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forum __________ Whats new? June 2005: Forum |
a home for a world we do not see Lets place this is basic terms. The filters that we make or purchase for our ponds and aquariums are there to create an area where good bacteria can make their home, after a set time when anything natural is introduced into these environments. by biological means The good bacteria are given scientific names, but for the purpose of my site, I shall try and keep it simple. These good bacteria assist in the breakdown of waste in the water. The waste produced by fish especially include nitrite and ammonia, both deadly to fish in very low quantities. The good bacteria that are brought into existence early in the stage of filtration will detoxify the nitrite and ammonia to nitrate. Nitrate concentrations are less deadlier in the water, but will become deadly if no water changes are performed. Put simply, the filtration is there to clean the water by biological means. It would be great to read up on the nitrogen cycle at this point. You may find references either in my links, online, or in your encyclopedia. thoughts on filtration The cycle. The nitrogen cycle takes time to become fully operational. It is dependant upon the filtration system used, and the amount of fish you have. In the beginning of a new filtration system, and without the introduction or use or partly used media from another existing filtration system, it would be wise to only keep one or two small fish so as to allow the nitrogen cycle to take place and to allow the filtration system to be effective in detoxifying the water. After such time, it would only be wise to introduce one or two fish, if they are very large, just the one, over a period of months, as introducing multiple fish in one go, puts a load on the filtration system immediately in which time deadly nitrite and ammonia spikes can lead to the death of the fish. Size, or fish load. There is a certain limit at which filtration systems can detoxify the water, and this limit is often determined by the amount of fish you have in your pond or aquarium. The limit often comes about by the surface area of the media that forms part of your filtration such as sponges, rocks, gravels, pebbles, ceramic rings and so on. This surface area is the place where the good bacteria house themselves. For a given filter there is only so much area where the good bacteria can live, after which, there is no more space for them to thrive, and at which point the limit of your filter is reached. After this limit has been reached, you will often see the water constantly being cloudy, or constantly green. It is at this time that you should consider a few actions, and that would include reducing the number of fish and/or increasing the level of filtration by way of surface area. links to filtration The following is a non exhaustive list of filters, both do it yourself units and ones that are manufactured. I have tried to classify them into categories and placed a summary where possible. Simply click to open each of these pages. Aeration Types of Aeration and Design Considerations - By Claude E. Boyd, Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. Help! I Can't Breathe - From www.akca.org . Buyer's guide to air pumps - An article from Practical Fishkeeping.
Chemical filtration Activated carbon - This is often used in filters to treat the water chemically. It is often used in conjunction with other filter media. |