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Biological filter

Aquarium Bio-loadBiological Filtration

Under-Gravel Filters: This was the first true biological filter invented for the aquarium.

 


Don't Water Changes Keep the Biological Filter from Maturing?
Some people recommend not doing water changes while the tank is cycling because they believe that this will disturb the bacteria that are colonizing the biological filter and will either ...

Biological filters and beneficial bacteria go hand and hand. Biological filters are much different than mechanical filters in that they house bacteria, and break down harmful substances on a molecular level.

Biological filtering breaks down waste particles. Using this type of aquarium filter will call for changing of the water more often, but it is the better system.

Biological filters
Of several designs for systems with livestock, if properly engineered, are the key factor in keeping your system balanced in your favor.

Biological Filter - A filter which uses bacteria to breakdown waste in the water into
substances which are less or not at all toxic.
Bio Wheel - A rotating paddle wheel type device that provides excellent wet/dry filtering.

Biological Filter - A filter which uses naturally occurring bacteria to break down waste products in the aquarium water, turning them into substances which are less toxic or not toxic at all.

A biological filter.
A mechanical filter. This is necessary if you are using under gravel filter. However if powerful biological filter is use, these are unnecessary.
An air pump or water pump.

Cycling the biological filter of your aquarium is the first and most important thing you must do to provide a healthy and stable home for your fish! ...

Bio-filter - Biological Filter. Any device or Substrate which provides an attachment site for the nitrifying bacterial colony in an aquarium. See Nitrogen Cycle.

UGF's make good biological filters, because the slow flow of water through the gravel fosters large colonies of beneficial bacteria which neutralize toxic ammonia. The hitch is, that UGF's are awful mechanical filters.

Will not harm the biological filter, alter the pH or discolor water.
Safe for reef aquariums & live plants.
Click here for pricing & availability ...

Q: Why doesn't my biological filter need cleaning?
A: First of all, it can be cleaned (most often by vacuuming), but never take the biological medium (i.e. gravel, crushed coral, sand, shells, rock) out and clean it in chlorinated water, ...

It takes anywhere between 6 and 12 weeks before your biological filter is completely established, and if you place too many fish in the tank during this period, you will kill them. Even after the bio-filter is established, make changes slowly.

A dedicated biological filter is significantly more effective. There are two basic designs: the undergravel filter and the trickle filter. An undergravel filter is a slotted plate under the aquarium gravel.

Floss-based biological filters are cleaned by gently rinsing them in used tank water that has been siphoned into a bucket. Undergravel filters are cleaned through regular vacuuming.

Without pH control in such systems, the pH would rapidly fall to a level where it became toxic to the fish and also the bacteria in the biological filter.

This is the conclusion I have reached after keeping some of them for more than 5 months in a small, 50 liter tank which was supported by a biological filter and no other gadget from the ones which are available today.

Most experts would agree that biological filtering (using aerobic bacteria) is the most important means of maintaining water quality in the fish tank.

UGs operate best as biological filters. They unfortunately serve nicely as mechanical filters as well, especially in tanks using high-output powerheads.

Biological Filtration (nitrifying bacteria)A biological filter is a living entity that takes in oxygen and unwanted substances from the water. It generates its own waste products and creates a setting for beneficial bacteria to breed.

Live rock is usually extremely porous and is used as the primary biological filter in saltwater tanks that have it.

Canister filters, when used in conjunction with an additional biological filter, are an excellent choice for saltwater fish and reef aquariums. The advantage that these filters have in a saltwater aquarium is their ability to be customized.

In order to build a super efficient biological filter, chemical and especially mechanical filtration are often sacrificed.

- Wet/dry filter: Wet-dry filters are the best biological filters available. Numerous commercially produced types are available, although many hobbyists produce their own.

A matured biological filter will ensure that your new acquisitions are not exposed to ammonia poisoning and other toxins. A sponge filter powered by an airpump, or outside filter with a biowheel can work well for this purpose.

Relatively new, these filters are very efficient biological filters utilizing sand as the filer medium. The small particles provide a high surface area for the bacterial colonies.

Why do you need to mature a new biological filter?
New filters do not contain the bacteria necessary to remove ammonia produced by fish and rotting food, so they are initially unable to keep the water free of pollution.

I recommend the use of Large external filters with biological filter media in it i.e. ehiem ehfi substrat. Ok so you break the ammonia and nitrite down to nitrates. You need an effective method for removing this from the water.

A good tank will be equipped with a high capacity biological filter and be fully cycled (which usually takes a month or more.) Ammonia and nitrites should be kept at 0 ppm. Nitrates should also be kept as low as possible.

This is vital, because such waste is both inhibitory to the biological filter and increases the load on the biological filter. It has a secondary function of polishing the water to give it a sparkle.

ACT should be used in all new fresh or saltwater tanks to quickly establish the biological filter. Restores biological action when the bio filter has been disrupted and also decreases organic sludge build-up.

Foam also supports essential bacteria and can be a mechanical and biological filter media, as evidenced by internal filter systems, as long as a regular water change schedule is respected.

This filter uses activated carbon and glass wool (or peat moss) to serve as biological filters. They absorb and retain the fine waste products that float in the water, along with the harmful nitrates and ammonia by-products.

You can help to improve the rate of survival by keeping the tank water clean with regular fresh water changes or using biological filters. The disease were said to be a cause from poor water quality with secondary bacterial/viral infections.

That's is to say, that the large particles are trapped out by the filter pads, organics are removed by, either a protein skimmer or activated carbon, and the 'chemical version' of animals waste is dealt with by the biological filter.

Leng Sy is not even convinced that live rock is necessary. Rock is though, as long as it is porous, it will pick up a sufficient biological filter during the cycle. The MUD does the rest in combination with the algae that grow in the system.

They are helpful if you experience a major spike in say-- ammonia, but if your biological filter is set up correctly you shouldn't have these problems often.

Be sure to have plenty of rocks and hiding spots toward the rear of your tank. In new tanks use a biological starter such as Fritz-Zyme or Tetra Safestart to assure that the biological filter is ready for the fish.

See also: Filter, Water, Fish, Aquarium, Water change