Wonder Shells; Aquarium Forums Hall of Shame 9

Aquarium Forums Hall of Shame 9; Wonder Shells from "Aquatic Community"

While I will apologize in advance if I offend anyone who reads this, as this is not my intention, however I should say I was offended by the anecdotal comments thrown around on this forum post. Rather than have a discussions of the scientific merits of this product and the evidence behind reasons it may or may not be beneficial it became a free for all for non scientific misstatements where it is clear that most persons read little or did not see what they read, nor did they read the referenced outside sources provide in that articles referenced on the Wonder Shell website. There is no way an honest person can read either Wonder Shell webpage or the many articles referenced and make the statement made in this forum thread.
I was also made aware of another post from this same aquatic forum about the use of aquarium salt which is how this post came about: Aquarium Answers; Use of Salt in Freshwater Aquariums. This aquarium answers post has nothing to sell I might add, which further discredits the many snake oil comments in this shameful forum post.

From:
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showthread.php?t=53323

POSTS IN THIS THREAD (snips):

(1) “As with most aquarium products, the write-up on Wonder Shells makes them sound absolutely vital for the health of your fish.
I've been using them for about 6 months now, and haven't seen anything that would indicate my fish are better, or worse, with them in the tank.”

My Comment:
Neither the Aquarium Chemistry Article nor the Wonder Shells webpage state they are essential; in fact the webpage states this: “NOT a cure all for poor water management, but a useful tool in proper aquarium maintenance.”
The Chemistry Article states this (and makes similar points within the article as well as makes other recommendations: “Before I over promote Wonder Shells, these can aid in proper water management, but they are not a magic bullet in an aquarium for poor aquarium husbandry such as mulm build up under gravel or decorations. However they can be one more piece of the water quality management puzzle and sometimes with fish such as Livebearers and Goldfish the results/benefits of use can be dramatic”

Benefits of use are not always readily noticed (although with fish that are more sensitive to poor mineral cation levels it is often much more noticeable).
It is also noteworthy (as I state in many places in my articles) that good aquarium husbandry will make their use less necessary (if at all) and a person that takes excellent care and has fish less sensitive to poor mineral cation levels are likely to not notice any benefits (although my controlled in the 1990s showed less incidence of disease & longer lifespan when mineral cations were maintained on a steady/regular basis, see: “A Healthy Aquarium; Disease Prevention”)

(2) “Never heard of them so guess they aren't too vital.
lol”

My Comment:
Not knowing of a product means nothing nor proves nothing, this is a plain ignorant answer IMHO employing the worse kind of logic that is similar to stating that “I have never circled the earth on a plane or ship, therefore I doubt the planet is a sphere.”

(3)“Scare tactic marketing. I wouldn't pay that sort of thing too much mind. Most of that type of stuff doesn't do very much IME. Just another gimick to get a few dollars from you.”

My Comment:
What scare tactic marketing?, Did this guy read the webpage or the links to more scientific articles. Never does it state that if you do not use this product your fish will suffer or dies (or anything similar). This is typical of so many in the aquarium hobby to post opinions without even reading the subject of which they are speaking.

(4) “Provides crabs, snails and turtles with an easily available source of calcium for healthy shell growth."
The above is the only reason I would even consider buying it. All the rest sounds like a bit of hooey.”

My Comment:
Again, did this person read the articles/links to back up statements and within these links are scientific references to even more .edu scientific articles?
I might also add at this time that when I am down in Los Angeles for my business trips that I am often sought out by many experts in their own right that run some of the major outlets for marine and freshwater supplies/fish such as Quality Marine and Tideline, as well I even had a call in 2009 from a pHd researcher complimenting my research into the Redox Balance as he has seen few outside of the medical community that even were aware of its importance in “life processes”

(5) “They are not vital for anything. The calcium would help snails or possibly Rift Lake African Cichlids that need calcium for harder water, but other than that they're non essential. They don't do anything that regular water changes won't take care of.”

My Comment:
This is not quite so out of line as he is correct that water changes can and do many of what a Wonder Shells takes care of, however this product or similar liquid drips can provide important mineral cations that are useful for both osmoregulation and Redox balance in between water changes. This can be quite noticeable with some fish such as livebears, African cichlids, & goldfish, however even with fish such as Bettas, this can still have a beneficial effect on fish health (otherwise why would others such as Atkinson’s Spa include calcium in their Betta formula?

(6) “I'm familiar with the site NG. There is a lot of good information there and at the links, but he does tend to promote the products he sells. And, IMHO, his review of Aquaclear HOBs is very inaccurate.

I don't know, to be honest, just how much the Wonder Shells would raise pH. But if there's calcium in them, the pH is going to go ^.

And I would trust Seachem's Paraguard before I ever used medicated wonder shells!”

My Comment:
I appears that at least this person has read some of the information/articles (& is more polite), but he is still off base in more than one area.
First of all my review of Aqua Clears in my filtration article even states that these reviews are both facts and opinions, & I acknowledge that many have positive results (including the aquariums I have installed these on for clients), however I have also had higher break down and other issues as well based on the use of literally dozens.
I am glad this person is happy with his 2 or 3 Aqua Clear Filters (as many are), but this does not compare to the many I have maintained nor the feedback my colleagues in this business have given me as to these filters. I did this for a living for many over 20 years and employed others in this business before I had to move and I am sorry to sound smug (as this is not my intention), but using a few AC filters simply does not compare to the dozens I have used and his statement “his review of Aquaclear HOBs is very inaccurate” does not hold water when you factor in experience (kind of like a passenger of a jetliner critiquing an airline pilot with 20 years experience based on his (the passenger) first solo flight in a Cessna).

Second, although he is not stating there is something wrong with my promoting products I sell, it sure seems inferred. What is wrong with this? I provide free information, answer emails and phone calls 7 days a week and often work 14 plus hours per day all for less than a $1000 per month income; am I not entitled to make any profit?
As well 90% of what I sell I have used and tested and these Wonder Shells in particular are an item I have used for almost 30 years and many of my clients even commented that I should try promoting them on the internet based on their positive results when I had to leave my Aquarium Maintenance business behind in 2002.

Third, no where does it state that Wonder Shells raise pH, and he should read some chemistry basics as it is carbonates that primarily affect pH, which Wonder Shells have little (my comment here is not meant disrespectfully, however this is a very basic principle of KH and pH and it is carbonates that contribute to a higher pH/KH, not calcium and by making this statement one as to question his aquarium keeping knowledge)

Forth, The Wonder Shells webpage (as well as my Ich article) states that SeaChem ParaGuard is a first choice for Ich

(7) “I'd never heard of them but looking at the website they sound like snake oil. That's the place I've EVER seen anything suggesting trying to harden the water for discus and rams. To me it looks like a fad product that will do nothing but mess up my tank water. No thanks, even if they paid me I would not add it to my tank based on their claims.”

My Comment:

There is little I can say to this post as this person’s comments show he has little understanding of chemistry and cannot learn anything that is beyond is close minded views. He obviously has no understanding of bio-chemistry and worse is un-willing to learn either. This guy would rather disgustingly label others (as peddling snake oil) and totally show his even basic knowledge of aquarium bio chemistry and aquatic product history.
Stating “That's the place I've EVER seen anything suggesting trying to harden the water for discus and rams” really shows his strange reasoning, as no knowing about a subject does not make it false. As well he should research Marc Weiss, as he is one of the first to prove. I admit I learned from some of his articles dating back to products he collaborated with the Premier Aquatic Chemical company with; Aquatronics (which sadly went out of business earlier in this decade due to corporate issues, not product quality). Marc Weiss and others in the field of Discus and similar soft water fish have proven the importance of calcium in Discus, and even more recently others have shown that keeping the water “charged” with positive calcium ions is important as well.
I have also demonstrated (after using one of Marc Weiss’ Aquatronics products) that the addition of calcium cations to the aquarium water can alleviate HITH Disease in Discus.
So much for never seeing anything about the FACT that even Rams and Discus require Calcium for long term health!
(See Aquarium Chemistry; Amazon, SE Asia River Water)

The term snake oil can only be applied to a product that provides no scientific benefit, as the articles and the references there in prove there is science behind this product and similar products. Sadly this guy does not even know how to apply the term fad, as this product has been around for more than 30 years with no marketing, promotion, or even good packaging; Why, because they do work. 30 plus years of poorly marketed product does not make for a fad.

In Summary, here are just a few sites uninformed, anecdotal, aquarists that believe the lies put forth in the aquarium thread cited in “Aquarium Community” should read Including the many references cited therein:

*Aquarium Chemistry

*Aquarium Redox Balance

*Osmoregulation in Aquariums; Minerals; Use of RO Water, more

*A Healthy Aquarium; Disease Prevention

*Aquarium Lighting

Finally, a point for those who stick to the closely held anecdotal beliefs that so badly permeate the aquarium keeping hobby rather than read researched articles such my Aquarium Chemistry, Redox or Aquarium/Pond Answers articles/posts, is best summed up by another Mentor of mine, (Reggie) at an aquarium supply wholesaler that finished his business career there (after most of his decades of business in different industries specializing in making poorly managed businesses successful again) told me this:
"I have never seen a more dishonest and back stabbing business than the Aquarium industry".
While this thread that was brought to my attention is technically not a an aquarium industry post, nor is it back stabbing, it does certainly fit into what Reggie (& others I know at Quality Marine and elsewhere) has pointed out that persons will ignore facts and take others out of context just to hold tightly onto anecdotal beliefs rather than admit that maybe they do not know something.
I know that I have been forced to change my understanding of aquarium concepts when either new evidence surfaces or I am corrected with more complete facts; the Redox Balance is a good example where I would have stated 180 degrees the opposite of what I know now about this still very misunderstood part of bio-chemistry.