How does biological filtration work?
In an aerobic biological filter, oxygen-rich water is passed through filter media by a pump. Oxygen-loving (aerobic) bacteria form on the filter material. These bacteria consume toxic fish waste (ammonia), making it harmless by converting it first to nitrites, and then to nitrates. Nitrates are the by-products of the metabolism of the bacteria. Low amounts of nitrates in aquarium water do not harm many fish, but can impede the growth and health of many live-reef corals and other invertebrates. High levels of nitrate in an aquarium will eventually harm all the animals in the aquarium. Nitrates are usually removed by partial water changes, or sometimes by the use of denitrifying filters. An anaerobic biological filter requires an environment that is very oxygen-poor. Bacteria that flourish in the absence or near-absence of oxygen cultivate on filter media through which water moves very slowly (or in some cases, not at all). These bacteria consume nitrates and other nitrogenous waste in a
Related Questions
- Is it possible in SW to create a complete biological filtration system via plants as nutrient export and powerheads for filtration as it is in FW?
- Also, anything that seems to wipe out Brooklynella also destroys the biological filtration, is there any other treatment that I can use?
- biological filtration. How can that be?
