Vendor:The 2Hr Aquarist

2Hr Aquarist APT Balance

Name: 2Hr Aquarist APT Balance
Brand: The 2Hr Aquarist
SKU: BAL-45
Price: 20.90 USD
Availability: InStock

$20.90

Designed for aquasoil aquariums

Potent beneficial bacteria that speeds up nitrification, accelerates tank stability and provides a super microbial boost. In short: faster cycling + healthier plants and animals.

INSTRUCTIONS

Add 1 Sachet A and 1 Sachet B for approximately ~100L of water volume to a new tank. Add monthly or whenever you need to improve or restore microbial balance. Turn off UV sterilizer for 24 hours following use.

WHY

Conventional liquid bacteria products work well only in a narrow set of conditions. Most require hard water and refrigeration. APT Balance features a superior blend of resilient bacteria cultures that thrive in modern aquasoils which lower pH and create acidic environments, and can be stored at room temperature.

INGREDIENTS

Advanced bacterial cultures in dry powder form.

Product variants

2Hr Aquarist APT Balance

$20.90

Low pH? No Sweat

Unlike conventional bacterial products, APT Balance is designed for low-pH water. Aquasoils contain peat and other substances that naturally soften water and lower pH, making them perfect for plants but problematic for most liquid bacteria products. Their bacterial strains are optimized for higher pH, higher KH environments, and struggle in acidic conditions.

High Potency

Conventional liquid bacteria are fragile and ideally require refrigeration. Most are damaged during transportation and storage, but it's impossible to tell. APT Balance uses bacteria in dry powder form, which is far more resilient to environmental conditions. This ensures the bacteria remain potent and active when added to your tank.

Beyond Nitrifying Bacteria

Research shows that healthy biological systems thrive on microbial diversity. A wide variety of microbes interact to create a stable equilibrium. APT Balance contains not only nitrifying bacteria, but also waste-digesting bacteria that specialize in breaking down organic detritus from plants and animals.

Dosage

Add 1 Sachet A and 1 Sachet B for approximately 100L / 26 US Gal of tank volume. For smaller tanks (e.g., 50L / 13 US Gal), use a proportionate amount. Adding more than recommended is safe. However, excess bacteria may cause temporary surface slime or cloudy water.

New Tanks

Add APT Balance every month, after a tank reset, filter cleaning, adding new animals, or whenever you need to improve or restore microbial balance. Turn off the UV sterilizer for 24 hours following use. Safe to add directly into a tank with livestock present.

Maintenance

Add APT Balance every month, after a tank reset, filter cleaning, adding new animals, or whenever you need to improve or restore microbial balance. Turn off the UV sterilizer for 24 hours following use. Safe to add directly into a tank with livestock present.

Nitrifying Bacteria

Inside Sachet A is a specially formulated blend of nitrifying microbes, including AOB and NOB nitrifying bacteria such as Nitrosomonas sp., Nitrobacter sp., Nitrosococcus sp., Nitrospira sp., It is designed to accelerate tank cycling and the breakdown of Ammonia into Nitrites and into Nitrates. >20 Billion CFUs per gram.

Waste Digesting Bacteria

Sachet B contains a carefully selected blend of mulm-digesting microbes: Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Bacillus subtilis, Alcaligenes, Actinomycota, and Polyphosphate-accumulating bacteria (PABs). Designed to accelerate the decomposition of plant detritus and animal waste into non-toxic and harmless CO2 and water. >20 Billion CFUs per gram.

Stability

Even though APT Balance speeds up tank cycling, we recommend waiting a week or two before introducing fish and animals. This allows time for the tank's complex microbial community to establish itself more fully, beyond simple water parameters. We write about this topic in more detail here.

FAQs

Please read our FAQs page to find out more.

Can I do water changes when using APT Balance?

Yes! While a portion of microbes exist in free floating form, most adhere to surfaces in the aquarium environment. This includes substrate and filter media, and also to hard scape and plants. Microbes form protective bio-film on surfaces which help them navigate through various forms of environmental stress.

After APT Balance is added to the aquarium, it takes a couple of days for the microbes to settle onto surfaces, there after you can do water changes without worrying about removing the beneficial microbes.

When can I do begin to do water changes?

If you are cycling a high ammonia aquasoil tank that is already planted, large frequent water changes are very beneficial to helping the system settle in smoothly. Wait 2 days after dosing APT Balance before you do large water changes.

Do I have to add Ammonia to APT Balance?

Yes, you have to add ammonia if you are using an inert substrate or have no other natural source of ammonia. Ammonia can also come from livestock or decaying fish food. A couple of pinches of fish food a few times a week can provide ammonia for bacteria cycling.

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