{"title":"Minerals \u0026 Remineralisers","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"aquario-neo-bag-minus","title":"Aquario Neo Bag Minus","description":"\u003cp\u003eA mesh filter bag that adsorbs negative-ion (anion) components — nitrite, nitrate and phosphate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo \u003cstrong\u003eadsorb\u003c\/strong\u003e is to make something stick to a surface: the media pulls these compounds out of the water and holds onto them, rather than adding anything in. \u003cstrong\u003eNitrite\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003enitrate\u003c\/strong\u003e are waste chemicals produced as helpful bacteria break down livestock waste; \u003cstrong\u003ephosphate\u003c\/strong\u003e comes mostly from uneaten food breaking down. All three build up in any stocked tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Aquario's own words, Neo Bag Minus adsorbs “nitrites, nitrates, and phosphates of negative ion (anion)”, which they describe as “toxic to organisms”, and also “adsorbs harmful negative ion components other than the above components”. Alongside the adsorbent it carries organic carbon beads, which Aquario says feed the bacteria that break down nitrogen compounds and pollutants biologically as well as chemically.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDespite the name, the “Minus” refers to the \u003cem\u003echarge of the ions removed\u003c\/em\u003e, not to a pH direction. \u003cstrong\u003eAquario make no pH or hardness claim for this bag in any source we could find\u003c\/strong\u003e — it is a nutrient and pollutant media, not a water-chemistry adjuster (pH being the acidity scale, hardness the water's dissolved mineral content). If you have seen it described as softening water or lowering pH, that looks like a mix-up with Neo Bag Plus, which is the bag that carries those claims.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat that does in a tank:\u003c\/strong\u003e it pulls nitrate and phosphate out of the water column — the open water itself — which is the pairing that usually drives algae. The effect depends on how much media you run against your bioload (how much waste your livestock actually produce) and feeding, and it slows as the adsorbent loads up.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdsorbs anions — nitrite, nitrate and phosphate; no pH or hardness claim from Aquario\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrganic carbon beads support bacteria removing nitrogen compounds and pollutants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAquario dosing: 1 bag per 60 L, or an extra bag if you want a quicker effect. 8 bags per pack, each 12 × 8 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRegenerable — Aquario: shake the bag in 300 ml of 10% salt-water solution for about 10 minutes, soak for a day, then rinse thoroughly with clean water. Performance falls off over repeated cycles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e[NEEDS VERIFICATION]\u003c\/strong\u003e — Aquario's “the energy ball slowly disappears after a month or two” line appears on both Minus and Plus, so it may be copy-paste; treat the service life as unconfirmed for this bag\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Aquario","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52798406066488,"sku":"D-NEO MINUS","price":17.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0971\/3339\/6280\/files\/neo-bag-minus.jpg?v=1786596496"},{"product_id":"aquario-neo-bag-plus","title":"Aquario Neo Bag Plus","description":"\u003cp\u003eA mesh filter bag that adsorbs positive-ion (cationic) components — calcium and magnesium — and which Aquario says lowers pH toward weakly acidic water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo \u003cstrong\u003eadsorb\u003c\/strong\u003e is to make something stick to a surface: the media pulls minerals out of the water and holds onto them, rather than adding anything in. \u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e is the acidity scale — below 7 is acidic, above 7 is alkaline. Calcium and magnesium are the two minerals that make water “hard”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Aquario's own words, Neo Bag Plus “chemically adsorbs positive ion(cationic) components such as calcium and magnesium” and “quickly lowers pH to maintain weak acidity water quality”. Note the name: the “Plus” refers to the \u003cem\u003echarge of the ions removed\u003c\/em\u003e, not to raising pH or hardness. This bag brings both down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInside are white and black “energy balls” which Aquario says supply organic carbon and trace elements — the minerals living things need in tiny amounts — supporting the bacteria that biologically remove nitrogen compounds and pollutants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat that does in a tank:\u003c\/strong\u003e stripping calcium and magnesium lowers general hardness — often written GH, a measure of how much dissolved calcium and magnesium the water carries — and Aquario claims pH follows it down. How far and how fast depends on your source water and how much media you run against your volume. Aquario's own instructions say to watch pH and stop using it if the reading falls too low — worth heeding, because the effect stacks with anything else acidifying the tank, such as an active soil (a substrate — the material covering the tank floor — that deliberately pulls pH down).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquario position the bag for freshwater fish and plants that prefer soft, slightly acidic water, and specifically except African cichlids.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdsorbs cations — calcium and magnesium — lowering general hardness; Aquario also claim it lowers pH\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhite and black energy balls supply organic carbon and trace elements for the bacterial colony\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAquario dosing: 1 bag per 60 L, or an extra bag if you want a quicker effect. 8 bags per pack, each 12 × 8 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBefore use, Aquario say to shake it in clean water about 20 times; black water coming out is normal and comes from the black energy ball\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAquario say the energy ball slowly disappears after a month or two\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAquario's own instruction: monitor pH and discontinue if it drops too low\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Aquario","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52798406132024,"sku":"D-NEO PLUS","price":17.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0971\/3339\/6280\/files\/neo-bag-plus.jpg?v=1786596499"}],"url":"https:\/\/shrimpzone.com.au\/collections\/minerals.oembed","provider":"Shrimp Zone ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}