01 Why you need Filtration
Description
This article is from the Aquaria: Filters FAQ, by Bruce Hallman.
01 Why you need Filtration
Sometimes we forget that fish kept in an aquarium are confined to a
very small quantity of water as compared to their natural habitats in
the wild. In the wild, fish wastes are instantly diluted. But in an
aquarium, waste products can quickly build up to toxic levels.
These waste products include ammonia released from your fishes' gills,
fish poop, and scraps of uneaten food. The food and the poop will also
eventually decay, releasing ammonia. Even small amounts of ammonia
will kill your fish.
Obviously, the more sources of fish waste, the quicker and greater the
ammonia problem. A small heavily-fed tank with lots of large fish will
have much more ammonia than a large tank with one seldom-fed small
fish. But for both these cases you need some form of aquarium
filtration to control the toxic ammonia.
Some aquarists try to control ammonia levels exclusively by changing
the water. This is helpful, but impractical because of the frequency
and size of the water changes required.
Fortunately, there is an easier way! In fact, the world is full of
bacteria that want nothing more than to consume the ammonia and
convert it into less toxic substances. For many an aquarist, this
process occurs without their knowledge or help. However, the smart
aquarist will learn how to take advantage of this beneficial bacteria
by maximizing its growth.
When you start a new fish tank, colonies of beneficial bacteria have
not yet had the chance to grow. For a period of several weeks this is
hazardous to fish. You must gradually build up the source of ammonia
(i.e., start with only one or two small fish) to allow time for the
beneficial bacteria to grow. This is called ``cycling'' your tank.
Read more about this in the BEGINNER FAQ.
Remember that the bacteria break down the ammonia into substances
(first nitrite, then eventually nitrate) that are merely less toxic,
rather than non-toxic. Many fish can tolerate reasonably high levels
of nitrates, but over time the nitrates will accumulate until they,
too, become toxic. Also, because nitrate is a fertilizer, high nitrate
levels can lead to excess algae growth.
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