Fluval BIOMAX bio rings have a complex pore system where beneficial bacteria can thrive. They have more capacity than most biological media, which ensures optimal contact time for greater efficiency. BIOMAX also reduces and controls ammonia and nitrite.

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AQUA ESSENTIAL water conditioner is a highly concentrated all-in-one water conditioner that instantly makes tap water safe for fish by removing chlorine, chloramine and detoxifies heavy metals commonly found in tap water. AQUA ESSENTIAL water conditioner instantly removes toxic ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels in freshwater, saltwater and planted aquariums. Toxic ammonia continually released by fish through their gills, urine and solid waste. Uneaten food and decaying organic matter also add ammonia. Small amounts of ammonia stress fish; large amounts of ammonia will kill fish. This unique formula binds with ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate rendering them non-toxic and allowing the biofilter to more efficiently remove them.   Use at start-up and whenever adding or changing water or when tested levels of ammonia, nitrates or nitrite are high. When adding, transporting or quarantining fish, we recommend using API STRESS COAT™ water conditioner which is ideal for use with AQUA ESSENTIAL water conditioner.   Instructions: Using dosing cap on bottle, add 5 ml. per 50 gallons of aquarium water to treat tap water. Add 5 ml. per 10 gallons of aquarium water to remove ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. We advise you to wait 24 hours after dosing then do a water change. If you dose within that 24 hour period there is no danger to the animals/plants in your aquarium. A follow-up water change is always beneficial to an aquatic system.   FAQs: Will API® AQUA ESSENTIAL™ affect my aquarium’s protein skimmers? AQUA ESSENTIAL will not disrupt any type of protein skimmer.  Is there a possibility to overdose AQUA ESSENTIAL in my aquarium? When dosing AQUA ESSENTIAL we advise following the directions, but the product formulation does allow for a margin in the event a tank is accidentally dosed with slightly higher amount than specified. Is it safe to use AQUA ESSENTIAL in my aquarium with other aquatic animals like snails or shrimp? Yes, it is safe to use AQUA ESSENTIAL with other aquatic animals. Can I use AQUA ESSENTIAL with other API® products? AQUA ESSENTIAL can be used in conjunction with any other API water conditioner or medication. Does AQUA ESSENTIAL affect the pH in my aquarium? When AQUA ESSENTIAL is dosed according to the label the pH will not be affected. Can I double the dose for AQUA ESSENTIAL if I have high levels of chloramines? AQUA ESSENTIAL is designed to treat chloramines without the need to use a double dose.  For those customers who automatically double dose there is not a problem using AQUA ESSENTIAL for this, but it is not necessary. How often should I wait between doses of AQUA ESSENTIAL? Once a dose is provided to the aquarium, it is recommended to wait for 24 to 48 hours between doses. How long will AQUA ESSENTIAL bind ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate for? Once AQUA ESSENTIAL is dosed it will bind the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate for up to 48 hours or longer.  Testing is the best way to judge if additional dosing is necessary.  In water conditions with highly elevated levels, overstocked with fish, or extremely overfed we always recommend a partial water change after 24 hours to aid the fish in the best water quality.   Also, any ammonia or nitrite that is bound by AQUA ESSENTIAL is metabolically available for beneficial bacteria to process.  So your biological filters will be able to function when using AQUA ESSENTIAL. How much ammonia will be removed per dose of AQUA ESSENTIAL? When treating for ammonia, with a 5 ml/10 gal. dose of AQUA ESSENTIAL, you should expect a 20-40 ppm reduction in ammonia.   How much nitrite will be removed per dose of AQUA ESSENTIAL? When treating for nitrite, a 5 mL/10 gal. dose of AQUA ESSENTIAL, you should expect a 15-30 ppm reduction in nitrite. How much nitrate will be removed per dose of AQUA ESSENTIAL? When treating for nitrate, a 5 mL/10 gal. dose of AQUA ESSENTIAL, you should expect a large reduction of nitrate, ~ 40-60 ppm reduction in nitrate.

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The API® Turtle Water Conditioner removes harmful chemicals from tap water, including chlorine, chloramines, and heavy metals, making it safe for aquatic reptiles and amphibians. Use when setting up an aquarium/vivarium, or when adding or changing water.

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Water changes can be very tough on aquarium fish, often resulting in disease or even fatality. Betta Protech has been formulated to effectively assist fish with recovery after a water change, transport or handling. Betta Protech replaces slime coating and makes fish feel well by providing a powerful vitamin mix including: B1, B2, B6, B12, E, and A. This enables the fish to fight off disease and start feeding again quickly. Use during and after transport, after a water change, after any handling of fish or simply as a vitamin supplement. Fungal inhibitors have also been added to help guard against infections.   Directions for Use: 1ml per 20ml for general use. For fish in a poor state use treatments as high as 1ml per 5ml to assist in faster recovery. For transport use general dose rates. 1ml = approx 15 drops. To calculate approximate aquarium capacity: Multiply the length x width x water level height (in cm) and divide by 1,000 for litres.

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Water in rainforest rivers is conditioned by leaf tannins, humic and organic acids. Some leaching of ground minerals also occurs. These conditions are natural disease inhibitors for fish. The water is soft, usually below 50ppm hardness and a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Amazon Water Conditioner recreates these same conditions in an aquarium. The result is brighter and more active fish, with a high resistance to disease.   For aquarium use only. Keep out of reach of children.   Directions for Use: 2ml per 10L of aquarium water. Retreatment only necessary when changing water. For Aquarium use only. For soft water species. To calculate approximate aquarium capacity: Multiply the length x width x water level height (in cm) and divide by 1,000 for litres.

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Water in rainforest rivers is conditioned by leaf tannins, humic and organic acids. Some leaching of ground minerals also occurs. These conditions are natural disease inhibitors for fish. The water is soft, usually below 50ppm hardness and a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Amazon Water Conditioner recreates these same conditions in an aquarium. The result is brighter and more active fish, with a high resistance to disease.   For aquarium use only. Keep out of reach of children.   Directions for Use: 2ml per 10L of aquarium water. Retreatment only necessary when changing water. For Aquarium use only. For soft water species. To calculate approximate aquarium capacity: Multiply the length x width x water level height (in cm) and divide by 1,000 for litres.

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Aquasonic Tropical Water Conditioning Salts have been formulated to re-create natural conditions in your aquarium. It contains the correct balance of salts, natural minerals and trace elements, plus bacterial and fungal inhibitors, to promote health and wellbeing.   Use Tropical Water Conditioning Salts with new aquarium water, when starting up or doing a water change. It will raise General Hardness by approx. 80ppm and Salinity (NaCl) by 130ppm. Further addition of salt (NaCl) is not recommended.   Directions for Use: Add 5g (1 level teaspoon) per 15L of water. Re-seal container when not in use. Do not redose without a water change. To calculate approximate aquarium capacity: Multiply the length x width x water level height (in cm) and divide by 1,000 for litres.

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Normal pH The pH of water in the ocean is around 8.1. This is also the recommended pH of a marine aquarium, with levels slightly above or below this value considered acceptable. This happens as a result of the carbonate hardness value of sea water, which is about 125ppm. However, certain events such as biological filtration of a marine aquarium, tend to reduce the carbonate hardness value and therefore lower the pH. Also certain influences, such as carbon dioxide, can affect the reading of pH value.   Biological Filtration The assimilation of waste by bacteria in the filter of a marine aquarium is an acidifying process and in time will reduce the carbonate hardness value of the water. As this occurs, the pH value will fall. Carbonate hardness levels can be maintained with Aquasonic Carbonate Hardness Generator Powder. At a pH of 8.1 the carbonate hardness value should be 125ppm. If the carbonate hardness value of a marine aquarium is correct, yet pH values are not, the influence of carbon dioxide should be considered.   The Effects of CO2 For pH to read correctly, carbon dioxide must be in equilibrium with the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is produced by fish, plants, corals and bacteria assimilating waste in the biological filter in the aquarium. Some trickle (mini-reef) filters can expel carbon dioxide so efficiently that the quantity of carbon dioxide is less than the atmosphere, so pH reads higher than it really is. Likewise, in an aquarium with substrate filtration, carbon dioxide has some difficulty escaping as it is produced by the biological filter and other life. Under these conditions, carbonic acid may be formed and pH will read lower.   Using pH to Advantage During the development of bacteria in a biological filter, ammonia and nitrate conditions ensure. Both are deadly to marine fish. The toxicity of ammonia and nitrite, however, is in direct relation to the pH value of the water in the system. By lowering the pH, the toxicity of these deadly conditions is minimised. To lessen the toxicity of nitrite, lower the pH to 7.5.

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What is pH? Technically it is the measurement of the hydrogen ion concentration of a given sample of water. From this measurement it can be determined whether the water is acid, neutral or alkaline. The scale extends from 0 to 14. A pH between 0 and 7 is termed acid, and a pH between 7 and 14 is termed alkaline. The indicator in this kit has a pH range from 6.0 to 7.8 and is therefore suitable for most freshwater aquaria. At or below pH 6.0 the test sample would turn yellow. At or above pH 7.8 the test sample would turn blue.   Why pH Changes pH is not a constant factor and is subject to continual change due to influences like bacterial assimilation of waste causing acidity or calcium and magnesium compounds like shells or coral that cause alkalinity. Thus, under normal aquarium conditions, because of fish waste and unused food, the water would drift to acidity.   Directions for Use: Rinse a clean test tube and cap several times in water to be tested.  Fill to line (12.5ml) with water to be tested. Add 3 drops of Indicator solution Place the test tube on the white background of the colour chart, view vertically (down inside the test tube) with the light behind you. The colour in the test tube is best viewed with natural light. View immediately.   Adjust pH slowly.

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In all aquarium systems, biological activity develops in your filter, and on the surface of gravels and decorations etc. These bacteria are essential to achieve a balance in your aquarium and different types of bacteria need to be present in the right proportions to break down waste and deal with ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, which can all be harmful to your fish. Every time you change or add something in your tank, or you clean it, you potentially upset the balance because you are effectively removing some of this bacteria.   Nitrate Nitrate ions are produced as a result of biological action occurring mainly in your aquarium filter system. It is the residue of a chain reaction by aerobic bacteria, breaking down fish waste. Nitrate accumulates in an aquarium in proportion to the stock load waste and is a good indicator of general water quality.   Permissible Nitrate Levels As nitrate levels increase, water quality decreases. The quantity of permissible nitrate varies with the particular aquatic life being cultured. a) For marine systems culturing fish, acceptable levels are 20ppm to 40ppm. Many species of marine fish will accept higher levels of 80ppm to 100ppm without apparent effect on their health. But it is recommended that when levels climb above 40ppm steps should be taken to lower the nitrate to avoid stress. b) For reef systems culturing invertebrates, much lower levels of nitrate are acceptable. A level of 5ppm or less is optimum. Again, many invertebrates will accept higher levels but once these levels climb above 20ppm many of the more sensitive invertebrates will be irreparably damaged. It has been shown that small quantities of around 5ppm of nitrate are of assistance in culturing marine plants. Nitrate tests on reef systems should occur weekly and levels should be kept below 10ppm. c) Freshwater fish. Tolerance to nitrate with freshwater fish is higher than saltwater species. Some delicate species will tolerate around 50ppm, but some species will tolerate far higher levels. It is recommended that as nitrate levels approach 50ppm steps should be taken to reduce the level.   Lowering Nitrate The easiest method to lower nitrate is to change water. Regular water changes should ensure that the nitrate levels stay within acceptable limits. Recommended minimum water change requirements are 25% per month. If water changes do not keep the nitrate at acceptable levels, then perhaps the number of fish in the tank is too great for your aquarium system, so reduce the number of fish. Denitrification filters can lower nitrate successfully, but this must be closely monitored to avoid dangerous gases that can harm aquarium inhabitants. Marine plants and algae can use some nitrate as nutrients and are a definite advantage in the control of nitrate.   To Break The Ammonia - Nitrite - Nitrate Cycle: Perform a water change Remove anything that can cause ammonia to form (e.g., dead organic matter or excess fish waste) from amongst the substrate (e.g., gravel cleaner) Use Aquasonic AMMO-GONE to neutralise ammonia in the system. The manual addition of live strains of nitrifying bacteria can also aid in kick starting the biological activity in the filter system.   Directions for Use to Determine the Nitrate Level in Water: Rinse empty test tube and cap several times in the water to be tested. Fill the test tube to the 5ml mark and add 7 drops of Reagent A. Swirl to mix. Add 1 level scoop of Reagent B and gently swirl the solution for a few seconds. Ensure that Reagent B is kept dry at all times. Add 7 drops of Reagent C, mix for a few seconds and let the solution stand for 3 minutes after which time full colour development will have occurred. Place the test tube on the white background of the colour chart, view vertically down the tube. The colour in the test tube is best viewed with natural light behind you. On completion of the test, rinse clean the test tube. Ensure Reagent B remains dry and that the cap is firmly in place.   Note: If the nitrate level in the test solution is more than 80ppm (use your colour chart to determine) then you can still determine the level by diluting the sample with nitrate free water (preferably distilled water). For example, to prepare a test that will measure up to 160ppm nitrate, mix a sample with half water to be tested and half water that is nitrate free. Then multiply the results of the test by 2. To read up to 320ppm nitrate, use 25% water to be tested and 75% nitrate free water, then multiply the result by 4. *Colour chart to be used as a base guide only. Colours may vary according to various water conditions.

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Most water supplies such as tap water, are chlorinated. Chlorine can be extremely harmful to aquarium fish. Water Purifier is the most important supplement for the aquarist. Water Purifier will effectively neutralise chlorine and chloramines in tap water immediately, making water safe for aquarium use. Following the use of Aquasonic Water Purifier, use Aquasonic Water Conditioning Salts to create an ideal habitat for fish and aquatic plants. For trouble free saltwater, use Aquasonic Ocean Nature Sea Salt, adding the Water Purifier before mixing salt with water.   Directions for Use: 1ml per 10ml of water.Add to new aquarium water or any water to be added to the aquarium. Pre-mix Water Purifier with tap water before adding to aquariums containing fish. To calculate approximate aquarium capacity: Multiply the length x width x water level height (in cm) and divide by 1,000 for litres.

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Use Power Water Conditioner when starting up an aquarium to remove chlorine and chloramines which can be very harmful to aquarium fish. Power also contains elements that will remove heavy metals from the aquarium. Fungal inhibitors have also been added to help guard against infections.   Directions for Use: 1ml per 10L of water. Use Power when starting up a new aquarium or when adding water for a water change. Premix Power with tap water before adding to aquariums containing fish. After using Power in freshwater aquariums always add Aquasonic Water Conditioning Salts to maintain that natural environment for your fish. In marine aquariums, use Power before the addition of Aquasonic Ocean Nature Sea Salt.

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