biOrb Aquarium | Pearl Media | The best Ceramic Media alternative

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Links to help you find the products shown in the video:
biOrb Pearl Media (1kg): https://amzn.to/3Emr6fa
Tetra Aquasafe (500ml): https://amzn.to/3NWXjwP
API Freshwater Test Kit: https://amzn.to/3DTYpVs
Aquavitro Seed (a really good bacterial product) can be found on sites such as eBay

SETTING-UP A BRAND NEW AQUARIUM WITH PEARL MEDIA
This is easy! Just swap the bags of biOrb Ceramic Media with Pearl Media. Then, prepare your aquarium for fish as described in my other videos covering the subject.

Please ignore biOrbs instructions! Instead, AVOID rinsing and soaking new Pearl Media under tap water before adding to your tank.

Tap water contains chorine which is extremely harmful to ALL aquatic life. Research confirms that water, with only 2 parts per million (ppm) of chlorine, takes around 5 days for the chlorine to evaporate. As Pearl Media is highly absorptive, it will rapidly absorb tap water containing chlorine! There is a risk that chlorine will become held within the media, for a long period of time. Chlorine will delay the establishment of beneficial bacteria and will delay the time needed to cycle an aquarium.

CHANGING A RECENTLY SET-UP AQUARIUM WITH CERAMIC MEDIA CONTAINING FISH
I suggest that you delay changing your aquarium’s ceramic media until your aquarium has been fully cycled and has been running (settled) for several months.

CHANGING TO PEARL MEDIA IN A FULLY ESTABLISHED AQUARIUM
Swapping the existing ceramic media should be done over time. If not it may result in unsuitable water conditions which may be detrimental to your fish.

STEPS TO FOLLOW:
1. Establish the correct quantity of Pearl Media needed for your aquarium and size.
2. Remove roughly 1/3rd of the total media needed for your aquarium.
3. Add 5l of tap water to a clean bucket and add 2.5ml of Aquasafe (dechlorinator)
4. Add the 1/3rd quantity of Pearl Media to the bucket and use the water to rinse the media of dust. Repeat this rinsing several times using new water each time. Once rinsed, leave the media to soak in dechlorinated water for 1 hour.
5. Remove 5l of aquarium water from your aquarium (to lower the aquarium’s water level to avoid overspilling). Discard this water.
6. Remove a single area of approximately 1/3rd of your existing Ceramic Media from the base of your aquarium. This will provide a clear area with no ceramic media.
7. Remove the soaked Pearl Media from the water by hand. Gently place the Pearl Media in the area previously cleared of ceramic media. Discard the water used for soaking the Pearl Media.
8. Prepare 5l of fresh replacement water for your aquarium (using dechlorinator) warmed to a similar temperature as your tank, and use this to top--up the aquarium's level. This is to replace the water previously extracted.
9. Add a suitable quantity of bacterial booster product (e.g. SEED or Colony) to the aquarium in accordance to the product Instructions.

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS:
Using a water test kit, check the aquarium’s ammonia and nitrite levels to ensure these are reading at or near zero. Any slight rise can normally be dealt with by not feeding the fish on that day.

Add a further dose of bacterial product each day to support bacterial growth.

ON DAY THREE:
If (and only if!) the aquarium’s water is reading zero levels for ammonia and nitrite, repeat all of steps 1 to 9 above, using the next 1/3rd quantity of Pearl Media product.

Continue to test the water for several days and continue to add a bacterial booster product daily.

ON DAY SIX:
If water tests confirm zero for ammonia and nitrite then repeat steps 1 to 9 for the final 1/3rd quantity. Use a test kit to check ammonia and nitrite levels to ensure these are reading at zero. A slight rise can normally be dealt with by not feeding the fish on that day.
Continue to support bacterial growth by adding a bacterial booster daily for a further few days.

Thanks for watching!
Mark
#stepbystepbiorb

This channel is purely a hobby for me and I aim to support new aquarium owners going through the struggles that may often accompany the setting-up and managing of an aquarium. The Channel is not supported, sponsored or funded by any other parties. I will never ask viewers to donate money for my Channel or for any of my services. I have provided links to products that I may refer to in my videos, in order for you to easily find them. The links I provide are "Amazon Affiliate Links", where the Channel earns a very small commission. If you decide to purchase an item via a link it will be at no extra cost to you. But, if you can get the items you need locally then please do so :-)

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biOrb Aquarium | Pearl Media | The best Ceramic Media alternative