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Showing posts with label filter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label filter. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

What is algea? How to keep under-control algea?

how to keep under control algea

Algae is a term that used to classify photosynthesis or non-photosynthesis plant-like organism. There are several types of algae with different colors, like green, brown, red, golden yellow and blue-green. But in aquarium we generally encounter with green and brown type, because these two are more common.
Up to now everthing is good, algea plant like organism and generally they produce their own food with photosynthesis. But they colonize too fast and you may face with green or brown covered aquarium. So that you need to take precaution for gain an advantage over aquarium algea.

Control Feeding
By overfeed your feed you are creating  fish waste and unconsumed fish food which are big food source for algeaAlgea will increase their growing rate by realisingly this food sources. So that, you must give controlled amount food according consumption rate of your fish. No do not give food that your fish consume in just one or two minutes.

Control Lighting
If you have a planted aquarium, this means you need 12 hours light in your aquarium. If not, you do not need this much light. Ok your fish also need night, but they do not get light too much in their natural living medium. We use light to see our fish in our aquarium. By lighten aquarium too much time, you give algea chance to grow up because they do photosynthesis and for photosynthesis organism needs light. So that you need to limit lighten time to decrease grow rate of algea.
TIP: Always avoid sunlight. Because algea grow like crazy with sunlight and also it increases water temperature and causes stress.

Control Water Parameters
Increase in nitrate level always helps algea growth. Fish waste and unconsumed fish food behave like fertilizer for algea. So that you must test regular your water condition. And also regular partial water change is vital for reduce algea organism number and also remove impurities from water.
TIP: Before water change it is also recommended that to test your tap water, because it may carry algea. (in general phosphate test and nitrate test can give you clue)
Control Filteration System
Aquarium filtration system is a good please for sprout of algea. Because filters collect all of impurities including food and waste. Thus, we must keep filter clean. Although to reduce chemical and biological factors your filtration system must be include also chemical and biological filtration system. You can place active carbon to filter to remove dissolved organics.

Feed Algea-Eater
If you want to keep algea under control, you can try feed algea eating fish or snails. But there is also risk with snails because they can breed easily and over populate the aquarium. So you must feed just one snail against over population.
Algea eating fishes not only feed with algeaAlgea is the limitted part of their diet. They can keep under control algea if your aquarium already captured with algea. You can choose loricariidae catfish.

If you already took precautions but, your aquarium still covered with algea.

What you need to do?
Probably you did not due care all of precautions. Ok, no problem. Your aquarium was captured by algea. Now you must carry out these steps.
  1. Remove fish to clean reserve tank.
  2. Dischargeall of the water from aquarium.
  3. Remove all decor, gravel and plants.
  4. Wash tank with clean water and dry it.
  5. Wash decor and gravel.
  6. Clean all of aquarium equipments.
  7. Put back all of aquarium staff to aquarium.
  8. Fill tank with clean and tested water again.
  9. Place fish.
  10. And do not forget to follow precautions above.


I hope you enjoy reading.

Friday, December 30, 2016

TYPES OF AQUARIUM FILTER / Basic to Complex

There are many types of aquarium filter with different function.

We can seperate aquarium filter in to 3 according to their function.


  • Mechanic Filtration: desingned to catch particles in the aquarium water.
  • Chemical Filtration: filter chemical impurities which like caused by food adulteration.
  • Biological Filtration: helps to nitogen cycle and provides enough space for the grow of beneficial bacterias.

Basic to Complex Aquarium Filters

Up to now we learned function of aquarium filters. Now let’s look at types of aquarium filter from basic to complex.

Sponge/Air Driven Filter

air-driven-filter
Sponge/Air Driven Filter

The most basic aquarium filter. We can not classify this as a mechanic, chemical and biological because they do not do much this functions. You can use this filter for breeding, fry, nursery, hospital, small fish and invertebrates tanks.
Sponge filters’ working princable is to basic. It is powered with air pump and air starts to flow through tube in the center of filter. This flow force the water pull through sponge and filtration done this way.

Price Range: $1.00 - $25.00

Hang on Back (HOB) Filter

hang-on-back-filter
HOB Filter

This type of filter used commonly because it can provide mechanical, biological and chemical filtration at the same time.
You can hang over it to the back or the sides of aquarium. They suck water in the aquarium through their siphone and give back the water to aquarium over their waterfall.
Suck water pass through filter material and according to filter materials, they can provide different type of filtration.

Price Range: $10.00 - $180.00

Internal Filter

inner-aquarium-filter
Internal Filter

Internal filters have dense structure. Because of that it is good to use them in small sized and nano aquariums. You can easily stick to the sides of aquarium.
They provide good mechanical, chemical and biological filtration for small sized aquariums. If you place an airline it can give air which produced movement of water to aquarium.

Price Range: $10.00 - $110.00

Undergravel Filter

aquarium-gravel-filter
Undergravel Filter

As you can understand from the name of filter, it is placed under the gravel of aquarium. It pulls water through the gravel.
Water pass through gravel and by this way mechanical filtration happen. We can not talk chemical and biological filtration very definitely.
Note: You must mix up the gravel over on the filter. If not, particules may collect over your gravel.

Price Range: $8.00 - $60.00

Canister Filter

bigsize-aquarium-filter
Canister Filter

Canister filters are common for big size aquarium. They provide good chemical, mechanical and biological filtration. Because they have bigger size comparing with internal and HOB filters.
According to material inside of canister filter easily at same time as chemically, mechanically and biologically. By the help of siphon it draw water inside and water pass through the different filter materials and turn back to aquarium.
You can use this type of filter for every type of aquarium (salt, fresh and planted) with inner peace.

Price Range: $30.00 - $500.00

Wet/Dry Filter

trickle-filter
Wet/Dry Filter

Wet/dry filters also called trickle filter. 
Setup of this type of aquarium is onerous but especially for salt aquarium it provides excellent biological filtration. Because it provides large area for beneficial bacteria grow.
It also do good chemical filtration with the material in the medium. But its mechanical filtration is limitted.

Price Range: $50.00 - $500.00

Fluidized Bed Filter

sand-filter
Fluidized Bed Filter

By the help of water pump water pumped into filter tube. Filter tube includes granules like sand, plastic or silica.
They provides good biological filtration, moderate mechanical filtration and not good chemical filtration.

Prize Range: $50.00 - $150.00

To Sum Up

According to your needs you can select one of these filters. Do not forget each aquarium needs a filter. Filtration is vital for aquarium fishes.