Aquarium Peat Filtration - Do You Need A Peat Filtration System?

Filtration systems within a fish tank are needed to keep the water condition at a quality that sustains the life of aquatic plants and animals. A fish tank is a closed environment and without the filtration systems the tanks inhabitants would become sick and ultimately die. Filtration performs 3 cleaning functions. It removes visible waste and debris from decaying plants to chips of driftwood. It circulates and aerates the water. It removes any toxic substances or chemicals. This article will briefly discuss the other two types of filtration that go on in a fish tank and then concentrate on chemical filtration of which aquarium peat filtration is a variety.

Mechanical Filtration

Mechanical filtration of a fish tank is mainly to make the tank look clean to the viewer of the fish tank. Fish don't mind if debris is floating round, and some quite like it. But the owner of the fish tank wants the tank to look spotless so he/she can show it off to his/her friends. Mechanical filtration is simply a device much like a sieve that strains the water of the tank so as to remove any debris.

Biological Filtration

Biological filtration removes any waste products, like fish food or excrement, that could make the tank uninhabitable by breaking them down into less toxic substances. Biological filtration is the nitrogen cycle in action. To create biological filtration you need to add media that promote the growth of bacteria colonies that convert ammonia into nitrates. Sponge, sintered glass and ceramic material are good for bacterial growth.

Chemical Filtration

Chemical Filtration is concerned with altering the properties of the water. This primarily means the hardness or softness of the water but can also mean changing the amount of chlorine or other chemicals in the water. Fish prefer soft or hard water based on their indigenous environments. East African lakes generally have hard water so fish from these regions prefer alkaline water. Popular fish like the Discus,Angel fish and surface dwelling catfish prefer softer water.

So you often change the properties of the water based on the type of fish you are keeping.

Peat contains tannic acid which acts as an ion exchanger to soften water. Calcium and Magnesium are the principle chemicals present in hard water. Through ion exchange these chemicals are exchanged for Hydrogen and Sodium.

Thus peat filtration systems will soften the water. They will also color the water and will lose their effectiveness over time.

Aquarium peat filtration is used to change the water quality from hard to soft water. This is useful if you want to keep fish that are more accustomed to this type of water, notably South American cichlids.

Find all the equipment and advice you need to set up your own fish tank at http://www.fishtank-supplies.com . You will get useful tips on selecting the right fish tank filter and other equipment for your aquarium. Adrian Whittle writes about keeping both fresh and saltwater fish and gives advice on selecting fish tank pumps and heaters.