ISTA Zeolite

• Select from natural raw material
• Effectively absorb toxic ammonia, nitrite, etc. which are harmful to fish
• Release minerals and trace elements such as potassium and calcium
• Stabilize pH value and soften water hardness

Size : 1000 Gms

Specifications

What ISTA publish for I-266 Zeolite:

Pack size 1,000 g
Material selected natural zeolite
Water suitable for fresh water and salt water
Function absorbs ammonia and nitrite; releases minerals and trace elements including potassium and calcium; stabilises pH and softens water hardness

ISTA’s own recommendation is to use it alongside biological media, not instead of it. That is on their product entry, and it is the right way round: zeolite mops up ammonia by ion exchange, which is a finite capacity, while a bacterial bed converts it indefinitely.

What ISTA do not publish for this model:

• Granule size
• Ammonia absorption capacity per kilogram
• Recommended quantity per litre of aquarium water
• Service life before exhaustion

Those rows are simply not on ISTA’s specification sheet or in their catalogue, and we would rather leave them blank than print a number we cannot source. If one of them decides your purchase, ask us and we will measure the stock item before you order.

Setup & Use

Rinse it before it goes in. Natural mineral granules carry dust, and dust in a filter is a cloudy tank on day one. Rinse until the water runs clear.

Put it in a media bag, in the flow. Loose granules migrate and block impellers. ISTA sell a net bag for media under 8 mm and another for media over 8 mm, and either is easier to lift out than a basket full of loose zeolite. Place it where water is forced through it rather than around it.

Where it belongs in the stack: after the mechanical stages, so the granules are not clogging with the dirt a sponge should have caught, and alongside — not in place of — your biological media.

What it is genuinely good for. An ammonia spike, a new tank that is not cycled yet, an overstocked quarantine tank, a transport or a power cut. It is a safety net for an emergency more than a permanent fixture.

It fills up, and then it stops. Zeolite works by ion exchange, so it has a finite capacity and no visible sign of reaching it — exhausted zeolite looks exactly like fresh zeolite. ISTA publish no capacity figure and no service life, so the only honest advice is to keep testing ammonia rather than trusting the media, and to replace it on a schedule you set from those readings.

Two things worth knowing before you use it long-term. Running zeolite continuously in a cycling tank keeps ammonia away from the bacteria that are meant to be colonising the filter, which slows the cycle down. And because it exchanges ions, it can affect water chemistry in ways that matter to soft-water and marine keepers — ISTA’s own list includes softening hardness and shifting pH, so treat those as intended effects rather than side effects, and test before and after.

Freshness & Storage

Every batch we dispatch carries a minimum of 6 months’ remaining shelf life. Store this product in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, with the cap or inner foil closed tightly after each use.

Filter media and substrates carry no manufacturing or expiry date — their working life begins on first contact with water, not on the shelf.

Returns & Replacement

Returns are accepted within 7 days of delivery, provided the item is unused and in its original packaging. Manufacturer-sealed items cannot be returned once the seal is broken, and sale-priced items are not refundable.

If your item arrives defective or damaged, message us on WhatsApp with your order number, or email us if you would rather, and we will replace it. Approved replacements are delivered within 3 to 5 business days. Transit damage is covered by insurance on every shipment. If tracking shows delivered but nothing reached you, tell us within 72 hours, which is the reporting window Indian couriers allow. Damage caused during installation or use is not covered; replacement spares for such cases are chargeable.

Full terms are on our Cancellation & Returns page.