Filter question

[zackish]

What's the difference between a bio filter and a regular mechanical filter? When I used to have fish I just had a 10 gallon tank with a filter that you put a white slide in cartridge that was full of carbon. What kind of filter is that.

I have decided to get back into aquariums because after reading a lot I realized that I had done a lot wrong when I set up my first 10 gallon tank. I am buying a 30 gallon soon and was just still looking for some more information but I think I have most of it down and a good game plan.

[Severus]

There are three types of filtration:

Mechanical - This type of filtration has nothing to with your water chemistry or any of the bacteria in your tank. It strictly traps waste so it isnt in your tank

Biological - provides housing for beneficial bacteria that break down dissolved solids to a less toxic form. It provides a larger surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize, where water can pass through the colonies, bringing nutrients and oxygen required for the nitrogen cycle.

Chemical - is effective at removing a variety of impurities, such as copper, chlorine, dissolved proteins, medications, or tap water impurities by binding these unwanted materials and trapping them within the media.

[zackish]

so a bio filter would be like those bio wheels and the chemical filters would be like those cartridge things I had for my power filter?
Which one would you reccommend using or does it depend on the tank?

[Rue]

The terminology is a bit confusing.

The 'filter' is the entire device...no matter what it has in it.

But there are different kinds of filtration; mechanical, biological and chemical. You can have one, two or all three in your filter. And 'media' is the term given to the different forms that the filtration can come in.

Mechanical filtration is anything that removes the tank 'gunk'. The white felt-like material is mechanical. The sponge acts as both mechanical and biological.

Biological filtration are the bacteria that break down ammonia and nitrites to nitrates. These bacteria need aerobic conditions to flourish. Generally they are found in the highest number on the sponge, bioballs, etc.

An example of chemical filtration is carbon. Carbon polishes the water and makes it clear. It also neutralizes odour.

[cocoa_pleco]

Mechanical and biological are most often a must, but chemical can be left out. Generally fish suseptable to HITH like oscars, severums, and discus tanks have no carbon since it can cause the disease

[Rue]

...lol...can you tell I'm on dial-up?

If you could only have ONE media in your filter...I'd pick the sponge...it does best at doing double duty. If a sponge doesn't come with your filter, buy one and stuff it behind the the clamshell or cartridge...

[cocoa_pleco]

agreed. If i could have 1, id go bio since...

Chemical alone- would do almost CRAP for the tank
bio- EXCELLENT. Can easily take a medium stocked tank alone
mechanical- just traps big waste, no bio which bombs

[zackish]

so does the sponge hold the bacteria like a biofilter?
Most of the filters I see in stores I think just have the carbon cartrige things, I have never really looked for the others.
I am going to be running a 30 gallon setup, what do you think the best filtration system would be?

[cocoa_pleco]

polywool or sponges trap waste and provide bio treatment, EXCELLENT.

For a 30g, canister filters RULE.

I have 3 canisters, a chinese one for 200g on a extremely understocked 30g, a fluval 205 on a overstocked planted 20g, and a broken hydor. I like the asian one and the fluval best. Quiet and excellent.

Get a fluval 305. you can have lots of media, like sponges, bio-balls, ceramic rings, and carbon. My chinese canister filter has 2 sponges, 1 mechanical waste sponge, 2 carbon inserts, 1 ceramic ring, and 1 bioball one. talk about alot!

[zackish]

that helps, and just one more question, if I were to get a bio-wheel one are they loud with that wheel turning all the time?

[Rue]

I'm a HOB fan myself...

...I like the AquaClear filters best...

...but I have 2, Emperor 280s on my 55g...biowheels...quite quiet!

[cocoa_pleco]

i like aquaclears and whispers. The largest aquaclear (150?) is on my 10g and doing great. I also have a whisper for 10g on my salt tank just for added filtration besides my LR and things are fine

[Zerileous]

I would recomend a "hang on back" type filter (HOB for short). Hagen makes the Aquaclear which is a popular sponge based filter. Its very popular for saltwater and planted tanks. For a fish only fresh water tank, "biowheel" filters seem popular. My pet smart carries Marineland brand biowheel filters, as well as the aquaclears. Both would be a fine choice (for a fish only tank). Look for 150 - 200 gallons per hour. Until an extreme point, more is better so I would go ahead and spring for the 200 gph model. You could also run dual HOB filters with 100 to 150 gph. It depends on how much filtration you want/can afford.

[cocoa_pleco]

that too. I have a biowheel for 75g on my 29g african tank with 2 zebras and 5 hybrid cichlids with 3 gold snails and the water quality is great

[Severus]

I like my biowheel. You can hear the wheels turning but it is not loud by any means. You wont be disappointed with either (biowheel or aquaclear)

[bscman]

I like my hang-of-back filters.
Aquaclear would be my first choice...and if you have a petsmart near you, print off the price from their website and they'll honor it. (CHEAP!)

Second would be Whisper's. I have one a 40g Whisper HOB on my 25 gallon and it does a bang-up job.

[zackish]

I like my hang-of-back filters.
Aquaclear would be my first choice...and if you have a petsmart near you, print off the price from their website and they'll honor it. (CHEAP!)

Second would be Whisper's. I have one a 40g Whisper HOB on my 25 gallon and it does a bang-up job.


Print off the price from whose website and who will match it? Petsmart will match a cheap online price?

Also, I was looking at the aquaclear, it doesnt seem to have chemical filtration, is that correct?

[cocoa_pleco]

nope, aquaclears have a sponge for mechanical and bio and room on the bottom for a carbon pouch, which is chemical. I always stick 5 ceramic rings by the output for extra bio filtration

[zackish]

nope, aquaclears have a sponge for mechanical and bio and room on the bottom for a carbon pouch, which is chemical. I always stick 5 ceramic rings by the output for extra bio filtration


What are the ceramic rings, and where can I find them?

[cocoa_pleco]

you can find them at most fish stores. Theyre little 1" pipes that are made of ceramic and you just place them anywhere in a canister filter, or HOB. ONE ring holds as much bacteria as a filter itself, so 5 is great.