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SUBSTRATE CLEANER Gravel Cleaner

  • Specially developed bacterial mixture for the biological degradation of sludge
  • Cleans the substrate as well as rocks
  • Replaces annoying mulling
  • Completely breaks down phosphate deposits and nitrate sources
  • Contains mangrove mud identical to that found in nature

Saltwater & Freshwater
Dirt removal
Clean water
Living bacteria

WHAT IS SUBSTRATE CLEANER?

Substrate Cleaner is a specially formulated bacterial blend of purely biological ingredients that provides for the biological breakdown of detritus and waste in substrate and rock in any marine or freshwater aquarium.

 

WHAT CAN SUBSTRATE CLEANER DO?

It cleans the substrate and rock by effectively removing organic debris and harmful gaseous compounds. What’s more, Substrate Cleaner can break down otherwise inaccessible phosphate deposits present in the substrate or rock and – together with Phos-Out 4 and Special Blend – permanently remove them from the aquarium.

 

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF SUBSTRATE CLEANER?

Substrate Cleaner significantly reduces the cleaning you need to do in the aquarium and typically prevents “gamma spots”, as the bacteria can also reach hard-to-reach places (e.g. under installed structures).

 

WHEN DO I NEED SUBSTRATE CLEANER?

Substrate Cleaner can be used from the start of an aquarium and for permanent maintenance.

SUBSTRATE CLEANER

Dosage incl. dosage calculator

Your aquarium
(net volume of water in litres)

l
Every 2 weeks 20 ml per 100 L of water
ml
Maintenance dosage (once per month) 20 ml per 100 L of water
ml


Dosage:
Add 20 ml per 100 litres of water every 2 weeks until the substrate is clean.

Maintenance dosage:
Add 20 ml per 100 litres of water once a month.

FAQ Questions and answers

MICROBE-LIFT® Special Blend – ‘Nitrate reducer and cyano-killer’

This product deals with the first and last stage of nitrification. It contains microorganisms that break down coarse waste materials such as proteins, fats, detritus to make it easier for the traditional filter bacteria (Nitrosomonas sp., Nitrobacter sp. and Nitrospira sp.) to break down these substances. It allows them to work much more effectively. It also contains facultative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria that primarily break down nitrate into harmless nitrogen in oxygen-poor zones – particularly effective in DSB systems, but also in normal aquarium systems with living rocks. Furthermore, it contains photosynthetically activated purple sulphur bacteria, which are mainly used in the initial phase after dosing to suppress cyanobacteria.

Does MICROBE-LIFT Special Blend also help against cyanobacteria? And if so, why?

Cyanobacteria have a negative impact by destroying the settlement area for filter bacteria and inhibiting their growth. In order for sand grains and surfaces of the living rock to be re-colonised with filter bacteria, the cyanobacteria must first be eliminated. This is accomplished by the purple sulphur bacteria. They disappear after some time and thus make room for filter bacteria, which are added a few days later by the second MICROBE-LIFT product: Nite-Out II. As purple sulphur bacteria live photosynthetically, they are a serious competitor to cyanobacteria, especially during the day, and inhibit them until filter bacteria have grown back. They do not compete with filter bacteria because they carry out photosynthesis like zooxanthellae.

MICROBE-LIFT® Nite-Out II – ‘The traditional filter bacteria’

This product supplies the traditional filter bacteria (Nitrosomonas sp., Nitrobacter sp., Nitrospira sp.). It contains additional subspecies of these strains and has been designed to promote growth of natural filter bacterial grass, which guarantees fast decomposition of ammonium and nitrite. This helps considerably shorten the start-up phase of a newly set-up aquarium or to reduce fish losses during transport and aquarium relocation or conversion measures. Works immediately and reliably! Remains active down to 4 °C! (optimum temperature from 13 °C). Therefore, also suitable for cold water aquariums (Atlantic, Mediterranean, etc.).

The bacteria act immediately when used without first ‘waking up’ – unlike products based on trace elements. It is odourless and safe to use.

It is also important to test the pH value first and whether there is enough carbonate hardness. The CH value must always be at least 3 dH°. This is extremely important because the nitrifying bacteria consume it as fuel. Seven parts carbonate hardness are consumed for one part ammonium! Without good CH values, nitrification is also not possible! To increase the CH value, you can use the MICROBE-LIFT CH-Booster until you reach a value of at least 3–6 dH°.

MICROBE-LIFT Substrate Cleaner – ‘Silt, Detritus and PO4 Removal’

Contains natural brackish water silt from mangrove zones, which contains natural cellulose, mud, phosphate-binding iron oxides and special detritus-degrading and PO4-binding filter bacteria. The mud component is somewhat related to Miracle Mud in terms of consistency. With proper dosing, the water in the aquarium immediately becomes dark brown and turbid, then light brown and clear. The next day (at the latest, however, on the third day), it turns crystal clear and usually contains much less PO4. Coarser substrate becomes cleaner and detritus gradually disappears – especially in the gamma corners.

Recommended for use with all other MICROBE-LIFT bacteria and enzyme products.

MICROBE-LIFT Thera P – ‘therapeutic fish agent’

MICROBE-LIFT Thera P stimulates the immune system of the fish through probiotic bacterial strains which settle in the intestinal tract of the fish and thus ensure a healthy intestinal flora. Freshly imported fish (especially surgeonfish and some sensitive gobies), which are often weakened by the long transport route and/or have a severely damaged intestinal flora due to antibiotics, can be treated successfully with MICROBE-LIFT Thera P. Reduces downtimes to a minimum. Moreover, the entire aquarium environment is biologically stabilised, as it still contains approx. 50% of the product MICROBE-LIFT Special Blend, which reduces waste products, food residues and nitrate. It has long been a product used in fish farming in the USA. In this country it is recommended by seahorse and discus breeders. Due to the dual mode of action, it is especially recommended for breeding or retailer tanks, where many animals collide in a short time in a confined space. It also contains an herbal anti-stress agent and other selected bacteria, which in turn eat pathogenic germs or inhibit their reproduction.

Note: As it also contains a little bit of ‘Special Blend’, it may smell a little like hydrogen sulphide. It can be used prophylactically to prevent many diseases. Some aquarium enthusiasts have treated powder-blue surgeonfish with it for a week during their acclimatisation in their reef aquarium. The surgeonfish have now been in the aquariums for a year without ever having had any spots or other complaints. They are well fed. No UV system or ozone was used during the acclimatisation or later. This is quite a remarkable result for us, as most of these surgeonfish in the retailer’s tank were known to have had spots – despite UV exposure.

Seahorse breeders are amazed at the low loss rate of their seahorse youngsters when they are using MICROBE-LIFT Thera P.

Substrate Cleaner contains naturally imitated mangrove mud and the bacterial cultures found in it. Depending on the degree of contamination of the aquarium, the water becomes brownish and cloudy to varying degrees. This is completely harmless and usually disappears after 24-72 hours. The time of turbidity also decreases with regular use.

With the exception of our MICROBE-LIFT NO3PO4 Control, you can also use any of our products together with our Substrate Cleaner. Since NO3PO4 Control contains liquid carbon sources for "pushing" bacteria, we recommend not using our MICROBE-LIFT Substrate Cleaner during use in order to avoid an excess of bacteria in the substrate.

Furthermore, we recommend using granulate-based phosphate absorbers during the turbidity phase, e.g. B. to take our Phos-Out 4 and Sili-Out 2 out of the aquarium and only put them back in after they have become cloudy. Here, too, the Substrate Cleaner would attempt to dissolve bound phosphate, as with any phosphate deposits in the aquarium, although not everything, of course.

Use directly in the aquarium according to the dosage instructions.

MICROBE-LIFT® is 100% harmless to humans, animals and plants. It is neither toxic nor pathogenic (disease-causing).

The MICROBE-LIFT® products do not work if pesticides or chemical algae killers are used. Please turn off UV lamps and ozone devices for 3 to 5 days for best results.

Yes, heavy metals in saltwater and freshwater aquariums ensure that bacteria almost completely stop important biological processes such as nitrification (conversion of ammonium/ammonia into nitrite and then nitrate) and denitrification (conversion of nitrate into nitrogen).

Unopened, you can store any of our MICROBE-LIFT bacterial products at room temperature. Only our product MICROBE-LIFT Nite-Out II should be stored in the refrigerator after opening.

In principle, there is nothing wrong with dosing the MICROBE-LIFT bacterial products with a dosing pump. However, this should have a back suction so that no residues remain in the corresponding hoses. Furthermore, it also applies here that you should only dose Special Blend, Thera P and Nite-Out II from the original bottle.

Our MICROBE-LIFT bacterial products can be kept for at least one year without refrigeration if stored properly (except for Nite-Out II, which must be placed in the refrigerator after opening).

No. Shake the MICROBE-LIFT® products before use and simply pour it into your aquarium.

When using the MICROBE-LIFT system, we recommend a weekly water change of 10 - 20%.

Tips & Tricks
  • Do not dose carbon sources such as NO3PO4 Control while using Substrate Cleaner.
  • Note that bacteria need a certain amount of phosphate as an energy source to carry out important biological processes in the aquarium.
  • Ozone and UV light can kill bacteria; please switch it off during the application for 12-24 hours.
  • Keep your skimmer on all the time to ensure adequate oxygenation, as bacteria also use oxygen.
  • Remove phosphate absorber granules from the water cycle during the turbidity phase. Meanwhile, keep them in a bag, for example, which you seal airtight.
  • To reduce cloudiness, you can halve the dosage and do it weekly or every 14 days.

 

Cloudy water?

Substrate Cleaner contains naturally imitated mangrove mud and the bacterial cultures found in it. Depending on the degree of contamination of the aquarium, the water becomes brownish and cloudy to varying degrees. 

This is completely harmless and usually disappears after 24-72 hours. The time of turbidity also decreases with regular use.

Product video


Can be optimally combined with

SPECIAL BLEND Water care bacteria

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AQUA BALANCE Nitrate Remover

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AQUA-PURE Liquid filter medium

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PHOS-OUT 4 Phosphate Remover

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