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Guide to Saltwater Aquarium Filtration
Last updated on November 23rd, 2023
Saltwater Aquarium Filtration
Saltwater aquarium filtration boil down to three categories Biological, Mechanical, and Chemical Filtration. Each of these aquarium filtration types handles different things. This guide was designed to help identify the different saltwater aquarium filtration methods, the saltwater aquarium filters, saltwater aquarium filter media available for each type of aquarium filtration, and help you choose the right saltwater aquarium filter for the problems you are trying to solve or prevent.
Saltwater Aquarium Filters Explained
At a high level, you can think of each type of filter as a layer that get's rid of different size waste. Filter rollers, filter socks, and other sponge or floss based filters remove large particles. This may be fish food or waste from the sand, etc. Protein skimmers are another layer of particle removal, but removing slightly smaller particles. Filter medias like carbon then clear out the smallest of these particles, including toxins.
You'll notice most particle removal falls under mechanical removal, but then biological filtration removes what was missed and broke down into ammonia. Chemical filtration is a bit more complicated as it relies on chemical reactions to solve more specific problems.
Saltwater Aquarium Filtration - Biological Filtration
Biological filtration is when bacteria, known as "beneficial bacteria" in the tank converts broken down waste from ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, etc and converts them to less toxic versions. For example, the conversion of ammonia to nitrite, and nitrite to nitrate. Bacteria converts each of these to the next, less toxic version. Some of this bacteria then eats the nitrates and is either eaten by coral or removed by the protein skimmer.
Though bacteria grows naturally after the tank is properly cycled, there are ways to help beneficial bacteria grow. By helping beneficial bacteria growth, the biological filtration in your saltwater tank will be stronger and handle more waste filtration.
Learn more about Biological Filtration
To make this information easier to read and search, I moved it to a smaller article, Saltwater Aquarium Filtration - Biological Filtration.
Saltwater Aquarium Filtration - Chemical Filtration
Unlike other aquarium filters, chemical filtration is typically very specific to the problem being solved. Typically this is high nitrate or phosphate, but it could also be some kind of metals or other element that is too high. While I really can't stress enough that you should find the reason for the high reading, chemical filtration will help bring everything back in check while you work to fix the problem itself.
Learn more about Chemical Filtration
To make this information easier to read and search, I moved it to a smaller article, Saltwater Aquarium Filtration - Chemical Filtration.
Saltwater Aquarium Filtration - Mechanical Filtration
Mechanical filtration is the use of saltwater aquarium filter media to remove debris from the water before it can break down into nitrate and phosphate. Some common examples are filter socks, filter floss, protein skimmers, or any other aquarium filters and aquarium filter media that remove debris from the water before it can break down.
Reef aquarium mechanical filtration is the first line of defense between nutrients and your aquarium. Mechanical filters are one of the most basic and fundamental concepts in maintaining a reef tank. When you feed fish, there is food that does not get eaten. The food that does get eaten will eventually be converted to waste (yup, we're talking fish poop). Both of these will eventually break down, or rot, and increase the nitrates and phosphates in your reef tank. If left uncontrolled, this will lead to poor water quality, illness, algae, cyano, and possibly death in your tank.
Learn more about Mechanical Filtration
To make this information easier to read and search, I moved it to a smaller article, Saltwater Aquarium Filtration - Mechanical Filtration.
About the Author
John Krenzer
John is a Software Engineer with a passion for saltwater aquariums, as well as the founder and president of Reef Stable. He started in the aquarium hobby as a child with a 20 gallon freshwater aquarium. His interest in aquarium life grew and in 2008, John set up his first saltwater aquarium.
Today, John maintains an over 300 gallon reef tank system, consisting of a 120g reef and a 210g reef. These large tanks are contained within the same system, sharing a sump as a means to reduce total maintenance and increase total water volume.
John writes articles for the blog as a means to learn about more reef aquarium topics. These articles act as a reference for the readers as well as himself. John updates these articles frequently to provide additional information or make corrections as new information becomes available.
If you would like to request an article, tank tour article, or to collaborate, let me know via the Contact Me Page!
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