Water Works Wonders

There are many different filtration systems that you can choose for your saltwater tank including protein skimmers, canister filters, under gravel filters, and wet/dry trickle filters. Each of these types of filters performs a specific task in the tank.

Protein skimming, also known as foam fractionating, works by using air bubbles trapped in the filter to clean out tank pollutants. The nasty particles stick to the surface of the air bubbles through surface tension until they are deposited into the filter’s collection cup. Protein filters work well in saltwater tanks but the technology is not advanced enough to work with hobby freshwater tanks. Many protein skimmers hang on the side of the tank and are convenient to work with and one of the least expensive options. Protein skimming should be used in addition to other filtration for a healthy saltwater tank.

Under gravel filters work by pulling water through the filter which contains nitrifying bacteria. They work equally well in saltwater and freshwater applications. Under gravel filters require a fair amount of maintenance to keep the pathways and surfaces clean.

Canister filters can be used alone or in conjunction with other filters. Canister filters can be filled with activated charcoal or other absorbent matter to filter out both pieces of floating material in the tank and biological contaminants. A canister filter can be used as a pre-filter to take out the large particulate matter before it hits a more finely tuned filter. Canister filters can be used for saltwater tanks but are most often found in freshwater applications.

Wet/dry trickle filters work by sucking water out of the tank through a filter that removes both biological and chemical matter. The wet/dry filter requires oxygen to work and this is provided within the filter. Because of the tendency to build up nitrates over time, the wet/dry filter is not recommended for reef aquarium communities.

Many saltwater aquarium setups use more than one filter, although the wet/dry trickle filter is the most popular. The combination used must include biological, mechanical, and chemical filtering. Biological filtering renders the most dangerous by-products of the tank, ammonia and nitrite into nitrate which can safely be removed by other types of filters and by regular water changes. Mechanical filtering is simply removing the pieces of waste from the water before they break down and produce dangerous by-products. Mechanical filters are useless, however, on already-broken-down material. Chemical filters take impurities out of the water using either activated charcoal or resins. These filters become frequently saturated so they should be changed on a regular basis and new filtration material added.

Choosing your filter set up for your saltwater tank is ultimately a matter of preference and budget once you have the three types of filtration- biological, mechanical, and chemical- covered. As in any other mechanized product, look for highly-rated filters manufactured by companies that stand behind their products with satisfaction guarantees. Regardless of the type and quality of filtration used, you must perform regular partial water changes as well.