Reef Aquarium Filters

Reef Aquarium Filters When planning a reef aquarium, you need to be very careful to have a system of reef aquarium filters that are more than up to the task of making sure all the delicate creatures contained therein are getting the conditions they require to thrive.

One of the most stunning things one may display in a saltwater aquarium is a full marine reef environment, complete with corals, plants, invertebrates and fish. To maintain such a delicate variety of organisms, you'll need to make sure the water is perfectly suited to the specific requirements of the pickiest member of the community. Some very good reef aquarium filters will help make this daunting task possible.

By Design

When designing the reef, you should choose creatures that not only get along, but also have similar requirements. From your research you should have a good idea how much water needs to move to set up a current of a particular force. You'll also have an idea of which reef aquarium filters and how much filtration is required to keep nitrate levels down and oxygen levels up with a minimum of cost and fuss.

Basic Types of Filters Those interested in the health of their marine livestock will be keen to have filters installed that perform their task in all three of the commonly available types:

  • Mechanical filtration that removes particulate matter

  • Chemical filtration that binds solutes to receptor sites on a chemical substrate

  • Biological filtration that relies upon a large surface area of useful bacteria

While biological control may be the most useful in the long run, there are always cases where the usual fails to happen, for whatever reason, and the backup filtration methods save the day.

It is also very likely that you'll want to use a protein skimmer in conjunction with a reef-type tank. These can help keep your manual cleaning tasks down to a twice per year event, rather than a weekly chore.

Monitoring and Record Keeping

When it comes to reef aquarium filters, keeping track of everything, including a log of your readings, isn't a bad idea. It takes very little for a reef system, as a whole, to become just a little bit off balance. Such systems are especially prone to disease. Keeping an eye on oxygen and nitrate contents will give you early warning as to what is happening with the water.

Since water has a natural buffering effect, by the time you notice changes, the problem is well under way. In these circumstances, immediate action is required, not only to determine what the official cause is but also, what to do about it.