Saltwater aquariums have long fascinated enthusiasts with their ability to recreate the beauty of the ocean within the confines of a glass tank. However, behind the mesmerizing spectacle lies a delicate ecosystem that requires meticulous care and maintenance. At the heart of every successful saltwater aquarium lies an efficient filtration system that keeps the ecosystem intact.
In this article, we have a guide for you enthusiasts regarding the filtration system of a Saltwater Aquarium. All the basic knowledge that you need to know before setting up a Saltwater Aquarium is listed from equipment to filtration systems.
This article aims to provide a solid foundation to build upon, enabling you to explore more advanced techniques and innovations that continue to shape the world of saltwater aquariums.
Types of Filtration in Saltwater Aquarium
In Saltwater Aquarium, the types of filtration are similar to that of a Freshwater Aquarium. In Saltwater Aquariums too, you would want Biological, Mechanical, and Chemical filtration for adequate filtration in your tank.
Biological Filtration
In an aquarium, biological filtration is a major part of keeping the ecosystem of the aquarium intact. In biological filtration, the beneficial or nitrifying bacteria in the aquarium will break down harmful substances such as ammonia into non-harmful compounds such as nitrite and nitrate.
Ammonia is toxic to fish as it can harm their gills and can end up killing them. Therefore, biological filtration is important as it gets rid of all the harmful chemicals within the aquarium’s ecosystem. Although this is only possible with the presence of nitrifying bacteria, therefore, you have to preserve them.
Mechanical Filtration
Mechanical Filtration works to remove all the dirt and debris from the aquarium. It gets rid of all kinds of solid wastes like uneaten food, and dead substances from the aquarium before it causes any kind of damage to the ecosystem. It removes them before it has any chance to break down and release toxic chemicals.
There are filter media such as pads, sponges, etc, through which the water flows and the debris get stuck in between. These media act as a sieve that filters out the solid wastes as water passes through.
Chemical Filtration
Chemical Filtration as the name suggests eradicates any kind of unwanted and harmful chemicals from the aquarium. Chemical filtration must be undertaken in an aquarium when problems arise such as ammonia spikes, high levels of nitrate, phosphate, and many more.
The aquarium’s ecosystem can go wrong in a lot of ways and chemical disbalance can wreak havoc in your aquarium.
For chemical filtration, there is usually activated carbon and GFO as filter media. But chemical filtration only takes care of the problem such as ammonia spikes, it doesn’t eradicate the source of it. Therefore, cleaning the aquarium is important along with taking care of the problem.
Types of Filters for Saltwater Aquarium
In a Saltwater Aquarium, there are several kinds of filters that you can use. Since there are a myriad of choices available having the basic knowledge of what each one works is important. The most reliable and effective filters for Saltwater Aquarium are
- Protein Skimmers
- Canister Filters
- Undergravel filters
- Trickle Filters
- Biological Filters
Now let’s get on to the basics of these filters and see why is it a good choice for a Saltwater Tank.
Protein Skimmers
Protein Skimmers are an effective method of keeping a Saltwater tank clean, especially reef tanks. These skimmers work uniquely by cleaning out the tank’s impurities with bubbles. There are microscopic bubbles in the case of Protein Skimmers and these bubbles carry the impurities till they burst.
The waste then gets accumulated in the surface of the water and the sight of it is unbearable. These wastes then are taken to a compartment where they are accumulated.
There are two different types of Protein Skimmers. There are submersible ones and there are ones that go in a sump. The submersible ones are cheaper but they don’t perform that well. But the ones that go in a sump are better at cleaning but they are more expensive.
Canister Filters
Canister Filters are the jack of all trades and are capable of filtering a Saltwater Aquarium with all types of filtration. With the amalgamation of mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration, therefore, the tank will be thoroughly cleaned with this filter.
This kind of filter usually contains a compartment that houses all the filter media. The water is then run into the compartment with a tube and it is run through filter media which then cleans the water. It even has a part where the nitrifying bacteria can grow and accumulate.
Every kind of unwanted substance such as solid waste, and unwanted chemicals is cleaned off the water and then clean water flows back into the tank. These kinds of filters are extremely reliable and work best in large tanks.
You can even pair it with other kinds of filtration systems as well. It also comes in various sizes making it compatible with a lot of tank sizes.
Biological Filters
In a Saltwater Aquarium, there are various kinds of biological filter media that you can add to your tank. Live Rock and Live Sand are excellent filter media where nitrifying bacteria can thrive and grow.
Live rocks are rocks that are found in the ocean. They are porous rocks and are called life because of the living nitrifying bacteria in them.
These rocks are extremely good for the growth and accumulation of nitrifying bacteria in them. They are also aesthetically pleasing while promoting biological filtration. But these rocks cannot provide a large area for the nitrifying bacteria and a large amount of rock is required.
An alternative to Live Rock is Live Sand.
Live Sand is similar to Live Rocks in all aspects, the only difference is that it is sand. They provide more area for the nitrifying bacteria to grow.
But you have to be careful in adding the amount of Live Sand. Moreover, the bad thing about Live Sand is that when it is disturbed it can cause ammonia spikes.
Trickle Filter
A Trickle Filter or a Wet/Dry Filter is best for a Saltwater Aquarium in terms of biological filtration. Along with this, this filter can be customized with several different kinds of filter media and is perfect if you want a sump system.
This is similar to a canister filter where there are several kinds of filter media and does an overall cleaning of the water. For biological filtration, there are bio balls that are great for harboring nitrifying bacteria. You can add activated carbon for chemical filtration and finally sponges for mechanical filtration.
Therefore, a trickle filter is great for maintaining the cleanliness of a Saltwater Aquarium. However, setting it up with a sump filter can be a hindrance at first but when you’re done fixing it, it will do wonders in your aquarium.
Is Sump Filter Good for Saltwater Aquarium?
A sump filter in a saltwater aquarium is another container of water that contains all of the pieces of equipment for the filtration system. This container sits below the main tank and the water passes through a siphon pipe into the filter.
With a Sump, you can add a lot of equipment. You can also add a myriad of filter media and make your customizations. There will also be more water quantity therefore there will be fewer fluctuations in the chemical composition. Lastly, all the pieces of equipment will be in a different compartment, so there will be nothing to hinder the view of your aquarium.
So a sump system is extremely good for a Saltwater Aquarium and gives a lot of advantages. Although it might be difficult to set up as there will be a lot of equipment. It can also make noise that can disturb you if you like a quiet surroundings.
Conclusion
In the enchanting realm of saltwater aquariums, proper filtration is the cornerstone of a thriving aquatic ecosystem. By mastering the basics of saltwater aquarium filtration, you have unlocked the key to maintaining the health, vitality, and beauty of your underwater world.
Throughout this article, we have explored the primary objectives of filtration: mechanical, chemical, and biological processes. We have delved into the different types of filtration equipment, such as protein skimmers, canister filters, and live rock, understanding their unique functions and benefits.
