Aquarium Filters
Every aquarium should have some kind of suitable filter and aeration that is in constant use. A filter should be designed to remove leftover food, fish excreta, suspended particulate matter and decaying plant matter from the water thus, improving its quality. The appealing purpose of filtration and aeration is to resemble the natural environment of the fish and water plants. Need for water plants must not be underestimated the necessity that they tend to complete the nitrogen cycle. The nitrogen cycle (natural process where nitrogenous waste products are recycled) should be achieved via filters. There should be movement of the water in the aeration, just as there is in nature. Excess carbon dioxide must be removed with filters as well as particulate matter that suspends in the water.
There are basically four different types of filtration systems. The inside aquarium filter, the outside filter, the the power filters and the under susbtrate filter:
The inside aquarium filter is typically found in small aquariums and isolation or holding/treatment tanks. They are usually powered by air. The bubbles from these filters when used in conjunction with an air stone (recommended) provide proper movement and circulation of the water within the aquarium. Such filters usually come loaded wlith fiber glass and carbon. Activated charbon and air stones should not be used in an aquarium or holding tank that is being used to chemically treat ill fish since they will absorb same which renders them essentially useless. The fiber glass acts as a filtering medium to remove particulate matter from the water. Water is drawn through the filter by the airlift function and after that, slow movement through the filter starts a biological growth within the filter which promotes the nitrogen cycle. The fish eat protein materials and excrete ammonia as waste. Ammonia is also, generated in the decay of organic material such as, excess food and dead water plant matter. Beneficial bacteria will grow in the filter media, converting the ammonia to nitrates. Nitrates get converted to other nitrates by the beneficial bacteria in the filter. Necessary nitrates are absorbed by water plants in the aquarium. This increases the surface area and promotes more oxygenation of the water. This in-tank filter must be changed periodically or, it will become plugged as the nitrogen cycle and removal of particulate matter will stop.
The outside aquarium filter draws water from the aquarium where it slowly fillters through the filter media while removing particulate matter. The water is then, returned among the aquarium causing recirculation within the aquarium. These filters are usually hung at the back of the aquarium, out of sight. They should be hung in a way that the return water splashes into the tank. This cauaes turbulance on the surface of the water thus, oxygenating it and promoting carbon dioxide removal which is essential to the intended raising of all livestock pets. These particular filters come in a variety of sizes for fitting needs according to the size of the tank. As with all biological filters, the loading must be kept to a minimum, by removing dead materials that congragate within about a month but, not until absolutely necessary. It may take a month or two for the biological process to become effective in a newly assembled aquarium.
Maintaining a low biological loading on the filter enhances its longivity so, please do not fail to offer appropriate attention to this. Because oxygen is consummed in the breakdown of ammonia to nitrates, it is highly advisable to have an air stone in the aquarium. It adds oxygen to the water, helping to remove carbon dioxide and helps to re-circulate the water in the tank.
Underground filters are of a biological sort, slow filtering generally as a perforated, correlated or ridged placemat to be positioned at the bottom of the tank for opporability through the substrate gravel. Air lift tubes are connected to these plates and they will draw aquarium water through the substrate gravel for filtering particulate mater. Gravel particles should be at least, one eighth of an inch in diameter to avoid interrupted plugging of the base filter system or, an event of too small of gravel particles. This promotes the slow movement of water throught the underground filter system with gravel large enough to accomodate. After several months or a year, the gravel will have congragated enough particulates to plug up and will need to be cleaned. The water is oxygenated by the bubbling action, removing carbon dioxide and, the water in the tank gets circulated. The nitrogen biological cycle will begin in a week or two about the newly assembled tank.
Power filtration systems are of two different types. The in-tank and the outside of aquarium both, function with the principal of withdrawing water. They withdraw water by use of an electrical pump and will pump water through a canister filter back unto the aquarium water. It's canister may contain one or several chambers of housing filtration media inserts. Particulate material is filtered out as the water passes through the filter media. Water in the tank gets re-circulated. It is highly advised that an air stone be used to enhance circulation within the tank, adding oxygen to the water and removing carbon dioxide. Different types of media can be added to the canister area of this filter system; activated charcoal (purchased, as such) to remove organic impurities, a filter wool for particulates and of course, peat or coral sand to alter the water chemistry of which are all, in part of designing a healthy aquarium environment . As the filtration rate noticably slows down, the filters will need to be changed. These filter help keep a crystal clear tank. However, they have little to no biological action since they have such a high flow rate. The flow must be kept slow as be possible so, that some biological action is more effective.
Even though the water may be perfectly clear, it must be noted that it does not mean it's a healthy environment. Dangerous nitrates and ammonia are not visible to the naked eye as the water can still be very poisonous. For this reason, the following process for water changes must be done monthly regardless of which filtration system being used:
Important --- Partial Water Changes Monthly --- lowers the concentration of all pollutants!
Set aside water to be used as a diluents and to accomplish this, adjust the temperature to match that of the aquarium the live pets are in via a thermometer.
Diluents water should be de-chlorinated by chemical means using the instructions about what was purchased or, by letting this stand for several days and preferably with aeriation. Re-check the temperature match configuration prior any continue.
Withdraw one third to one half of the water from the aquarium for replacement with the prepared diluents water.
Thank you for visiting this "Aquarium (water) Filters" section at our Fish Aquarium Web site.