What is fulvic acid?

Fulvic acid is a 100% natural substance with a complex of essential minerals and vitamins.

It is also a natural cell regenerator and a strongly alkalizing substance of plant origin. With over 70 minerals, vitamins, electrolytes and organic acids, it is able to penetrate cell membranes and deliver all these nutrients directly to the cell. In addition to eliminating heavy metals, its molecular composition helps to initiate the regeneration process in each cell. No other substance works on these three levels. In addition, fulvic acid is 100% natural and has not been changed or chemically preserved. It does not contain any additives, stabilizers or preservatives. Its high, alkaline pH makes it naturally preserved! After using fulvic acid, the germination of fungi, bacteria and other pathogens is simply impossible in it!

How exactly does it work?

The main function of fulvic acid is to nourish every cell of the body by providing it with minerals and vitamins, electrolytes and organic acids. We can colloquially call it a natural "transporter".

How does this relate to aquarium keeping?

Crystal clear, undisturbed water in the aquarium - is not always an ideal state for fish, other living organisms and plants. There is information circulating among aquarists, sometimes less precise, that the use of fulvic acids in water is conducive to the health of fish and plants. We will try to present it in a simple way how it actually is, where they come from and what effect they have on the inhabitants of your aquarium. Do they work, are they ok, or maybe not... How do they affect the quality of water, do they prevent diseases when added to it, do they strengthen the immune system of aquatic organisms, or even stimulate spawning?

Humic substances

Fulvic acids belong to the group of humic substances. Humic substances with a high molecular weight are formed in the process of humification - i.e. the decomposition of organic, mainly plant material. Humic substances and fulvic acids are abundant in all waters of the world. Particularly high concentrations occur in the black rivers of the Amazon. It is there that they play an important role: the pH value of black rivers is only 3 or 4, and the mineral deficiency is enormous - it is not a good basis for animal life. Only thanks to the presence of humic substances do small amounts of nutrients occur in a complex form, which plants and animals can absorb more efficiently.

Fulvic acids are ubiquitous in nature

Humic substances - and therefore also fulvic acids - occur in all ecosystems of the world. In most inland waters, the ratio of humic substances to organisms is 10: 1 - in seawater even 100: 1. It can therefore be assumed that fish and aquatic plants are accustomed to the presence of humic substances and fulvic acids, which are necessary for optimal development. Especially in the case of animals from blackwater habitats, they are actually necessary for survival.

Nice theory, but what about practice and maybe some credibility?

Aquatic ecologist Dr. Christian Steinberg from Humboldt University in Berlin has been researching the effects of fulvic acids in aquaculture for years. According to his findings, fulvic acids exert a small, lasting chemical stress on organisms, which has an effect similar to vaccination. This causes animals to become multiple resistant to stress, which, among other things, can have an impact on extending life - they become more resistant to destructive environmental influences and potential causes of disease.

Steinberg and his team also observed that fish and other aquarium inhabitants became more colorful, produced more offspring, were generally healthier, and recovered more quickly from illnesses. The details are available on the university's website for viewing and analysis.

Fulvic acids - universal agents for water, plants and animals

The use of humic substances in general, and fulvic acids in particular, also has a positive effect on the water itself. They act as a natural pH buffer and thus prevent, for example, a shift in the material balance related to the pH value at low carbonate hardness (KH). But here it should be noted that it will never act as a long-term buffer in RO water.

Aquarium plants benefit from the complex properties of fulvic acid as a natural ligand: It binds and precipitates heavy metals, while increasing the availability of important nutrients such as iron. Nitrogen and phosphorus can also be better absorbed by plants.

Fulvic Acids - Benefits:

• It provides living organisms with a greater amount of elements necessary for life compared to unsupplemented water,
• Improves the absorption of trace elements from water into the fish body
• Improves the quality and quantity of egg hatching,
• Increase the survival of offspring by prophylactic treatment of eggs and larvae
• Positive effect on the immune system of fish
• Blocks secondary infections after treatment,
• Improving the condition of fish through high resistance to stress
• Neutralizes harmful heavy metals and other toxins

Humin Fulvic – an aquarium preparation that perfectly complements minerals, but apart from humic compounds it contains fulvic acid, has a dark brown colour, is odourless, does not affect the pH in the tank where it is applied:

Fulvic acid +/- 20%

pH 8.0 - 8.4

Calcium (Ca) 0.6 g / l

Sodium (Na) 33.6 g / l

Iron (Fe) 112 mg / l

Manganese (Mn) 3 mg / l

Magnesium (Mg) 58 mg / l