Latest Poll
Loading ...
Biological Filter Media
Biological Filtration is the process of bacteria breaks down toxic compounds into less toxic form.
Let’s try to understand first how bacteria thrive so we can fully learn this media.
- Environment above 55°F
- Need ammonia or nitrite as food source
- Need oxygen for life
Bacteria thrives by getting its oxygen from the water moving in the saltwater aquarium. When solid matter gets trapped into the media, it decreases the water flow which creates oxygen that bacteria needs to survive. This will then cause the bacteria to die.
Every time we buy and add the saltwater fish or other inhabitants into your saltwater aquarium, bacteria will reproduce because of the amount of nitrite and ammonia that is present in the water.
Until the ammonia level drops to zero, the bacteria that consume ammonia will reproduce very quickly, which can make your aquarium look like it has smoke inside it, this is called the bacteria bloom which is basically bacteria that over produces. When the bacteria over comes the ammonia the bacteria will starve and die and the smoke will clear.
|
|
Biological media houses the natural bacterial process involved in the saltwater nitrogen cycle which converts toxic chemical compound ammonia into nitrite then into nitrate.
Many people say that biological filter as the most important aquarium filtration system to have. Biological media or bio-media is any material that helps break down ammonia.
These filters in your saltwater aquarium are ideal place for the bacteria to grow and thrive. A good source of bacteria is a bacteria additive or you can scoop gravel form the established and healthy aquarium. The media is placed in the filtration system of your aquarium where saltwater passes through then brings nutrients and oxygen to the bacteria and then completes the nitrogen cycle.
Water flow affects the efficiency. The faster the water moves, the more efficient it is. Replacement of this media is not necessary unless it has become too clogged to function.
Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide
Related Posts
If you found this page useful, consider linking to it.
Simply copy and paste the code below into your web site (Ctrl+C to copy)
It will look like this: Biological Filter Media
Comments
3 Responses to “Biological Filter Media”
Leave a Reply
-
Order your Aquarium Guide Here
[...] and to speed up the process use as much water as can be spared from your main tank to get the aquarium biological filter going as fast as possible. Also use gravel from the main tank, place it in a nylon bag and place in [...]
[...] aquarists setting up there tank with liverock to aid biological filtration will come across these polychaete worms by default as they are normally is attached to [...]
[...] stages are ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Nitrates are a key component to make an aquarium’s biological filtration system function and stay in [...]