Filtration, Part 4 - Under gravel filters and fluidized bed filters

Filtration, Part 4 - Under gravel filters and fluidized bed filters

It is a filter gravel as a biological function, but also large foreign body can naturally also be taken into substrate. In this type of filtering the water through the substrate is mounted on the bottom of the tank via an air bridge or power head, forced by an airlift. To ensure that the filter works properly, the aquarium, in general, instead of gravel on a perforated surface. The filter current is caused by bacteria, which colonize the surface of the executedevery pebble of sand or corn. The smaller the particles, to resolve the surface for bacteria. An under gravel filter should not use large gravel. If you move between the various cars and air power is selected, you should keep in mind that a side stream in a very fast under gravel filter.

Under gravel filter is cheap, but difficult to clean, especially for inexperienced aquarists. If a lot of debrisstuck in the gravel, will seriously impede the filtration. You can reduce the risk by putting a sponge in water consumption. In this way the water is mechanically filtered before it is forced through the filter gravel. Remember to regularly clean the sponge.

Another way is to avoid clogging, the so-called "reverse flow under gravel filter" deal. While this type of filtration is a head of power used to carry water through the gravel. Under gravel filterare more often found in freshwater aquarium, but they are fish only marine aquarium, even if the aquarium is heavily populated. An aquarium usually need stronger forms of filtration compared to the gravel filter, because the reef inhabitants tend to be extremely sensitive to poor water quality.

Leach fluid

The fluidized bed filters are often used in aquariums planted. Unlike many other types of filters, they will not release carbon dioxide from the water.This filter is similar to the under gravel filter, but is comprised of small sand particles instead of gravel. Both the under gravel filter and the fluidized bed filter are biological filters that require bacterial colonization to work, and since sand particles are smaller than gravel there will be more surface area for bacteria to colonize in a fluidized bet filter.

Another difference between the under gravel filter and the fluidized bed filter is that the later one is more compact and has a more powerful water flow forced through it. In the fluidized bed filter, the sand will be tumbled around quite violently and this will make the water highly aerated. This in turn will provide the bacteria with plenty of valuable oxygen. This powerful water flow means that this filter rarely clogs up, and you do not have to spend a lot of time on maintenance work. If clogging does occur, it must be solved immediately since an oxygen deprived fluidized filter is unhealthy for the aquarium.

There are several types of ready made fluidized bed filters to choose among, and you can also create your own do it yourself  filter. This filter can be placed inside the aquarium or hung outside the aquarium like a power filter. If you make your own fluidized bed filter, you should keep in mind that it will need a very strong water pump to work.

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