API POND ECOFIX SLUDGE DESTROYER Bacterial cleaner, Pond Water Clarifier and Sludge Remover Treatment 16-Ounce Bottle

I have used almost all of the API products since we started keeping koi 4 years ago. I also tried several products by their competitor Microbe Lift and never got any positive results, except Microbe Lift Kh. All the API products can be used together, if you have multiple issues. You need to be sure you are treating your problem with the right product. That is why API has a product for every type of problem. We have expanded several times and now have an 8,000-gallon pond. We have a pump, filter, UV light, 2 bottom drains, a skimmer, and a sediment tank. I take water quality measurements every week, and occasionally issues will arise, even though we have a great system. That is why I still use Ecofix on a regular basis. The Ecofix bacteria keeps the Nitrates low and breaks down whatever plant matter is in the pond and pulled into the sediment tank. Then, I just skim out whatever is clumped in the sediment tank with a net. We do a back wash/small water change every month. We use API Stress Coat when we do water changes. Even though the bacteria in Ecofix breaks matter down and clumps stuff together for easy removal, the matter still needs to be removed. It’s not like it will completely disappear out of your pond, lol. Don’t we wish. You can remove what is left with a net and/or special vacuum to clean the bottom (never tried myself) and/or do a pump back wash to get the crap out of your filter. Using a vacuum is a drastic way to remove matter, and why I have never tried, because you will have to remove all your fish, or you will have a finding Nemo problem. Depending on where your Ph starts, I recommend putting in a little Kh/baking soda with the Ecofix. I use it with Ecofix to control the Ph. If I don't put in a little in when I use Ecofix, my Ph gets lower. I almost had a Ph crash before I figured this out. I only use a cup of baking soda for an 8000-gallon pond, so be careful. I found it works best for my pond, if I put in a little every other time when I add Ecofix. It’s best to put in less baking soda than you think you need and take daily measurements. That is how I arrived at 1 cup. API on Amazon sells test strips and liquid tests that I use to measure quality. (By now you might be thinking I have stock in the API company, and maybe I should. I only recommend their products because this is what I have found works over trial and error). No matter what product you are using, follow instructions for the correct dosage amount and where to put the product in your pond. Most people make mistakes in dosage because they don't know the volume of water in their pond. There are websites that help you calculate your pond volume that are easy to use. Many people don’t realize how the smallest increment of wrong dosage will impact the results and possibly their fish. Incorrect dosage is what I suspect when some reviewers say the API products did not work, or perhaps they weren’t using the right product for their problem. Like if you have an algae problem use Microbial Algae Clean, not Ecofix. The only product by API I don’t recommend is Algeafix. It didn’t work for the algae in my pond (before we got the bigger UV light for the new bigger pond). API Microbial Algae Clean (a bacteria) works better. A UV light works best. Hopefully, reading this review was helpful to you. Feel free to ask me questions.

Works really well.

Not a miracle worker but definitely helps clear outside pond water and decrease the sludge. I think adding catfish would help more.

have tried many variations many different brands and this one is still the absolute hands down best! My Koi pond is clear, not smelly, fish are healthy and plants are thriving.

Hood

I'm not really sure this has done anything for me. I was having a cloudy water/algae problem in my water feature/fish pond and was trying every thing--this stuff, barley balls, algaecide, etc.and nothing seemed to work well. I finally installed a UV clarifier in my pump/filtration system and that seemed to fix the problem in a day or two. All these chemicals cost way more than the goldfish I'm keeping ($.30 ea.), so it's a little frustrating that they don't seem very effective.

This stuff worked great! My father built a pond in his backyard that had some koi in it as well as plants and would maintain it by hand without any chemicals. My father was no longer able to take care of the pond and it started to build up bad with algae and sludge just hanging off the waterfall no matter how much I skimmed the pond. I was freaking out, it was my fathers pride and joy. I bought this and I used it along with algae fix. I started out VERY slow because of a few reviews I seen about it harming fish, but also because I had no clue how many gallons the pond was (I had to use my math skills to come up with an idea) I put it in at night thinking it would be better because it was cooler at night and applied it right into the waterfall.in the morning I went out to look and to my surprise it looked better, not a lot better but definitely not worse like it has been every morning. Next dispense I decided to add more than the last time, and I kept slowly adding more each time until I hit the recommended dosage for the amount of gallons I came up with. Within a week, maybe week and a half, the pond looked great. I could finally see the bottom. I made sure to buy a bunch for my step mom to use and set up a schedule to maintain it. This product saved my sanity.

This is an effective treatment for getting rid of algae. Our pond was green as could be when we bought our house and after continued treatment with Ecofix, we could see the fish! It isn't a quick fix. It took quite a few treatments and many ounces. I think the chemical based ones might clean things up more quickly and with less product, however we didn't want our fish swimming around in chemical algaecide. It doesn't smell great, right out of the bottle (it is a bottle full of bacteria, after all), but it isn't awful and the smell quickly disappears, once it's been added to the pond. The 64 oz. size is ecomomical and convenient!

Works as advertised!

Works really well, may be not as effective as the Fluval product a bit cheaper on the day.

Seams to work and sludge has reduced.

Used as per directions and it cleaned our pond like magic, no more sludge.

Enfin un produit qui fonctionne! Mon bassin cette année etait particulierement sale, avec de grosses particules et beaucoup de boue au fond. Après plusieurs traitements aux bacteries, qui n'ont rien donnés, j'ai essayé ce produit. Au bout de 2 semaines, le bassin est bien bien plus clair, pas encore une eau cristaline c'est sur vu la quantité de boue, mais on revoit très bien les poissons maintenant, et l'eau s'est éclaircit et bien plus transparente.