Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Filtration The Path Toward Camelot

By Bob Goemans

Here's your missing aquarium owner's handbook: A guide from the beginning of aquarium keeping to that of an up-to-date review of aquarium filtration processes. Whether a beginner or expert, this must-have reference work is for both freshwater and marine aquarium owners. It is filled with a considerable amount of what has been learned over the past numerous decades about aquarium filtration processes (i.e., mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration). Then it applies its relevant advancements and thought processes to help promote a "balanced" filtration approach that can be applicable to many different styles of closed systems. And as to the word Camelot, it brings to mind a mythical place of perfection. It's the reason why it was placed in the title of this book as aquariums can at times appear to contain the perfect environment. Nevertheless, aquarium environments tend to change as they age, sometimes not for the better! Therefore, fully understanding aquarium filtration and tying its processes together in a "balanced" approach can result in Camelot-like environments! A win-win situation for both aquarium inhabitants and their owners!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644624388

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Beginning

Let’s begin at square one where research has shown, possibly in about AD 800 there was evidence in China, man kept red crucian carp, the ancestors of today’s goldfish, in large bowls. However, it wasn’t until more recent times (if it can be called that) the first credit for having an aquarium, which was labeled a water cage, was given to Mdm. Jeanette Power in approximately 1832. She collected marine animals for her studies along the coastal areas of Sicily and housed them in her so-called water cages. Ten years later, Dr. George Johnson mentioned in his book History of British Sponges and Lithophytes the formation of a little marine aquarium, and this caused people to think he should be credited with the invention of the aquarium. Two years later, some thought Mrs. Anna Thynne in London should be credited with the invention as she used a glass cage for experiments with coral animals. It seems to depend upon whom you chat with as to the person that should be credited with the creation of what is called an aquarium.

Nevertheless, the popularity of the modern-day aquarium began in 1854 when Philip Henry Gosse published the work titled The Aquarium: An Unveiling of the Wonders of the Deep Sea. He is also credited with developing the first formula for making seawater by adding salts to freshwater, and this method still remains a viable procedure in today’s world.

Overall, these happenings brought about an interest in these small glass enclosed structures, and throughout the mid-eighteen hundreds in the London area, small aquariums were constructed in Regent’s Park and Surrey Zoological Gardens. There was also a small museum in the Liverpool area that exhibited small aquariums containing plants and animals. Then in 1858, Henry D. Butler published a book titled The Family Aquarium, which depicted a four-sided glass aquarium having its bottom area covered with small pebbles and rocks, along with some plants and fishes. It was called The Balanced Freshwater Aquarium and was possibly the first known reference to the word balance in discussions centering on aquariums as to their overall status! With balance equated to the visible substances being in proportions that would equal those found in nature and represent the local conditions where its animals originated. It’s still a method utilized in many of today’s aquariums, both in private homes and public aquaria.

Also near this timeframe, the mid-eighteen hundreds, the word aquarium was coined to describe their public merit (i.e., a public aquarium), and as time progressed, they became a welcomed competitor to museums of art and other civic institutions. In 1861, the French Acclimation Society constructed 14 large aquariums, about 200 gallons each. Shortly thereafter, the Crystal Palace Aquarium in England constructed a 200,000 gallon overall system having 60 large aquariums and a 100,000 gallon water reservoir.

During this same timeframe, public aquarium interest in the United States was growing, and P. T. Barnum was among the first to set up public aquariums on its East Coast. In fact, he is credited with helping the New York Aquarium become established in the very late 1800’s. Besides the New York Aquarium, now called the Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation where I have been a guest speaker on two occasions, I have also visited many other public aquariums (e.g., the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, the seven-level National Aquarium on the waterfront in Baltimore, Maryland, the Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco, the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia, to mention just a few). With their popularity worldwide rightfully growing, highly recommend visiting as many as feasible. Definitely an educational experience!

Yet during those early years of aquarium keeping, animal wastes were highly limiting factors to overall system lifespan, and many attempts at so-called natural systems failed due to insufficient attention to the overall balance of natural forces or what is more often today referred to as equilibrium (i.e., a state of balance between interacting or opposing forces of energy). The term balance would progress from that of visible proportions to that of organisms so small, they can only be seen with a microscope!

As for this brief look-back discussion, I find it necessary sometimes to look far back in time so the present time period can be appreciated! In doing so, have found the aspects surrounding aquarium filtration more than just interesting; they have been astounding. That’s because for many decades, the thoughts were aquarium plants/algae would remove the end products of wastes created by its animals. Furthermore, judicious volumes of new water/water changes would continue its quality. Even though somewhat still good advice today, it’s far too simplified as there is much more to it—far more!

And as for the word filtration, it’s by far better understood these days than it was in days far past where the thought was filtration was simply a single process that removed harmful matter. As time passed, aquarium hobbyists realized they could separate their filtration needs into three separate and quite different processes (i.e., mechanical filtration, chemical filtration, and that of biological filtration).

Chapter 2

Mechanical Filtration

This form of aquarium filtration, for either marine or freshwater aquariums, is by far the most simple as its basic purpose is to trap free-floating particulate organic matter (POM) (e.g., uneaten food, particles of plant matter, and/or other types of undissolved matter) circulating through the system’s water.

Notice the word trap as most types of the media used for this form of filtration require frequent removal and cleaning or replacement. By doing so, it serves two functions. First, the trapped matter is prevented from clogging biological and chemical filters elsewhere in the system. Second, it prevents the mineralization (i.e., breakdown/oxidation by bacteria) of these trapped particulates/matter that would eventually return to solution as ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, and/or other forms of dissolved nutrients. How often to clean this filtering substance depends upon many factors, with the media type, overall system upkeep, and where placed in the aquarium mostly dictating its removal frequency.

There are various types of media, products, or combinations that make the task fairly simple.

Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

Diatomaceous Earth as sold in local aquarium shops.

Probably the most efficient form of mechanical filtration for both freshwater and marine aquariums is accomplished with a product called diatomaceous earth (DE). This very fine powder is actually the skeleton or cell walls of single-cell diatom alga, which is used to coat the walls of a porous sleeve. When aquarium water is forced through the coated sleeve, the minute porous structure of these alga cell walls, which are less than 1 micron, effectively trap suspended matter, providing for extremely clear water being returned to the aquarium. Some hobbyists have also used DE filters to reduce the number of marine or freshwater Ich parasites when treating their aquariums for this malady.

As a precaution for marine aquarists, DE is composed of silica, and there is a slight solvency of this element above a pH of 8.0. This could promote a slight growth of brown, unattractive diatom algae at various locations in the aquarium. DE-equipped filters are considered short-duration-type filters, mostly used for periodical maintenance since they clog rather quickly.

Sponge/Foam Media

Pre-formed mechanical filtration sponge/foam media.

This type of media comes in many different premade shapes and sizes to fit a wide array of filtering equipment (e.g., hang-on filters, box filters, and canister filters) to name just some. It’s designed to trap coarse POM, and when used in certain types of equipment (e.g., canister filters with chemical media), helps keep the chemical media from clogging prematurely. Widely used in both the marine and freshwater hobby because it’s exceptionally good at accomplishing this basic task. Also available in large sheets, making it possible to cut the exact size filter pad needed.

In most situations,