The Biological filter
It is very important for every aquarium keeper to understand what biological filtration is.
The biological filtration process is what happens in the home aquarium naturally after a month or so of the aquarium being set up. It is this system that will convert fish waste into less harmful products. If you disturb this process by washing filters with tap water and destroying the beneficial bacteria you will have many problems with the water chemistry in your tank. If you work with and understand how your tanks biological filter works then you will know how to maintain it correctly.
In simple terms the biological filter is as follows:
When we feed our fish they produce waste which produces ammonia. Ammonia is also produced by dead plants and animal matter. The beneficial bacteria living in our systems will convert Ammonia into nitrite. Ammonia is very toxic to fish and invertebrates, and high nitrite levels are not good for fish either. Nitrite is then further broken down into nitrate and nitrate is assimilated by algae, coral, mollusks and is only harmful in large quantities.
When we feed our fish they produce waste which produces ammonia. Ammonia is also produced by dead plants and animal matter. The beneficial bacteria living in our systems will convert Ammonia into nitrite. Ammonia is very toxic to fish and invertebrates, and high nitrite levels are not good for fish either. Nitrite is then further broken down into nitrate and nitrate is assimilated by algae, coral, mollusks and is only harmful in large quantities.
This is a very simple explanation of how our tanks biological filter works but hopefully explains the importance of it. If you set up a new tank and place a lot of fish into it then the bacteria required to deal with the fish waste will not have been formed yet. This will result in the fish waste creating high levels of ammonia because it can not be broken down yet. This in turn will kill your fish very quickly. It is why only a hardy single or couple of fish should be introduced into a new tank set up. They will help to slowly start the biological fish so that when other fish are added there is already an established biological filtration system..
Biological filters do not only occur in filter media but also in the substrate of an aquarium or pond. So when filters are cleaned and substrate they should be cleaned in a bucket of tank water so that the healthy bacteria is not killed off. Tap water contains chlorine and many other harmful substances to fish and will kill healthy bacteria in filter media etc if used, hence the need for cleaning filters in aquarium or pond water depending on what fish you are looking after.
Biological filters do not only occur in filter media but also in the substrate of an aquarium or pond. So when filters are cleaned and substrate they should be cleaned in a bucket of tank water so that the healthy bacteria is not killed off. Tap water contains chlorine and many other harmful substances to fish and will kill healthy bacteria in filter media etc if used, hence the need for cleaning filters in aquarium or pond water depending on what fish you are looking after.
Marine Pure Block
Marine Pure Block is a revolutionary breakthrough for the aquarium trade when it comes to biological filtration. Up until now to help with the biological filtration Live Rock has been typically used in saltwater aquariums which is very expensive, and also damages the environment when it is farmed. Live rock is sourced by literally blowing up areas of the reef to break it up ready for collection. Marine Pure Block is placed into the sump or canister and is many more times effective at filtering the water that any other filter media on the market to date. It is very porous and creates a huge surface area for beneficial bacteria to live on. Reports show that it is now possible to keep a marine or reef aquarium using the blocks as the main form of biological filtration. Marine Pure Blocks can also be used in Freshwater Tropical aquariums.