Warning: Use Vibrant at your own risk

[BigMax]

they took it out of stock weeks ago until this issue is resolved..

Saw that as well, but it had a notify when in stock and a picture...now there is no trace of any of their product.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

they took it out of stock weeks ago until this issue is resolved..

I think they mean that UWC is not listed for anything. The items were "out of stock", but now they are not showing up at all. As in the entire brand was removed from any list and all listing for the brand removed.

 

[DopamineKata]

Did the EPA by any chance mention whether Vibrant can be disposed down the drain?

 

[Karen00]

Probably pool supply stores. I just think petstores and most other stores can't sell it to the public perhaps. My LFS was shocked to hear about this debate and said it kinda makes sense that it is in fact algaecide. And if so, he legally can't sell it, and would need to remove it from his shop.

This would be a good reason to hide what was actually in the product. It gets around EPA processes/labeling and bans in some countries.

 

[Cell]

We aren't quite as stringent as CA, but MN definitely cares a lot about it's lakes and waterways.

 

[Turbo's Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

Huge deal they showed up onsite so fast with paperwork in hand. Wouldn't be surprised if a reefer got a hold of the complaints. That combined with social media attention its a wrap. I wouldnt want to be on any side of this one. All that's not well is not going to end well. For sure

Someone in this thread mentioned that they reported them to the EPA

Loading the UWC contact location in to Google Maps you'll see a very average MN residence

Registered business location is often someone's house. The operational location can be different. For reference, I have 3 businesses registered to my home address but I have a workshop where all the actual magic and hand waving takes place.

 

[polyppal]

oops

can’t post because he’s gotta keep his employees quiet during this inspection

 

[jda]

Just a total hunch, but I would expect BRS to come out with some videos or some posts with their own testing. They will offer an apology, confirm that what was done here was accurate and have a promise not to go so deep into manufacturer claims in the future. ...all appropriate things to keep the trust of their customers and to be a good citizen in the hobby. The "sold out" was the stop gap and the removal was after they got confirmation.

FWIW - I never field an EPA complaint, but I got a few PMs back in December with the Fluc thread that some people did. Of course, you have no idea if this is true...

 

[DopamineKata]

Registered business location is often someone's house. The operational location can be different. For reference, I have 3 businesses registered to my home address but I have a workshop where all the actual magic and hand waving takes place.

Yeah, I worked for a rather large international consulting firm that had a mailing address that was a PO box close to the home of our CFO. We had small offices in many cities but they were mainly just for face-to-face meeting spaces.

 

[polyppal]

Here’s my prediction: whether the inspection is real or phony, whether he gets fined by EPA or not, he’ll post something saying the EPA inspected his product and its great, and that’s all the evidence he needs to provide to ‘confirm it’s not algaecide’

 

[DopamineKata]

Just a total hunch, but I would expect BRS to come out with some videos or some posts with their own testing.

Once they replace Randy.

 

[LRT]

Someone in this thread mentioned that they reported them to the EPA

Registered business location is often someone's house. The operational location can be different. For reference, I have 3 businesses registered to my home address but I have a workshop where all the actual magic and hand waving takes place.

I seen a few folks post that they filed a complaint. In my world its kind of a drawn out process on the air regulation side of things. Takes way longer. I think social media is playing huge part in this.
That being said ive seen hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines handed out for air pollution violations in one visit. Folks lose licenses, livelihoods. Its a pretty big deal when EPA gets involved in my experience.

 

[TheHarold]

Response will be delayed. Jeff (owner of UWC) intended to respond yesterday, but the EPA and Mn Department of Agriculture arrived at UWC yesterday for a "for cause" inspection. I am told they were there all day yesterday and plan to be there again today.

FWIW, I saw a picture of the first page of the official EPA notice as proof.

It seems extremly unlikely that a government agency would respond in a timely fashion (2-3 days) to reports of a mislabeled aquarium product. Bordering on impossible.

A visiting agency does not demand ones full attention for 12 hours, or prevent him from logging onto R2R for 5 minutes and posting an explanation.

IMO he is just scrambling to find an out. Something like "Official EPA tests say it has insignificant algaecide to require disclosure, and its contents are largely bacteria. On a side note we are discontinuing the product."

 

[DopamineKata]

It seems extremly unlikely that a government agency would respond in a timely fashion (2-3 days) to reports of a mislabeled aquarium product. Bordering on impossible.

It's been a lot longer than 2-3 days...

 

[rmorris_14]

It seems extremly unlikely that a government agency would respond in a timely fashion (2-3 days) to reports of a mislabeled aquarium product. Bordering on impossible.

A visiting agency does not demand ones full attention for 12 hours, or prevent him from logging onto R2R for 5 minutes and posting an explanation.

IMO he is just scrambling to find an out. Something like "Official EPA tests say it has insignificant algaecide to require disclosure, and its contents are largely bacteria. On a side note we are discontinuing the product."

Kind of agree. Wonder if the date on the letter was visible. ::insert think face emoji:::

Edit to clarify: The kind of agree @ "they scrambling to find an out

 

[kev.2013]

Just a total hunch, but I would expect BRS to come out with some videos or some posts with their own testing. They will offer an apology, confirm that what was done here was accurate and have a promise not to go so deep into manufacturer claims in the future. ...all appropriate things to keep the trust of their customers and to be a good citizen in the hobby. The "sold out" was the stop gap and the removal was after they got confirmation.

FWIW - I never field an EPA complaint, but I got a few PMs back in December with the Fluc thread that some people did. Of course, you have no idea if this is true...

Ryan came out with a video addressing the testing on Instagram, then deleted it pretty quickly.

 

[LRT]

It's been a lot longer than 2-3 days...

Yeah at least one person posted they filed a complaint real close to the time these threads started. Id imagine EPA showed up in full force. Way to much attention on this matter lol

 

[jda]

Customers of other online retailers might want to send some notes. AquaCave has vibrant still for sale - they just might not know. I am not a customer there, or else I would sent them a note. There are probably others too.

If Dr RHF saw an EPA document, then this feels real. I would not expect anything from UWC, if ever. The EPA could do what I did and buy a bottle and have it tested - heck just two different sets of NMR and IR data on this board is significant. They surely have a scientist who can look at a NMR and see that it is a QAC, like Christoph did. There will be no escape from The State of Minnesota or the EPA.

 

[jda]

Ryan came out with a video addressing the testing on Instagram, then deleted it pretty quickly.

Summary? Did it just say that they were testing, or that they had tests done already?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

It seems extremly unlikely that a government agency would respond in a timely fashion (2-3 days) to reports of a mislabeled aquarium product. Bordering on impossible.

A visiting agency does not demand ones full attention for 12 hours, or prevent him from logging onto R2R for 5 minutes and posting an explanation.

IMO he is just scrambling to find an out. Something like "Official EPA tests say it has insignificant algaecide to require disclosure, and its contents are largely bacteria. On a side note we are discontinuing the product."

From experience dealing with an issue to some shady people upstream from my farm, if someone contacted the state Ag dept. first, they will react quickly and force engagement from the EPA.

From the time of my call to them (after EPA beat around the bush) it took 2 days and I had reps from both onsite at my farm testing the water in the river and reps upstream of who the complaint was filed against testing the water.

2 hours after testing, they were on the property of the person I filed the complaint against with 2 deputies and a game warden (game warden in TN does not need a warrant to step foot on property and the issue affects managed wildlife)

They spent 4 days (even over the weekend) at the property. I am not sure what they were doing, but they were there.

End of day, they arrested 3 people, their farm was shut down for production and they were heavily fined. They also had to pay for the clean up. The farm is now just some land that is not worked or stocked and they ride dirt bikes on it lol.