| Choosing the between all the various salt water | | | | system. |
| fish tank filtration systems can be confusing to | | | | Types of Mechanical Filters |
| say the least. But, before you choose your | | | | For years, the corner filter has been the least |
| specific system, there are a few points you must | | | | expensive and most used type of salt water fish |
| know no matter which system you choose. Keep | | | | tank filtration systems. These clear plastic boxes |
| in mind filtration is a very important part of your | | | | sit inside the tank. An air stone bubbles air through |
| tank, so don't rush through this step. | | | | an airlift tube, which forces water through a bed |
| In natural habitats, the fish have an ample areas in | | | | of filter floss mechanically filtering the water. |
| which to live. In your tank, they are confined to a | | | | Today there are better methods,that don't take |
| relatively small quantity of water. In your tank, | | | | up space, look nicer, and perform well. |
| waste products can quickly build up and spell | | | | Power filters are used by many. You'll find many |
| disaster. That's where the filter comes in. | | | | styles of power filters. The most common hangs |
| Four factors have a huge impact on the success | | | | on the back of the tank. A siphon tube pulls |
| of your tank, and your filtration system. You | | | | water from the tank into the filter box and |
| must have an adequate biological base, the | | | | passes the water though a mechanical filter. An |
| appropriate choice of animals, not over-populate, | | | | internal pump returns the filtered water into the |
| and don't over feed. Get one of these factors | | | | aquarium. Power filters come in many sizes suited |
| wrong, and you most likely will have problems | | | | for small to large aquariums |
| with your saltwater tank. | | | | Under-gravel filters work by slowly passing water |
| Biological filtration is the most important sector of | | | | through the gravel on the bottom, which sits on |
| salt water fish tank filter systems. The biological | | | | top of a perforated plate. The water pumped |
| filters are living organisms within your tank. They | | | | with an airlift, with bubbles air lifting the water in a |
| consume oxygen and waste material within your | | | | vertical tube attached to the filter plate. One |
| tank. It's not something you can add. They will | | | | problem is that the gravel clogs up with waste |
| occur naturally within your saltwater fish tank. | | | | creating a health risk for your fish. |
| Mechanical Filtration | | | | Sponge filters are an efficient,cheap form of |
| The second type of filtration for your tank is | | | | biological filtration. Water is forced through porous |
| mechanical filtration. This is where you choose the | | | | foam by air bubbling through an airlift tube. Water |
| type of salt water filter system you will use in | | | | flowing though the sponge allows the growth of a |
| your new tank. | | | | colony of beneficial bacteria that neutralizes toxic |
| Mechanical filtration strains the solid particles from | | | | ammonia. |
| your tank water. It will not remove solids trapped | | | | Chemical Filtration |
| by gravel, or other items within your tank. A | | | | Chemical filtration removes dissolved wastes from |
| good mechanical filter traps enough solids to keep | | | | aquarium water. The most popular chemical |
| your water clear, without becoming clogged | | | | filtration is the carbon filter method. Your water is |
| frequently. | | | | filtered through gas activated carbon. The best |
| Smaller openings catch finer particles and are | | | | GAC for filtering water is made from coal and is |
| clogged faster than a larger opening. Keep this in | | | | macro-porous (larger pores). |
| mind as you choose your mechanical filtration | | | | |