What filtration rate for an aquarium?

What filtration rate for an aquarium ? What filter flow for my aquarium? How to choose a filtration system suitable for your aquarium and how to choose an optimal flow rate.

What filtration rate for an aquarium?

If you want to adopt a small animal with fins, it is essential to prepare well for its arrival by making sure that it will be installed in the best possible conditions. For this, one of the most important steps is the choice of an aquarium filter.

Indeed, it is an essential element for the survival of your fish. The filter makes it possible to avoid changing the water in your aquarium every day, while keeping it clear and clean for longer. However, not all filters are created equal, and you must choose one that is suitable for your fish, but also for the dimensions of your aquarium.

The purpose of an aquarium filter

Before you start buying a filter, it is important to know what it is used for and to understand how it works. In this way, you can then choose the filter that best suits your aquarium and therefore the well-being of your fish. Indeed, as the fish are permanently in a relatively small space, the water around them can quickly be submerged in food, remains, pieces of plants as well as by fish droppings. Another problem is that this waste will turn into ammonia and therefore pose a danger to fish.

The filter of an aquarium is an element to add in addition to your aquarium when you buy it. It is similar to a box that you affix to the aquarium and which is composed of a pump and filtration media. Thus, it makes it possible to retain suspended matter in the water, but it also helps to decompose and transform some of the organic and chemical compounds.

The filter will thus transform the ammonia into nitrates and will therefore decompose the organic matter more quickly. Thanks to this, the water in your aquarium will stay clean longer and you will therefore not have to change it every day.

How an aquarium filter works

An aquarium filter works using a pump or a motor and filter media. The pump will circulate the water in the filtration masses, which will allow the water to be cleaned mechanically, chemically or biologically.

There are actually three different kinds of filtration. First of all, chemical filtration, this filtration is carried out occasionally using, for example, activated carbon. The activated carbon is placed in a receptacle or in a compartment directly integrated into the aquarium. The activated carbon will then eliminate chlorine, food remains, heavy metals, possible remains of medicines and odors. Then there is biological filtration, which is mandatory, as well as mechanical filtration, which is also mandatory.

Thanks to the foam that constitutes it, the filter is able to contain a significant number of bacteria, which will be used to clean the water. These bacteria will indeed transform the ammonia created by the waste present in the aquarium into nitrites and then into nitrates, which are not toxic to fish, unless they are present in very high concentrations. All this filtering system is practiced continuously within the aquarium to ensure good quality water, it is the nitrogen cycle.

the flow rate of an aquarium filter

Now that you have information about the usefulness and operation of an aquarium filter, you need to know the right flow rate for your aquarium. Indeed, the flow rate of the filter is very important for the filtration process to be carried out correctly. To do this, you first need to know the size of your aquarium. The flow rate of the filter should generally be three times the total volume your aquarium can hold. For a 100 liter aquarium , you will therefore need a flow rate of 300 liters in order to allow optimal operation.

Secondly, you need to determine the volume of the filter you intend to buy. This is important because the flow rate of the filter corresponds to the power of the pump that is in the filter. It is also essential to take into account the size and number of filter media. This is the reason why, at the same flow rate, it is advisable to choose a filter with the largest possible filtration volume. In this way, you will not have to clean the filter as often as with a filter with a smaller volume, because the filter media will have a greater absorption capacity.

Quality water for your fish

Now that we have reviewed the various information that is essential to know before buying an aquarium filter, all you have to do is go to a specialized store to make your choice. You will thus have all the keys in hand to choose the filter best suited to your aquarium and which will guarantee you quality water for your fish, without you having to change it constantly.