanks plumbing over the weekend, and finally put it in

service Mon afternoon.
Did tests last Fri, Mon, and today,
........ Fri

10/20 ...Mon 10/23 ...Weds 10/25
Turbidity... 1.68 ... 1.44 ...

0.76 NTUs
Ammonnia .. 0.01 .... 0.03 ... 0.01
pH .......

7.95 ... 7.84 ... 7.95

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fishmaven @ Oct 14 2006,

12:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=2777)</div><div

class='quotemain'>I bought one few years ago and installed it on a display tank in

the entryway of a store. The tank got alot of afternoon light so algae was a contant battle, you

want a show tank to be beautiful ALL the time. The tank did NOT have a background on it. We wanted

to be able to see customers as they entered or left. Anyone that's ever set up a tank viewed

for both sides knows how hard it is. I just sliced the return tube from an Eheim 2229 to install

it. Over the period of a day or two the water turned crystal clear.

I have no idea how

the product works but I was pleased with the results. Debris caught up in the Eheim seemed to be

different than before. I'm not trying to give this product magical properties. It did defy

logic.

Some stores in the Houston area stock a selection of sizes. I chose the unit by

the size of the barbed fittings not the tank size. The tank was 150 gallons. Although I liked the

results, I had difficulty figuring out how to sell the units. It's a hard sell to say

"give me $100, install the unit, ...trust me, you'll like it." I've paid

more for products that gave me less in return.

About the website...I don't care for

sites that either turn music on or put me in some sort of loop for banners or pop-ups. I want a

site that will load quickly without all the other BS. I'd give the product an A and the site a

C-.</div>

fishmaven

10-26-2006, 5:06 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(duane @

Oct 25 2006, 12:19 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2800"><{POST_SNAPBACK}

></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Received the ECO aqualizer Fri
Had to

reconfigure the tanks plumbing over the weekend, and finally put it in service Mon afternoon.
Did tests last Fri, Mon, and today,
........ Fri 10/20 ...Mon 10/23 ...Weds

10/25
Turbidity... 1.68 ... 1.44 ... 0.76 NTUs
Ammonnia .. 0.01

.... 0.03 ... 0.01
pH ....... 7.95 ... 7.84 ...

7.95</div>
Most feel this is a gimmick. I couldn't

figure a way to sell them. Have you? I realize that you've only had it for a few days, after

that period I was just scratching my head, wondering what was happening.

pH would vary

depending on time of day. Are your tests at the same time each day?

What's your

impression at this point?

dstuer

10-27-2006, 9:32 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fishmaven

@ Oct 26 2006, 05:06 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2810"><{POST_SNAPBACK}

></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Most feel this is a gimmick. I couldn't figure

a way to sell them. Have you? I realize that you've only had it for a few days, after that

period I was just scratching my head, wondering what was happening.

pH would vary

depending on time of day. Are your tests at the same time each day?

What's your

impression at this point?</div>
I normally take samples at

about 4 AM just as the lights come on(lowest pH time of day), and I run them at work (a water

quality lab)approx an hour later.
I'm going to try taking samples after work, because

there is a strong power head on a timer, set to come on as the lights come on, shocking the

tranquility of the system a little, by 3pm its settled.
a little background
The tank

the ECO aqualizer was added to, Monday 10/23, is a 150 gal witha 40 gal planted sump, w Mag drive

1200 pushing a protein skimmer a bypass w Hydor in-line heater.
Its been set up for at least

15 years, with lots on wood and branches. As of late its had an on and off turbidity problem, I was

thinking of added an Ocean Clear 340 canister filter to correct it.
Came home yesterday

afternoon to find the tank water more clear than I can remember. Enough so, that I could see the

algae on the back glass moving with the current, (something not visable 3 days ago). Tannin color

still there, fair amount of particulate still apparent, but the water was/is amazingly transparent.

I don't understand how it works, but I am seriously considering getting another ECOaqua

for my haitiensus tank.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/menarambo.jpg
Above photo is a before ECO pic, you can see the

cloudiness and suspended particulate, also the moss and algae on back glass and rim, gona try to

get a similar after ECO install pic this weekend.
A side note..
When cutting some

plastic tube with a razor blade to install it, I dropped the razor blade near the ECO and it stuck

... magnetic.
Don't know how it works, but my tank looks better than it has in years...if

it is voodoo, its good voodoo, time will tell.

fishmaven

10-27-2006, 3:45 PM

I'm wondering what

you and I picked up on that the critics missed. When I look at a tank I don't want to SEE the

water. I've always tried to hide the water level in the trim of the tank. I want the fish to be

"swimming in air."

The guy I bought the unit from openly admitted that the

unit uses magnets. I didn't care. I've got one of those magnetic bracelets that supposed to

keep your wrist from hurting. It doesn't work for me. I don't use a lot of flash, the

bracelet looks like a watchband. It's hard to take off and even harder to put back on, so I

wear it all the time. That makes me wonder if it's really working and I just didn't realize

it.

When you get to discussing ion exchange it's a little like electron flow, then

hole flow... wigs me out. The more I understand, the less I know. Dan

dstuer

10-30-2006, 9:32 AM

I agree about not wanting

to notice the water, and the other day was the 1st time in a long time my tank looked that good.

Yesterday was the local auction, so in order to catch fish, I had to remove alot of

branches, rocks, and stuff, tank obviously got super cloudy and brown, it was still about 50%

cloudy yet this morning. I plan to take a sample this afternoon, and maybe tomorrow morning and run

some tests tomorrow, I'm still a little skeptical, but turbidity tests don't lie. And I

agree about the ionization theory, sounds a little like the days when people were sleeeping with

mini pyramids under a pillow.

dstuer

10-31-2006, 2:05 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(duane @ Oct 30 2006,

11:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=2843)</div><div

class='quotemain'>I agree about not wanting to notice the water, and the other day

was the 1st time in a long time my tank looked that good.
Yesterday was the local auction, so

in order to catch fish, I had to remove alot of branches, rocks, and stuff, tank obviously got

super cloudy and brown, it was still about 50% cloudy yet this morning. I plan to take a sample

this afternoon, and maybe tomorrow morning and run some tests tomorrow, I'm still a little

skeptical, but turbidity tests don't lie. And I agree about the ionization theory, sounds a

little like the days when people were sleeeping with mini pyramids under a pillow.<!--QuoteEnd--

></div>
Another update, this time comparing some older turbiditys
Before

ECO......Turbidity in NTUs in my 150gal
10/16/06....3.17
10/20/06....1.68
10/24/06....1.44
After ECO installed
10/25/06....0.75
10/26/06....0.74
10/27/06....0.70
10/31/06....0.75
As a reference, Milwaukee tap water is generally

0.05 NTU
Lake Michigan raw water is approx 1.00 NTU in calm weather, the sample is taken

from a pipe that reaches 1 mile away from shore, at a 60ft. depth .
all other tests pre and

post the ECO unit, (pH, NH3, Alkalinity) have remained basically unchanged, only Turbidity seems to

have dropped about 50%.

fishmaven

10-31-2006, 2:31 PM

<div

class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>.
all other tests pre

and post the ECO unit, (pH, NH3, Alkalinity) have remained basically unchanged, only Turbidity

seems to have dropped about 50%.</div>

So, basically this

is something that someone with a smaller tank and no way to test turbidity would probably NOT see a

major difference but another with a larger tank would?

Have you noticed a change in

algae growth?

Have you noticed a change in the areas the fish hang out?

Have you noticed any deviation in the activity within the tank?
Dan

dstuer

11-01-2006, 2:20 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fishmaven @ Oct 31 2006,

04:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=2867)</div><div

class='quotemain'>So, basically this is something that someone with a smaller tank

and no way to test turbidity would probably NOT see a major difference but another with a larger

tank would?

Have you noticed a change in algae growth?

Have you noticed a

change in the areas the fish hang out?

Have you noticed any deviation in the activity

within the tank?
Dan</div>
I am in a unique position to be

able to test for parameters others aren't, because of my job, thats why I'm trying to

report only concrete stuff like turb numbers.
But the clarity of the water is obviously

better test or not.
I think it may be too soon to judge other things.
The plants in my

sump look better...maybe
Algae, not a noticable change.
Fish are all starting to breed,

but its the season.
When 1st installed it seemed to me, small particles seemed to floc

together and were more easily removed by mechanical filter media, if I really saw that(?) I

don't understand how.

dstuer

11-02-2006, 9:07 AM

I had taken some photos with my

phonea week or 2 before the ECO aqua was installed and a few the other night after it had been in

service about a week. Same rinky dinky phone cam, same everything.
before
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/image001-15.jpg
after
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/10-31-06_2049.jpg
before
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/image001-17.jpg
after
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/10-31-06_2048.jpg

number6

11-09-2006, 9:51 AM

Over on Cichlid-forum, an

idea was put forward, and that was for Duane to remove the unit for a while and see what happens.

Any updates on that front Duane?

dstuer

11-09-2006, 1:37 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(number6 @ Nov 9 2006,

11:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=2926)</div><div

class='quotemain'>Over on Cichlid-forum, an idea was put forward, and that was for

Duane to remove the unit for a while and see what happens.

Any updates on that front

Duane?</div>
Haven't removed it yet. I'm going to take

it off and stick it on a brackish tank for a while, to see if the dreaded turbidity comes back to

the Malagasy tank. Its the plumbing part that's holding the changeover up, an open weekend

chore. I want to be able to close a valve, open 2 unions, and thus, take it back and forth from

tank to tank with a minimum hastle. The Mad tank with the aqualizer still looks better than ever.

The brackish tank used to appear clearer, now it seems blurry in comparison to the Mad tank, kind

of like the difference between VHS and DVD.

fishmaven

11-27-2006, 3:39 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(duane @

Nov 9 2006, 01:37 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2928"><{POST_SNAPBACK}

></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Haven't removed it yet.<!--QuoteEnd--

></div>
So... it's been most of a month. What are your resulting opinions?

Did the turbidity return? Did the unit clear your brackish tank? Dan

dstuer

11-28-2006, 6:02 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fishmaven @ Nov 27 2006,

05:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=3117)</div><div

class='quotemain'>So... it's been most of a month. What are your resulting

opinions? Did the turbidity return? Did the unit clear your brackish tank? Dan<!--QuoteEnd--

></div>
I did not remove it from the 1st tank as of yet, seems my 150s(the

1st) the turbidity problem still comes and goes with or without it.
I put 2 new T8 bulbs on

the tank last week when the old ones burned out and had a bit of an algal bloom but it seems to

have leveled off.
I notice that when particulte gets high though, unlike pre-Eco, a sort of

floc comes from the effluent from where its hooked up. "A threshhold where it starts to kick

in" ?? Maybe! This floc is easily removed by mechanical means. This may be what they means

when the company calls it a "filtration aid".
I'm thinking if we have tanks

that remain pristine and clear with normal filtration, well......I have my doubts to its value.
If we have turbidity prone tanks, and really need help, like mine, it may be an option to

consider, as far as I'm concerned I'm still in the experimental stage, and jurys still

out. If anything pro or con changes, I'll post.

andregurov

03-03-2007, 2:36 PM

Stumbled over this, have

fun with it!

<a href="http://rexgrigg.com/debunked.htm" target="_blank">Eco-

Aqualizer Science</a>

fishmaven

03-03-2007, 4:11 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE

(andregurov @ Mar 3 2007, 02:36 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=4076"><

{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Stumbled over this, have fun with

it!

<a href="http://rexgrigg.com/debunked.htm" target="_blank">Eco-Aqualizer

Science</a></div>
There'll always be critics. If you cut a

tube and install a piece of PVC would the tank appear to be clearer? I was never in the position to

have two tanks next to each other in similar conditions to install a unit on one and compare the

two. Have you asked Duane about his experiments with the product? Dan

Mike Wise

03-04-2007, 9:51 PM

After looking at the site,

I am reminded of what one of my college professors used to tell us: "If you can't dazzle

them with your brilliance, then baffle them with your B.S. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

fishmaven

03-04-2007, 10:03 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mike Wise

@ Mar 4 2007, 09:51 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=4090"><{POST_SNAPBACK}

></a></div><div class='quotemain'>"If you can't dazzle them with your

brilliance, then baffle them with your ...</div>
I admit it.

I'm a mark. $50 at the time wasn't significant and I had a problem I wanted addressed.

I've spent more and gotten less from others. <grin> Dan

dstuer

03-05-2007, 9:02 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fishmaven @ Mar 5 2007,

12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=4092)</div><div

class='quotemain'>I admit it. I'm a mark. $50 at the time wasn't

significant and I had a problem I wanted addressed. I've spent more and gotten less from

others. <grin> Dan</div>
I must admit to being an easy

mark too.
I've had the Ecoaqua installed on my tank about 3 months or so, after an initial

clear up, which I admit could have been due to any number of things, the tank was back to its old

cloudy state.
About 2 weeks ago, I bought some 200 micron filter bags for $4 each and

put them on the effluent on the tank I have the Eco aqua on, and another bank of tanks without the

Eco....Both tanks, clear as a bell in 24 hours and continue to be 2 weeks later.
Now what

about that Ab lounge.?

fishmaven

03-05-2007, 4:25 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(duane @

Mar 5 2007, 09:02 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=4095"><{POST_SNAPBACK}

></a></div><div class='quotemain'>I must admit to being an easy mark too.
I've had the Ecoaqua installed on my tank about 3 months or so, after an initial clear up,

which I admit could have been due to any number of things, the tank was back to its old cloudy

state.</div>
Despite the remarks about the product being a rip

-off, I would include it in a set-up for the tank that has everything. At times, this would include

me. I've had customers that would have expected it if they knew it existed and would have been

upset if it weren't included. Dan