Undergravel Fish Tank Filter Views
An undergravel filter is really just a plastic plate that covers the bottom of the aquarium. The plate has many small holes or slots in it. The exact physical appearance varies from one brand to another, but all work on exactly the same principle.The undergravel filter plate is covered with aquarium gravel. Located at each back corner of the plate is a lift tube that extends from the plate to the top of the tank.
As a result, the aquarium will house more than enough nitrifying bacteria to complete the nitrogen cycle, and the fish will have a healthy environment.In addition to being a biological filter, the undergravel filter acts as a mechanical filter because it catches solids as they pass into the gravel bed.
An aquarium is, however, an imperfect microcosm of the natural world. Aquariums are usually much more densely stocked with fish than the natural environment. This increases the amount of ammonia produced in the relatively small volume of the aquarium. The bacteria responsible for breaking down the ammonia colonize the surface of any objects inside the aquarium. In most case, a biological filter is nothing more than a chemically inert porous sponge, which provides a greatly enlarged surface area on which these bacteria can develop. These bacterial colonies take several weeks to form, during which time the aquarium is vulnerable to a condition commonly known as new tank syndrome if stocked with fish too quickly. Some systems incorporate bacteria capable of converting nitrates into nitrogen gas.[5]
Some under gravel filters come with carbon cartridges that fit the top of the lift tubes. These are unnecessary and can be dangerous. There is not enough carbon in these cartridges to provide sufficient chemical filtration, if you are running your filter with an air pump, you are not moving enough water through the carbon to provide good chemical filtration, and the carbon will restrict (and may even stop) water flow through the filter. Additionally, when the carbon becomes saturated, it is possible for it to begin to release other toxins into your tank. If you do decide to use carbon cartridges with your under gravel filter, you should replace them at least three times a month. Remember to remove any carbon from the tank or filter before you medicate (if the carbon is working, it should remove the medication from the tank in under an hour, in which case your fish won't get treated).
Undergravel Fish Tank Filter Images
