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Filtration is a way of describing all the processes that help to maintain water quality. Filtration works in the following ways:
1. Mechanical
2. Chemical
3. Biological
4. Vegetative
1. Mechanical filtration really refers to how fish faeces, debris etc is removed from the tank either by way of manually collecting the floating debris yourself; i.e removing dead leaves that are floating around, and siphoning the gravel to remove excess fish faeces. Some filters can be used to catch this type of debris automatically, but if this is the case, you would need to be sure that they were cleaned out very regularly because the last thing you want is all uneaten food and dead leaves etc being left dumped into the top part of your filter with nowhere to go, until it is broken down, but by then your tank would be toxic and your fish would almost certainly die from this. Your biological filtration can only handle so much waste at any one time, so please watch out for that.
2. Chemical Filtration alters the water chemistry and improves water quality no end. The active carbon will remove dyes from tannins and treatments, and some other types of chemical pollutants.
Some tank set-ups use Carbon Filter medium, which has to be changed regularly as it will dump everything back into the tank if it is left too long. Carbon Filter medium is the chemical part of the filtration process, and this works by removing harmful substances from the water and leaves your tank looking really clear. Please note though, if you are using any medication to treat your fish, this carbon filter medium must be removed before the treatment is added to the aquarium, as the active carbon will remove the treatment, so your fish will not get any better and you would have wasted your money.
3. Biological filtration is the way in which bacteria break down fish faeces, and uneaten food into less toxic nitrates. This process is known as the Nitrogen Cycle, and this takes place in the filter by way of Nitrogen being converted into ammonia as proteins break down; these are then acted upon by the Nitrosomas bacteria which colonise in the filter and break down the ammonia into nitites, which are then acted on by the Nitrobacter bacteria which convert them into less toxic nitrates. the nitrates are then absorbed by the plants in the aquarium, and so the cylce goes on. the Nitrogen cycle relies on good areation in the tank too, as these bacteria need oxygen to survive and thrive, so make sure pumps are working correctly. Good water movement is the key to keeping a good biological filter.
4. The Vegatative stage is the stage when the nitrates are absorbed by the plants in the aquarium.
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