Review on Natural Rapport Aquarium Gravel Cleaner: Enhance Fish Health & Tank Hygiene with the Ultimate Gravel Cleaning Solution (16 fl oz) by Kayty Michaels

This is the second "gravel" cleaner I've used (the second being Dr. Tim's Waste Away). Getting down to business, these types of bacteria scavengers work, but they're more subtle than you might think. You won't get rid of large flakes of fish food rotting on your gravel (you'll have to vacuum them yourself). But they effectively digest and break down the waste that ends up in your gravel over time. They also act as nitrifying bacteria, especially for nitrates, which can help control this problem and increase water change times. I personally appreciate aquarium bacteria products as they create a more natural environment for the fish. But (and there's always a but!) you need to be careful when using this type of cleansing bacteria. Never use more than recommended (landlord's mistake!). They can and will use up the oxygen in the tank and practically drown your fish at high concentrations. With normal/recommended use, they are safe for all your aquarium animals. If you find your fish is choking, stop using the product immediately and do your best to get more air into the water (bubblers and water changes work). As these bacteria consume oxygen, they exhale CO2 and this will help your plants. Also. Also, I would not use this type of product if you have an aquarium with lots of plants and are running a CO2 system. This is almost certain death for your fish due to lack of oxygen. So, once again, be aware of the use of the product and its effect on oxygen levels. The product recommends using it once or twice a week. I would recommend once every 2 weeks to be safer. Also, I would recommend a good gravel removal (at least the top of the gravel) to remove large bits of dirt first and then apply the product. The bottle holds 1880 gallons of water. every two weeks one bottle lasts about a year. Another piece of advice. Do not use more than one bacterial product in a day. Spread out their use, for example use nitrifying bacteria one day and then use this product or other products with bacteria a day or two later. You want to give each bacterial product time to begin growing and multiplying. Finally, this product has an issue that needs to be addressed. fix immediately. Bacteria don't last forever in a bottle. You should always know how fresh a product is and how long it will expire. The product must be clearly marked with the date of manufacture and the expiry date. Most products like these typically have a shelf life of one year, maybe two if stored properly. For best results, only buy freshly made! If it's been sitting on a store shelf or warehouse in an uncontrolled environment for a year or so, look for something fresher. Dead bacteria due to poor storage and aging are the biggest problem with such products.