FILTRATION OF SALTWATER AQUARIUM

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One of the most important features while keeping a saltwater aquarium at home/offices is having a good filtration system. But the question arises here why do we need a filter? when fishes eat food and release waste or some eaten food remain at the substrate or when some water quality parameters show dangerous amount level in water that ultimately makes water impure and unhealthy for fishes and that impure water can even kill the fishes so to overcome this situation aquarist uses artificial way to clean the water and make it clear by using a filter, there are some other functions too which filters perform in addition to cleaning such as filter helps to keep saltwater aquarium circulating, it helps Aquarium to have a good flow and supplies air continuously in the aquarium. filtration systems are quite complex for saltwater aquariums it depends upon fish types, the total amount of fish, tank size, the routine of testing parameters or depend upon how many aquarists feed to fishes, so aquarists should get the largest aquarium having good quality suitable for your aquarium requirement because having a good filter can aid to keep nitrate and ammonia as low level as to not have a harmful appeal on water quality or invertebrate in the tank. Many aquarists use a refugium/algae reactor as a supplement to the filtration system for lowering nutrient levels. Choosing a good filtration for the saltwater aquarium can be an intimidating task for aquarists. There are three basic types of filtration requires to keep water tank clean such as

Mechanical filtration

Mechanical filtration is the most important and common type of aquarium filter. mechanical filtration system simply separate out the waste, debris and excess food basically help to keep the aquarium free from debris to make water clean in the tank, debris is trapped through different filter media such as paper, sponges, pads, or floss whenever the water passes from it. But it cannot prevent the aquarium from becoming unstable because it cannot remove the dissolved waste, algae, and bacteria. One of the mechanical filters is a protein skimmer.

Protein skimmer

 Protein skimmer or sometimes known as foam fractionators is the most widely used filter. if it is going to be used in tanks it's even the least expensive with a high-quality filter, many aquarists call it the heart of filtration system this is generally used for Reef tanks it removes the waste before it collapsed into ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/phosphate and debris available in the water and maintain good water quality, oxygenates the water and creates a healthy environment in the aquarium for marine species. Protein skimmer whip out the waste in the shape of protein employing tiny air bubbles. 

Biological filtration

 Biological filtration is the essential filter for the new aquarium despite the fact that these sorts of filters are known as places for good bacteria (nitrifying bacteria). Fishes and corals in the saltwater aquarium release waste which breaks down into ammonia, which is noxious for the inhabitants in the aquarium and gives life threat, so to be free from ammonia Biological filtration employs nitrogen cycle and quickly dismantle ammonia into nitrite and then converted into nitrate. Though nitrate is less harmful in comparison it still helps algae in growth. One of the most widely used biological filters is live rock.

Live rock

Live rock is One of the best and most widely used biological filters used by aquarists.it termed as a live rock because it came from oceans and having living organisms, we purchase it and get as full of life.it is one of the expensive filters but very beneficial for aquariums, for making it useful aquarist have to use no less than one pound of rock for every gallon of water, a live rock’s permeability outcomes in a spate of surface area where nitrifying bacterial fauna emerges and ammonia is eventually converted into nitrate.it gives an aesthetic view for aquarists.

Chemical filtration 

Chemical filtration systems are used to eliminate different pollutants from the water in the tank. When Fishes eat food and release waste or the uneaten food that remains in the tank substrate will cause ammonia and nitrate which are chemicals so here aquarist can use chemical filter to remove them. Chemical filtration system contains different products to use such as Poly Filter, activated carbon, GFO, Purigen, and also Chemi-Pure. Mostly it is adept by aquarists using Corban in the saltwater aquarium and widely used for filter media because it is not expensive and efficient in results as it can eliminate different pollutants from aquarium such as Chlorine and chloramine, Dissolved proteins, Water discoloration, Bad smell. GFO (granular ferrous oxide) is used to eliminate silica and phosphates from the water in the tank. Purigen, Poly Filter, and Chemi-Pure are designed to eliminate various impurities and keep the water clean in the saltwater aquarium.