Filtration in aquarium is a complicated thing. One can explore, write scientific articles. Alas, most people don't need to learn it all and it's boring. Others teach just magical formula with few tips. But I suppose it's not right either.
I'll try to teach you something about filtration. I'll show the most important "science" or theory, but mostly focus on practical aspects. I'll do this the best way I find.
I'll try to teach you something about filtration. I'll show the most important "science" or theory, but mostly focus on practical aspects. I'll do this the best way I find.
Here I will post short introduction, show few the most important facts. There are questions and answers. Later it'll be more formal and in-depth.
Let's start with one thing. Fishes feed and excrete. You wouldn't believe how many people aren't sure of that! Anyway, excretions are left in water. Fishes aren't people or cats, there is no litter tray for them.
So aren't fishes bothered? Generally speaking - yes. They feel no aversion towards wastes.
Then, why should we bother, why should we clean?
Fishes' excretions contain many chemicals that are toxic for them. They are great nutrition for algae and other intruders.
How much of those toxins is acceptable?
The biggest part of fishes' waste is ammonia. Actually there should be no ammonia in aquarium. Ammonia is processed to nitrate and nitrate concentration should be below 40mg/l.
How does nature deal with this devil ammonia?
In natural habitat live tons of bacteria. They successfully process ammonia toward nitrite and then nitrates. Nitrates do not bother fishes, they are dangerous in concentration above 150mg/l. At this moment there will be plague of algae in aquarium already. Finally nitrates are processed to nitrogen and released to atmosphere. Nitrogen makes for 70% of air.
How does aquarium deal with waste?
First obvious solution is simple - remove it. We should partially change water in aquarium and clean dirt from gravel.
Second is processing and absorbing waste by bacteria, similar way it happens in natural environment.
Other methods involve mechanical filtration - filth is sucked into sponge on filter, later washed right into sewerage and chemical filtration - chemicals absorb toxins.
What should we do to have clean aquarium?
Foremost way is to control the source of waste. Simply - we can't keep too many fishes in one tank and we must feed sparingly.
Tank must have proper filtration.
Water must be partially changed regularly.
What you mean "proper filtration"?
All the fun start here. We say "the filter must pump tank's volume thrice per hour".
My recipe:
- 20% of tank's volume filled with grovel.
- flow rate 8x tank's volume
- plants like elodea (forbidden in USA!), hornwort or pistia
- 10% of tank volume changed weekly
- filter's sponge washed weekly
- 1 day per week without feeding
- feeding in small portions, only when fishes eat eagerly
- avoid meat food unless fish is big predator (I recommend good flakes or pellets, suitable for fishes in tank, sometimes live daphnia from store)
Now you know why and how to make filtration. Time for some insight. Let me introduce you to later texts.
