Aquarium Filtration

Your Aquarium’s Life Support

A Filter…

• … is an aquarium’s life support system.• Protists are unicellular, carry on life processes

via diffusion; require no filtration.• Plants are autotrophic, produce O2 as a waste

product. Hence, they require no filtration. • Animals are heterotrophic, produce CO2,

ammonia, and feces as waste products. These become toxic in large amounts when dissolved in water. Hence animals require a FILTER.

Types of Filtration

• Biological – a culture of beneficial bacteria consumes the solid waste and much of the ammonia.

• Chemical – a bed of carbon or sand removes toxins such as ammonia from the water.

• Mechanical – water is agitated to promote interface between the water and the air. This pumps more oxygen into the water, which benefits animals.

The Balanced Aquarium

Can work in nature, but difficult to accomplish in a tank! Requires too many plants!

Types of Filters

• Undergravel Filter – B – bacteria contained under the filter.– M – Bubbles as water comes back through

the output tubes.– C – Charcoal cartridge is optional.

Undergravel Filter – Pros & Cons

• Pros:

– Cheap – Requires little maintenance in a large tank.– No need for floss or carbon.

Cons: cleaning requires entire breakdown of tank!

requires lots of gravel – and ONLY gravel!

Box Filter

• B – Bacteria inhabit the floss • M – bubbling action • C – Charcoal in the box

Box Filter – Pros & Cons

• Pros: – Cheap– Extremely versatile

• You can place any kind of substrate in the box!– great for health and reproduction tanks

Cons: requires outside pump increased noiseRegular maintenance required

Power Filter

• B – Bacteria inhabit the floss pad• M – water flow• C – Charcoal pad

Power Filter – Pros & Cons

• Pros: – Extremely versatile

• You can place any kind of substrate in the box!

Cons: motor prone to

breakdowncan be noisy.

Powerhead• Attaches to an undergravel

system OR can be stand alone.

• Pros: – Extremely versatile– “Revs up” tank by increasing

oxygen flowCons: motor prone to breakdown

can be noisy. Not suitable for smaller tanks.

What filter for you?

• What kind of aquarium are you constructing?

• What kind of water will they demand? – Soft water – peat– Hard water – crushed coral – Medicine – mechanical function ONLY– Reproduction – Biological & Chemical ONLY

Build it yourself!

http://www.sydneycichlid.com/simple-filter.htmConstruct a filter either featured on this page

or along the sidebar. Bring in materials by Friday. Set up in tank and explain how it affects the

water, and for what it may be used for.