What is the best type of
filtration for a freshwater system?
The best type of filtration is one that is not in the tank like hang on
filters such as the Penguin or Emperor bio wheel filters. Canister
filters are more thorough. For very large tanks, pleated canisters with pressure
pumps are excellent.
How many times should the
water be filtered per hour?
When considering water flow in
a marine aquarium, there are several mitigating factors.
NorthSide suggests that water should turn over 6 to 12 times an
hour. Depending on the height of the tank, your pump size
will vary due to differences in head pressure, or the extra
force required to move water against force of gravity.
Pump size can be calculated by taking the volume of the tank and
multiplying by anywhere from 6 to 12. For example,
the pump on a 50 gallon tank should put out about 300 - 600
gallons per hour.
In considering how much flow in the 300-600 gph range is
desired, it is necessary to know what will be going on in the
tank. Some tanks such as acro tanks require much higher
levels of flow than other saltwater tanks, so one would hedge
towards a higher gph pump. It is also necessary to
compensate for the height of the tank by choosing a pump with
adequate head pressure rating.
How does biological
filtration work?
Biological filters work by growing bacteria, which break down fish
wastes. Nitrosamonas and Nitrobacter break down
ammonia, which is very toxic in alkaline water, to nitrites.
Nitrites are then broken down to nitrates, which are much less
toxic. Nitrates are removed by water changes.
Is a sterilizer necessary for my
tank?
In most cases having a sterilizer on a
freshwater tank is not needed. However, it can be helpful
in two main areas.
First, having a sterilizer can greatly reduce the likelihood
that infections will spread from one fish to another, although
it is not fool-proof. Second, in tanks that have frequent
pea soup algae blooms, sterilizers can help bring this condition
under control.
I've heard about diatom filters,
what are they used to fix?
Diatom filters are specialized, highly efficient polishing filters that come in both hang-on and canister styles.
They may be utilized to combat pea soup algae blooms and other
free-floating particulate matter in the aquarium.
Due to their extreme effectiveness, they are typically used for
short periods of time (such as a few hours) and require frequent
cleaning.
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