Filters
Aquarium
Filter Systems
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we forget that fish kept in an aquarium are confined to a very small
quantity of water as compared to their natural habitats in the wild.
In the wild, fish wastes are instantly diluted. But in an aquarium,
waste products can quickly build up to toxic levels. These waste
products include ammonia released from your fishes' gills, fish poop,
and scraps of uneaten food. The food and the poop will also eventually
decay, releasing ammonia. Even small amounts of ammonia will kill your
fish. Obviously, the more sources of fish waste, the quicker and
greater the ammonia problem. A small heavily-fed tank with lots of
large fish will have much more ammonia than a large tank with one
seldom-fed small fish. But for both these cases you need some form of
aquarium filtration to control the toxic ammonia. Some aquarists try
to control ammonia levels exclusively by changing the water. This is
helpful, but impractical because of the frequency and size of the
water changes required. Fortunately, there is an easier way! In fact,
the world is full of bacteria that want nothing more than to consume
the ammonia and convert it into less toxic substances. For many an
aquarist, this process occurs without their knowledge or help.
However, the smart aquarist will learn how to take advantage of this
beneficial bacteria by maximizing its growth. When you start a new
fish tank, colonies of beneficial bacteria have not yet had the chance
to grow. For a period of several weeks this is hazardous to fish. You
must gradually build up the source of ammonia (i.e., start with only
one or two small fish) to allow time for the beneficial bacteria to
grow. Remember that the bacteria break down the ammonia into
substances (first nitrite, then eventually nitrate) that are merely
less toxic, rather than non-toxic. Many fish can tolerate reasonably
high levels of nitrates, but over time the nitrates will accumulate
until they, too, become toxic. Also, because nitrate is a fertilizer,
high nitrate levels can lead to excess algae growth.
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| Wet Dry Filters - Main Index | Wet/Dry: By Manufacturer | ||
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Stand
Alone CPR |
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| Biological Filters - Main Index | Biological: By Manufacturer | ||
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Stand
Alone CPR ML Aquatics Tenecor |
Hang
On CPR MLAquatics |
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