Clean and Healthy Water (aquarium)

All aquariums, from the smallest to the largest, need some degree of technical support to stay attractive and to function in the long term. Don't be afraid of aquarium equipment might be too complicated. Not only scientists work in the research department but also aquarium-keepers who always check that the equipment is simple to install and operate.

Which equipment for which aquarium size?

In general, the same principle applies as for buying an aquarium: the larger, the better! An exception to this is the heater, which should be over-large as the automatic switching intervals would otherwise be too short.

Internal or external filter?

This question is not so easy to answer and depends on several factors which are discussed later on. One important point to begin with: no aquarium filter can keep an aquarium completely clean! To do that, a filter would have to be so powerful and large that it would cause a surging current in the water, far too strong for most fish to swim against. The job of a filter is rather to remove floating particles from the water and create favourable conditions for beneficial bacteria to settle and break down hazardous nitrogen compounds such as ammonium, nitrite and nitrate. 95% of all bacteria in an aquarium which break down pollutants live in the filter. This is therefore the most important task of the filter. Bacterial cultures should be added after the filter has been cleaned in order to ensure re-colonisation by beneficial bacteria. In addition to the filter, therefore, a partial change of water should be carried out every 2 weeks using a sediment bell, (a floor cleaner), to remove most of the dirt produced from the floor.

Arguments for an internal filter:

- Does not take up any room in the cupboard or stand inconveniently next to the aquarium.

- No hoses outside the aquarium which might be "re-arranged" by children or pets. Can be extended as modules, growing in size if a larger aquarium is acquired. Suitable for aquarium of up to 200l contents.

Arguments for an external filter:

- Does not take up any room in the aquarium.

- Maintenance work can be carried out without disturbing the aquarium. Needs cleaning less frequently due to larger filter volume. Suitable for aquariums containing up to 600 liters.

Summary:

External filters need cleaning less frequently and are also suitable for larger aquariums. However, if you have pets or children, it is probably better to avoid hoses hanging outside the aquarium and to use an internal filter instead, even though it takes up room in the aquarium.

Filter Cleaning

Depending on the amount of pollution in the aquarium, external filters should be partially cleaned every 4-8 weeks. In the past considerably longer intervals between filter cleaning were recommended, but as it turned out, "dirty" filters are a breeding ground for bacteria and facilitate disease. Therefore, this new finding leads to cleaning intervals of 4-8 weeks which solves a number of problems. The cleaning of the filter should NOT be conducted at the same time as a partial water change as both measures at the same time are too greater an interference for the biological structure of the aquarium. Assessments have, by the way, confirmed that dirty filter hoses reduce the pump capacity by up to 25%! Regular cleaning of the filter with hose brushes maintains the performance of the filter and can be administered quickly.

Substrate Cleaner

Many aquarium enthusiasts wrongly believe that a filter keeps the aquarium completely clean. No filter in the world can achieve this because its pump capacity would have to be so enormous that it would have to flush the dirt from the gravel!

Since most of the dirt sinks to the bottom, the most important way to care for the aquarium is to partially change the water every 2 weeks where one-third of the water is siphoned off and at the same time dirt is removed from the gravel. The proper device for this is the gravel cleaner. The gravel cleaner consists of a suction cup which has a hose at one end. If one shortly sucks on it to the water going then it flows into a bucket dedicated for this purpose or directly into a sink with a long enough hose. With the help of the suction cup one plows the gravel and simultaneously siphons the stirred up dirt. The siphoned water is then filled back in together with fresh tap water and turned into biotope- suitable aquarium water with the help of a water conditioner. One of the most important ways to support the filter is to use a substrate cleaner and is consequently the most important method of caring for the aquarium! Don't be afraid: It is easier than you think and can even be fun.

Filter materials

As already described in the question of whether t use an internal or an external filter, the main purpose of the filter is to remove floating particles from the water and provide room for beneficial bacteria to settle in order to to breakdown pollutants.

There are multiple ways to set up an aquarium filter to get the best results. That said, the most effective filtration systems use three different kinds of media.

1. Mechanical Media

This is usually the first phase that the water passes through because it removes large, visible pieces of debris. This can be everything from uneaten food to detritus to pieces of leaves.

Mechanical media can be dense mesh or even ceramic rings that form a barrier in your filter. Basically, it’s material that allows water to flow through while keeping the debris from recirculating into your tank.

2. Chemical Media

Chemical media removes the things from your tank that you can’t see, like ammonia. There are several different kinds of chemical media but the most common are activated carbon and zeolite.

3. Biological Media

While you don’t actually place beneficial bacteria into a filter, you do need to provide it with a place to grow. Usually, this is accomplished through introducing biorings. Ceramic rings work, too.

Beneficial bacteria should grow naturally and love places that are porous with a lot of surface area. They thrive on the nitrate in the water and remove it to prevent any harmful effects to fish and plants

Best Aquarium Filter Media Reviews

1. Aquarium Filter Pad – Premium True Dual Density Aquarium Filter Media Roll

One of the first things you’ll notice about these filter pads from Aquatic Experts is how thick they are.

They actually have two layers. The top layer has an open fiber that’s designed to trap large pieces of debris, like food, waste, pieces of decaying plant life, and detritus. The bottom layer is more dense to catch the fine particles that manage to make it through the first layer.

What’s cool about this filter media is it comes in a roll. You customize it to the perfect size for your filter. It’s perfect for freshwater or saltwater and can be used in a variety of different systems.

2. Aqua Flo Aquarium Filter Media

Aqua Flo has been making aquarium supplies for more than 30 years and this filter media has served a lot of happy customers.

They don’t use any chemical in production which means it’s perfectly safe for all fresh and saltwater aquariums, tanks, or even ponds.

This media has two layers, a coarse white layer to catch large particles and a finer green layer for the small things that sneak through. It’s more rigid than its competitors and exceptionally durable.

Because it comes in a large roll, you can cut it to the perfect size for your filter. The roll is actually 12 x 6 feet so one roll will last a really long time.

3. MarineLand Black Diamond Media Premium Activated Carbon

Activated carbon is especially effective as aquarium media. It works quickly, too, as much as twice as fast as other materials.

This product from Marineland is specially sized to be as efficient as possible. It comes in small pebbles but if you find you want something smaller for your filter, all you have to do is run it through a coffee grinder and you’ll get a fine powder that’s just as effective.

It filters out impurities that mechanical filters just can’t touch, leaving the water crystal clear and your fish as happy as can be.

4. Fluval External Power Filter Pre-Filter Media

These Fluval ceramic rings work in two ways. First, the unique hexagonal shape creates a barrier that captures solid waste which will help keep your filter from clogging.

Second, the ceramic surface provides a perfect environment for large populations of beneficial bacteria to grow which helps control ammonia and nitrite levels.

Here’s the best part. They’re reusable.

All you have to do is rinse them occasionally and you can keep putting them right back in the filter.

5. MarineLand Ammonia Neutralizing Zeolite Blend Aquarium Carbon Media

This blend from Marineland contains both zeolite and activated carbon.

Zeolite is a white mineral that has an incredibly porous surface and is really effective at removing ammonia from aquarium water. Activated charcoal also works to remove ammonia and chloramines along with other impurities.

This media really is a double threat. It works fast and lasts a long time, providing clean, sparkling water for fish to thrive.

6. CNZ Aquarium Filter Media Kits

Another option is this media kit from CNZ that comes with everything you need to get the water in your aquarium clean and chemically balanced.

What kind of media are included?

One of the materials it includes is activated carbon, which filters out ammonia and other invisible impurities. Bio balls are also included, which are 1 inch in diameter and the perfect environment for colonies of beneficial bacteria to grow.

Lastly, it comes with ceramic rings, which act as mechanical filtration to trap larger pieces of debris as well as providing additional surface area for bacterial colonies to grow.

This kit covers every kind of filtration you need for clear, sparkling water that will allow your fish and plant life to thrive.

Heating

Although you may think that an unheated "cold water" aquarium is the easiest, this is a misconception. Fluctuating ambient temperatures and high temperatures in summer can cause problems. Depending on the country, cooling might even be necessary. A warm water aquarium is a far simpler way, as fish can tolerate temperatures of between 23 and 29 Degrees Celsius without any problem.

A heater stat, keeps the water temperature in fresh and salt water at the required level, as long as the room temperature is not higher. Many aquarium keepers think that tropical fish also need tropical water temperatures of 28-29 Degrees Celsius. This is not the case, however. Despite high air temperatures tropics, the water temperature is often only 25-27 Degrees Celsius. In addition to this, fish often have greater resilience if the water temperature is between 24-26 Degrees Celsius. By the way, this temperature

Thank you guys for reading, make sure you do your research x