My experience of creating a natural aquarium with Prodibio. Launch and impressions

Building a natural aquarium is an exciting and enlightening journey. I recently started this journey with Prodibio products, which are renowned for their cutting-edge method of aquarium maintenance. This has been a rewarding and educational experience, from setting up the tank to watching it change.

The aquarium was carefully launched as the first step in the process. Prodibio’s product line made the setup easier and ensured that the aquatic environment got off to a smooth start. The way in which these solutions allowed the fish and plants to have a stable and healthy habitat really impressed me.

I kept a careful eye on the progress of the tank as the days passed. The outcome was astounding: a flourishing ecosystem that soon attained a state of natural equilibrium. My findings demonstrated how well Prodibio’s products work to preserve aquarium water quality and encourage robust growth.

Description

• Aquarium: Optiwhite 60x35x35cm, 80l
• Light: Ada Aquasky 601 and Chihiros A Plus 601
• Filter: external EHEIM classic 2215 620l/h up to 350l
• Cо2: 3l cylinder, feed through a diffuser in the aquarium

• Fertilizer dispenser: Jebao Dp-4
• Decorations: Udeco driftwood, Prime driftwood, Udeco Grey Mountain stones
• Water: osmosis, TDS ~ 6
• Aquarium water test results: Ph 6.8 – 7, TDS ~ 100, gh 4-5, kh 4

Soil

Fertilizers and additives

BioKit Fresh is a collection of supplies for maintaining a freshwater aquarium with live plants and naturally inhibiting the growth of algae. It involves getting ready:

• BioDigest (culture of live bacteria)

• BioTrace (bioactivator and microelements)

• BioVert (complex fertilizer for plants).

• ProdibioBioVertPlus (potassium, calcium, magnesium, trace elements and bioavailable iron)

• ProdibioBioVert Ultimate (contains concentrations of nitrates, phosphates and potassium in proportions optimal for the growth of aquarium plants)

• Antiphosphate complex Alg’Out (a preparation that binds phosphates present in water and makes them unavailable to algae).

I’ll discuss my personal experience using Prodibio products to set up a natural aquarium in this article. I’ll share my observations and insights on how these products affected the upkeep and expansion of the aquarium, starting with the initial setup and the difficulties encountered and ending with the finished product. In case you’re thinking about getting a natural aquarium or want to know if Prodibio works well, this experience could provide insightful opinions and useful advice.

Plants

Population

Description of the aquarium and launch on Prodibio

In 2006, the novel concept of storing goods in nitrogen-filled ampoules to prevent spoilage and limit shelf life was created. I think what caught my eye was the packaging—a miniature lab complete with adorable boxes holding ampoules.

They make Prodibio AquaGrowth Soil for planted aquariums, which is comparable in price to ADA Amazonia. As a proponent of the latter, I found the concept of comparing nutrient soils in real-world settings to be intriguing.

I created a little rise at the bottom of the aquarium by adding some Udeco lava, which helped to hold the driftwood in place.

The BacterKit Soil substrate (which, incidentally, comes with the soil) was started by diluting bacteria with purified water, which I then spread evenly over the soil before adding the final layer.

Ground cover planting is more convenient when small plants are planted in a fine substrate such as AquaShrimp Powder, which you can spread fine soil over the foreground.

I chose branched driftwood—Udeco and Prime—because I wanted the aquarium to have forest roots covered in moss or something similar. Try to pre-soak the driftwood in water so that it drowns and the amount of mucus decreases if you have the chance, the time, and the patience.

I soaked the driftwood for 2-3 weeks, adding a couple of catfish – ancistrus, they clean bacterial plaque well. I glued the moss to the driftwood using Moment glue, waterproof, but, in principle, it does not matter what super-glue you plant the moss on, everything holds up well in water.

Among the disadvantages of this method, I can note white spots that appear in the water at the gluing point, but they gradually disappear, and these places are covered with moss. You can also tie the moss with a thread, in my experience it is better to use a synthetic thread that will not fall apart in water over time, or monofilament – fishing line.

You’ll achieve the desired effect more quickly if you tie or glue the moss as tightly as you can without leaving any spaces open. However, avoid applying moss in multiple layers.

I added stones from Udeco – Grey Mountain to slightly off-balance the composition. These are stunning stones, but be cautious when adding too many of them to your aquarium because they slightly alter the water’s characteristics by raising the hardness and TDS.

Once the hardscape has been constructed, fill the aquarium with water to moisten the entire soil surface and begin planting plants. If at all possible, I use meristem plants because I prefer them. You can obtain the most growth points and avoid adding unwanted algae to the aquarium in this way.

I diluted the micranthenum with elecharis and planted staurogyne in groups because I dislike it when everything in the foreground appears to be one smooth, continuous carpet.

Pogostemon helferi moved to the center; for some reason, it is uncommon in our aquatic environments, and I believe its beauty is underappreciated. It will be fantastic when these tiny stars mature.

There is a slight diluting of the number of green plants in the Middle Plan of Rotal and Hygrofill.

After that, add water to the aquarium. For this aquarium, I use pure osmosis without remineralization. Aquasol is available for plant nutrition, and the magnesium and zinc supplied by the manufacturer are listed as part of the micro-approval. Moreover, stones slightly raise hardness.

I introduce Stop AMMO to the water on the first day, which links ammonia and lowers the nitrite share so you can run the fish simultaneously. We have Siamese vodrospols (I personally think they eat algae first, despite the name), Amano shrimp, and cherry shrimp later on.

The first month I added Prodibio Biokit Fresh – there is a whole complex of bacteria for water purification, power for them and trace elements for plants.

Then I noticed a slight yellowing of the leaves and slow growth on the staurogen, so I gradually began to add micro- and macro- fertilizers: BioVert Plus and BioVert Ultimate.

Always begin with the lowest amount of fertilizer recommended by the manufacturer and work your way up while keeping an eye on the health of the plants.

I won’t go into too much detail about the drawbacks of this, other than the fact that changing the required amount of fertilizer requires you to pour fertilizer into the cap, which can get tedious to do every day.

Fertilizers are delivered in the necessary dosage and at consistent intervals, making the fertilizer dispenser incredibly cool—you just set it and forget about it. Additionally, the aquarium prefers things to be consistent.

I’m pleased with the outcome. The moss has gotten so big that it looks like fuzzy paws that you want to cuddle with.

The ground plants feel fantastic as well; the rotala has already withstood multiple haircuts.

The sealers are always in operation, day or night. It’s enjoyable to watch.

Regarding the soil, I can say that AquaGrowth Soil has less nutrients than Amazonia, but you won’t need to substitute as much and there’s a good chance you won’t get unwanted algae, especially if you’re new to aquascaping.

It’s fantastic that Prodibio BioVert Plus micro contains calcium and magnesium in its fertilizer, as this gives plants extra nourishment. Although I have issues with algae control products, I appreciate that Prodibio created products like Alg’Out.

The availability of products containing bacteria for every occasion in life is another benefit. Of course, adding magic potions from ampoules is enjoyable—almost like adding a secret ingredient for your aquarium’s well-being and aesthetic appeal!

Aspect	Details
Preparation	Started with setting up the aquarium"s hardscape, including rocks and substrate. Added plants suited for a natural look.
Prodibio Products	Used Prodibio’s BioDigest and BioClean to kickstart the biological filtration. Followed the instructions for dosage and frequency.
Initial Setup	Filled the tank with dechlorinated water and added the Prodibio products as directed. Monitored water parameters closely during the initial weeks.
First Impressions	Noticed clear water and healthy plant growth. Minimal algae issues. The aquarium had a natural, balanced ecosystem early on.
Maintenance	Regular water changes and occasional additions of Prodibio products kept the tank in good condition. The aquarium remained low-maintenance.
Overall Experience	Very positive. Prodibio helped establish a thriving natural aquarium quickly and with minimal fuss.

It was satisfying to work with Prodibio to create a natural aquarium. Everything about the process, from setting everything up to seeing the first signs of life, was rewarding and educational. The items made it simpler to preserve the quality of the water and encourage the growth of fish and plants.

Video on the topic

PRODIBIO sets for starting planted aquariums. Review from EXOMENU.

Starting an aquarium on Prodibio soils

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Inna Nikolaevna’s experience of starting an aquarium on Soil Prodibio

Prodibio: 3 months after launch. Aquarium review. My impressions.