Having an aquarium is a great investment because it has so many benefits. However, it is the responsibility of this aquarium to maintain cleanliness at all times and ensure the health of the fish.
In order to create a clean and healthy environment for your fish, your fish tank must have a filter installed. This aquarium filter is used to remove excess food, fish waste, and dirt particles from the tank.
This means you need to invest in a high-quality filter to get the job done right. These filters also come with filter media. This filter media is used to separate particles from water.
They are part of the filtration system and help ensure your water is always clean. Different aquariums use different types of filter media. Here's an overview of everything you need to know:
For Freshwater Aquariums
Freshwater aquariums feature freshwater aquatic life kept for a variety of reasons. These organisms include fish, plants and crustaceans.
For these organisms, the filter media used means care is taken to protect life and keep the water clean. Here are some aquarium filter media you can use.
Mechanical Media
As water passes through the filter, it is directed to mechanical media. Mechanical media absorbs unwanted particles and solid waste. The remaining water can flow through cleanly.
After the waste has been collected onto the media, you take it out and run some water through it to make sure it's clean and all the particles are out. If the filter media is in good condition, you can return it to the water. However, if you notice that it is worn, you should consider replacing it.
There are three different types of mechanical media.
They include:
Filter Pads: These pads are primarily found on the filter elements of overhang (HOB) filters. They have no distinguishing features but do collect debris as needed.
Foam block: Foam is mainly used in water cleaning hob filters and canister filters. These foam blocks are perfect because they get the job done right and last a long time. This saves you money by not having to replace them regularly.
These foams come in three types, namely coarse-celled, medium-celled and fine-celled. Coarse pores will filter out larger debris, medium pores will work best on smaller particles, and fine pores will only handle fine particles that would otherwise leak out of the other pores.
Strainer floss: Strainer floss is a great water polisher that removes all the small particles. They are mainly used in canisters. Instead of filter cotton thread, you may also consider investing in a 100% polyester pillow core. This filler works just as well in jars.
Biological Media
This medium involves using bacteria to remove ammonia and nitrates produced by fish in the water. If this ammonia and nitrates are left unmanaged, they can cause poor health in fish and other aquatic life. We have high quality Bio Media for Sale, click to learn more.
Bacteria in biological media feed on ammonia and nitrates until they are depleted. The biofilter media used provides the perfect breeding ground for bacterial colonies to multiply.
When using this filtration method, the water is separated from ammonia and nitrates to ensure the water is clean and safe. However, it is important to note that you must also use mechanical media due to the presence of other unwanted particles and debris.
The mechanical media will filter out particles and avoid clogging of the biological filter media. When installed, some biological media is integrated into the filter.
A good example is ceramic filter rings. These biological media make them easier to install in your fish tank. However, you may have to get your biofilter and then you can put it in the room. Our K5 Filter Media welcomes your order.
When using this medium, you need to keep an eye on your bacterial colonies to make sure they don't die.
Chemical Medium
Chemical media are used very rarely due to their effects on aquatic plants and corals. It involves using different types to dissolve organic matter and other unwanted elements. They effectively ensure that water quality is maintained.
These chemical media are either housed in a power filter or placed in a simple bag. The water then passes forcefully through the medium, where impurities are absorbed.
After a while, you will need to replace the media used to ensure smooth filtration.
