About Fish Tank Filtration Systems

Just like adequate lighting, a proper water filtration system is one of the most important things you must buy for your fish tank. Pollution is very dangerous in your aquarium environment, and you need to take special measures to keep the water conditions right.

Living things like fish release a lot of pollutants in their normal day to day existence. As they swim around, fish leave behind food particles, waste, and ammonia from their gills. In the wild, the huge quantities of water available allow all this pollution to dissipate harmlessly, but in your fish tanks it accumulates and rots. Most of these rotting substances release even more ammonia into the environment. Fish can’t tolerate that much ammonia, and after a while your water will become toxic, and your fish will die.

Mechanical filters work by straining the waste particles before they have a chance to accumulate and rot. This helps to keep your water clean and safe for your fish. It’s not enough by itself, and it’s not the only kind of filtration.

Biological filtration is a more natural method, and it works by cultivating beneficial bacteria on your filter. These bacteria feed on the dangerous waste chemicals like ammonia that can kill your fish. This kind of filtration is a crucial part of keeping your water clean and it can even be used by itself in environments with small numbers of fish.

The third kind of filtration is called chemical filtration, and it works by removing dissolved waste particles from your water. Most people do this with activated carbon in their filter. The carbon needs to be replaced periodically, and if it’s not changed out, it can eventually become a hazard because of all the waste it collects.

There are many different kinds of filters (undergravel filters, sponge filters, and corner filters just to name a few) that rely on different combinations of the various filtration methods. The filtration method you use for your tank will depend on the number and type of fish you have.