The Three Main Types Of Filters
There are three main types of filters. Their are Biological, Chemical, and Mechanical.
Biological
In order to understand biological filters, you must first understand the concept of ammonia and bacteria. The byproduct of fish is ammonia. This ammonia that the fish produce, is toxic to other fish. In order to counteract this process is bacteria. Bacteria can live in your filter, rocks, sand, or possibly any other surface in your aquarium. The bacteria breaks down these toxic ammonias into less harmful nitrates. A better biological system will take this one step further and break the nitrates down into nitrogen gas. This nitrogen gas can be removed by certain chemical processes, or simply by performing a water change.
Most LFS (Local Fish Stores) that you come across will tell you to add one fish at a time to a new tank. The reason behind this is bacteria live on the fish that you add to your tank. When beginning a new tank it's especially important to keep your water parameters spot on. By adding fish, you add ammonia to the tank. If you add too many fish, there will be too much ammonia for the bacteria will handle, and thus your ammonia level will spike.
There are many different types of biological filters:
1) Sponge filter- This filter is almost self explanatory. Water is ran through a sponge, which contains many bacteria in it. These are more commonly used in breeding or small aquariums.
Sponge filters are primarily used on the intakes of filters, to remove bigger debre before it enter the filter and clogs up. They also use them in breeding tanks so the babies don't get swept up in the filter. They are also used on the returns of Skimmers, (hang on style) to remove the bubbles as the water re-enters the tank.
2) Wet-Dry filters- These filters typically sit below the aquarium. The filter is generally separated into two parts; the wet-dry chamber and a sump. The wet dry chamber contains the bacteria necessary to clean the water. A commonly used method is to have a space above these canisters, where water first comes into. This is called the trickle plate because this is where the water "trickles" down into the wet-dry filter.The next step is the water goes down into the baffle where it generally contains an area for a chemical or sponge to further filter the water. Once the water is purified to the best of the filters ability, it is then sent to the pump to return to your aquarium.
Most LFS (Local Fish Stores) that you come across will tell you to add one fish at a time to a new tank. The reason behind this is bacteria live on the fish that you add to your tank. When beginning a new tank it's especially important to keep your water parameters spot on. By adding fish, you add ammonia to the tank. If you add too many fish, there will be too much ammonia for the bacteria will handle, and thus your ammonia level will spike.
There are many different types of biological filters:
1) Sponge filter- This filter is almost self explanatory. Water is ran through a sponge, which contains many bacteria in it. These are more commonly used in breeding or small aquariums.
Sponge filters are primarily used on the intakes of filters, to remove bigger debre before it enter the filter and clogs up. They also use them in breeding tanks so the babies don't get swept up in the filter. They are also used on the returns of Skimmers, (hang on style) to remove the bubbles as the water re-enters the tank.
2) Wet-Dry filters- These filters typically sit below the aquarium. The filter is generally separated into two parts; the wet-dry chamber and a sump. The wet dry chamber contains the bacteria necessary to clean the water. A commonly used method is to have a space above these canisters, where water first comes into. This is called the trickle plate because this is where the water "trickles" down into the wet-dry filter.The next step is the water goes down into the baffle where it generally contains an area for a chemical or sponge to further filter the water. Once the water is purified to the best of the filters ability, it is then sent to the pump to return to your aquarium.
Mechanical
Mechanical filters are the easiest to comprehend. The mechanical filter is used to add that extra cleanliness to your water. From time to time, there will be matter in your tank. It could be anything from the food you feed your fish, to the fish waste. The problem with this matter is that it will eventually decompose into ammonia which is toxic to the fish. The mechanical filter usually contains a sponge filter or canister filter. Maintenance on these filters is necessary. If forgotten, all the nitrates that the filters picked up could end up back in your tank. This is not necessarily a problem for your fish, but a coral will not last long with your nitrate levels too high.
An addition to this category is the protein skimmer. The protein skimmers are not necessary for FOWLR tanks, but are essential to coral reef tanks. A simple way to explain what these do is they help get rid of all the matter that would eventually turn into ammonia. How these work is they have tiny little bubbles inside of the skimmer. These bubbles attach onto the waste material from your tank and deposit this into the collection cup. In a coral reef tank a filter alone cannot handle all of the ammonia without the help of the protein skimmer.
An addition to this category is the protein skimmer. The protein skimmers are not necessary for FOWLR tanks, but are essential to coral reef tanks. A simple way to explain what these do is they help get rid of all the matter that would eventually turn into ammonia. How these work is they have tiny little bubbles inside of the skimmer. These bubbles attach onto the waste material from your tank and deposit this into the collection cup. In a coral reef tank a filter alone cannot handle all of the ammonia without the help of the protein skimmer.
Chemical
Chemical filtration is unique from the other two mentioned. Chemical filtration purpose is to remove toxins from your water. The process used for this filtration is generally used by carbon, but can be from other chemical resins. Activated Carbons attract the toxins from your tank and absorb them. It is important to check your Ph because this process is known to alter it. Once the carbon contains as much toxins as it can hold, it must be changed. This is the most important step. If you do not change your carbon, the toxins that are not strongly held by your carbon will be released back into the water. A common sign that your carbon filter needs to be changed is a gold tint to the water. Things to do to keep the filter better for a longer period of time are making sure that the water flow is correct, keeping up with your water changes, and making sure that your fish load isn't too much for the tank to handle. Other factors are the hardiness of your water, and the amount of plants that are added to your tank.
Through advancements in this hobby, there are now resins which take out specific chemicals from your tank. The most common ones are nitrate and ammonia. The chemical aspect of the tank is very important because it helps your aquarium keep up with its water parameters that are necessary for a healthy tank.
Through advancements in this hobby, there are now resins which take out specific chemicals from your tank. The most common ones are nitrate and ammonia. The chemical aspect of the tank is very important because it helps your aquarium keep up with its water parameters that are necessary for a healthy tank.