Aquarium Filters

Aquarium filters are available in a variety of different sizes, types, and shapes, but all of them perform have essentially the same purpose: to circulate water via some type of cleansing or straining medium at a rate which allows the water to be kept clean both biologically and physically. Filters may be classified as ‘outside’, ‘inside’, and sub gravel, based upon the location around the aquarium; however, location is not nearly as critical as the manner by which it operates.

The three main classifications are chemical, mechanical, and biological. Chemical filtration, as its name suggests, will take out toxins as well as other chemically induced material from the aquarium system by use of activated carbon. It is vital to change activated carbon on a regular basis in order to maintain a safe community.

Mechanical Filtration: will take out any unwanted material from the water via straining and/or via use of absorbent materials. This process helps greatly to maintain the water’s clarity. Biological Filtration: Different from mechanical filtration processes, biological filtration integrates bacteria and some other microorganisms which convert the fish waste into less toxic elements by way of a process called cycling.

A biological filter converts the toxic fish waste ammonia into Nitrite, and then into nitrate, which is a relatively harmless element. Cycling thus reduces the necessary maintenance in the aquarium.

Mechanical Filtration: This process helps to eliminate any unwanted materials from the water via straining and /or use of some absorbent materials. In doing so, it also serves to maintain the clarity of the water. How Poisonous Elements in an Aquarium May Kill Fish Aquarium water can become hazardous to the fish if it gets over-saturated, which results from nitrogen cycle in its water.

In this brief article, we’ll take a look at the causes and some simple methods by which we may be able to limit the continuous deaths of aquarium fish. As all of us know, atmospheric air consists of roughly 23% oxygen and 76% nitrogen, along with many other gases in quite small quantities. Thus, it is logical that if we put on the airflow system of an aquarium, the air that is pumped in has a great deal of nitrogen but just a little oxygen. This atmospheric nitrogen can be deadly to the fish if the water gets over-saturated (over 100%) with it. Studies have also proven that nitrogen embolism, also called NITROGEN GAS BUBBLE DISEASE, will occur with 103-118% nitrogen saturation, causing a great number of fish deaths.

This condition will affect aquarium fish if one is replacing old aquarium water with slightly warm fresh water. The signs of the infection are the presence of small bubbles of nitrogen under the skin in the tail, mouth, and fins, behind the eyes, and also in the blood vessels. By spending some time aerating the water to be introduced, we can prevent this disease because we can first clear out any excess nitrogen. Any affected fish must be put in a little bucket of water into which has been passed an air stone device which will properly aerate this water. The fish is then likely to recover spontaneously if the aquarist will take the immediate and remedial action.

Tagged as: Aquarium Filter, Aquarium Filters