simple guide to aquarium filtration
To have poison free aquarium water, filtration process is a
very important to aquarist.
Since most aquarists are aware of the fact that their aquarium water
accumulates harmful substances, which poison their fishes.
To prevent this from happening there is need for filtration here’s the simple guide to aquarium filtration thus, for our purpose I would define filtration as the removal of unwanted substances from water.
To have poison free aquarium water, the filtration process is a
very important to aquarist.
Since most aquarists are aware of the fact that their aquarium water
accumulates harmful substances, which poison their fishes.
To prevent this from happening there is need for filtration
thus, for our purpose I would define filtration as the removal
of unwanted substances from water.
Most aquarist uses three types: Biological, mechanical, and
chemical amongst which the biological is the most important.
Biological filtration is also referred to as undergravel filtration,
because the major equipment used (a flat plate of perforated
plastic) is placed under the gravel bed hence it is invisible.
Unless you are properly equipped, you can’t see the process
happening and cannot measure its effect.
Yet this process is the major difference between success and failure,
and the aquarist who does not take the time to understand it
workings is doomed to watch an endless procession of dying fishes
passing through his tank.
Biological filtration is solely the work of bacteria attached to the
surfaces of the gravel, the grave and the under grave filter together
constitute the filter bed.
Bacteria normally reach the filter bed through the food you give the fishes.
The waste product of the fishes, the air, and even through your hands as you works in the tank.
As the water ages, their numbers increase until the gravel is loaded with millions of them.
It is only then that the aquarium can function very well, because
the wastes of the fishes and unwanted substances mainly ammonia
are immediately broken down by those bacteria into harmless
substances while at the same time the filtration action drags organic
matter downwards into the spaces between the gravel’s where the
roots of plants can then extract essential growth substances hence
the undergravel filter promotes healthy plants growth.
Mechanical filtration is the physical removal of debris, waste
products, uneaten food, dead fish or plants.
They use a filter medium such as foam, filter wool or sand/gravel
to trap particles which are removed by later cleaning of the medium.
Chemical filtration changes the composition of some substances in the aquarium.
Ammonia absorbers, such as Ammogon tm help prevent problems
when water aging is done chemically (treatment with chloramines releases free ammonia).
Other “chemical” filtration includes ion exchangers which reduce either carbonate or sulphur hardness.
simple guide to aquarium filtration An effective aquarium filtration system not only removes waste products from the water by physical or chemical means, but also mirrors the process of biological filtration—the nitrogen
cycle—that occurs in the wild. Filtration goes hand in hand
with aeration, in which water is circulated so that it can absorb
oxygen from the air and lose unwanted carbon dioxide.
In the confines of an aquarium, thewaste produced by the fish can
quicklybuild up to harmful levels without aneffective filtration system.
Filtration involves passing the water in the aquarium through one
or several filtration media, which purify the water by biological,
chemical, or mechanical means (see box, below).
There are two basic methods of driving water through the media:
using an electric pump, or using an airlift system, in which air
bubbled into the tank through an airstone draws water up an airlift tube.
FILTRATION TIPS
- Add zeolite sachets to remove ammonia from the water, and a
starter seed culture of bacteria for the biological filter. - Be careful not to overfeed the fish and burden the filter with decomposing food.
- Test the water quality regularly to check the filter’s efficiency;
frequent partial water changes will ease the pressure on the filtration system.
The most common type of system for freshwater aquariums—
the undergravel filter—is a simple airlift system.
A perforated corrugated or ridged plate is placed on the base of the
tank, and then covered by a substrate of gravel.
The plate allows water to flow under the gravel, while the gravel
particles— which should be at least 1⁄8 in (3 mm) in diameter to
ensure good water movement—form the biological filter medium.
Power filters use an electric pump to drive water through the filtration media.
There are two basic types: internal power filters, which sit inside
the tank, and external filters, which are housed outside the
aquarium and are generally used for larger aquariums.
A range of different media are available for power filters: biological
media, such as foam sponge and ceramic granules; mechanical
media, such as filter wool; and chemical filtration media, such as carbon.
The most efficient filters use layers of different media in combination. It is often
possible to add extra materials—for example, peat or
coral sand—to this type of filter to alter the water chemistry.
Efficient aeration is vital for the maintenance of a healthy
tank, providing a source of oxygen not only for the fish, but
also for the beneficial bacteria within the biological filter.
Using an air pump to pump air through an airstone can help to
aerate the tank: the bubbles produced cause surface ripples that
increase the area exposed to the air where oxygen exchange can take place.
But, if there is enough surface movement generated by the
outflow of the filtration system, an extra air pump may not be needed.
External power filters work on the same principle as other systems:
water is pumped out of the aquarium and passes through the filter
unit, which contains one or several types of media, before being returned to the tank.
A powerhead, shown above, is a pump that can be added
to the airlift tube of an under gravel filter to draw water more strongly through the system.
Installing a powerhead also improves the aeration provided by an
under gravel filter.
What are the 3 types of filtration?
There are three types of filtration that are necessary for the health of any aquarium:
- Mechanical.
- Chemical.
- Biological.
What are the best filters for fish tanks?
- Penn Plax Cascade Canister Aquarium Filter. …
- Fluval External Fish Tank Filter. …
- Marineland Magniflow Canister. …
- EHEIM Classic External Canister Fish Tank Filter Media. …
- Penn Plax Cascade Canister Aquarium Filter Cascade® 1000. …
- AquaClear Power Filter – 110 V. …
- Fluval Fx6 Aquarium Canister Filter.
Can I use 2 filters in my aquarium?
However, if you were to use these same two aquarium filters on a 180 gallon fish tank, you should be able to provide enough biological filtration for that 180 gallon aquarium. The filtration capacity increases with multiple filters, but only if the water volume also increases
How does filter work in aquarium?
The purpose of the filter on your aquarium is to remove excess food, decaying organic matter, free-floating particulate, dangerous chemicals, and the fish’s waste products from the water. The fish excrete waste constantly as they swim around in the water.
Is chemical filtration necessary?
A healthy tank DOES NOT require the use of chemical filters as activated carbon. One point about filtration cannot me made enough. ALL FISH TANKS MUST HAVE BIOLOGICAL FILTRATION. Although chemical filtration can remove ammonia under limited circumstances, they are NOT a general solution.
How is filtration useful?
Filtration, the process in which solid particles in a liquid or gaseous fluid are removed by the use of a filter medium that permits the fluid to pass through but retains the solid particles. … In some processes used in the production of chemicals, both the fluid filtrate and the solid filter cake are recovered.
Why do we use filtration?
Filtration is extremely important to keep things like water, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals clean, pure and free of contaminants. If it wasn’t for filtration, we might not have safe drinking water, because it plays a crucial role in eliminating sediment, sand, gravel, carbon and other suspended particles. Safety.
Does a fish tank filter always need to be on?
An aquarium filter should filter all the water in the tank through it at least three times per hour. If it does not, it is too small. … You cannot over-filter, but you can definitely under-filter, and the results can be harmful to your fish.
Which filter is best for planted aquarium?
Some Of The Best Filters For A Planted Tank
Fluval C4 Power Filter. The Fluval C4 Power Filter is an HOB filter that will work well on planted tanks up to 50 gallons in size. …
Eheim Classic Canister Filter. …
AquaClear Power Filter. …
Hydor Professional External Canister Filter. …
Penn Plax Cascade Canister Aquarium Filter.
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How often should you change fish tank filter?
The cartridge should be changed at least once a month. Or when you see a noticeable decrease in water flow.
Do aquarium filters need to be on all the time?
An aquarium filter should filter all the water in the tank through it at least three times per hour. If it does not, it is too small. … You cannot over-filter, but you can definitely under-filter, and the results can be harmful to your fish.
