Filed under: aquarium cycling
www.TheSmileyFish.com
A basic understanding of biological filtration is absolutely essential for success with both freshwater and saltwater aquariums.
This video, aided by The Kick-Ass Aquarium eBook, covers both biological filtration and the proper and safe method of adding fish to your aquarium.
For more info on the subject, visit www.TheSmileyFish.com
Duration : 0:9:38
thanks alot! and …
thanks alot! and happy holidays
i went too petco and picked up a tube that sucks up and cleans the gravel and did a water change. my fish are doing fine now and i think im going to pick up a algae eater since my albino catfish can’t really eat those granules.
Hi Brian,
first …
Hi Brian,
first and foremost, I apologize for the late response (I’ve been away for the holidays).
From what you’re saying, it sounds like you’re overfeeding your fish. the white stuff that grows on the uneaten food is probably some time of fungal (and perhaps bacterial) growth.
This problem is simple to fix:
Feed your fish tiny amounts of food for a period of 2 to 5 minutes (as opposed to dumping all the food in there at once). Doing this this way prevents overfeeding.
Hope this helps
I have a 10g tank, …
I have a 10g tank, and my fish have been doing fine till recently they all started sitting on the bottom, i have cichlids so they dont “sit around” but theres white stuff growing out of my tank at the bottom it looks like theres a spider or something in my water..
could you please help me.
-Brian.
wow, I am starting …
wow, I am starting up a 135 gallon freshwater aquarium, and this has helped me soo much! Thank You!
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Having …
(Part
Having said that, please do educate yourselves on the various filtration forms and on the other water quality issues necessary to keep these wonderful creatures in your homes:)
Happy fish Keeping Everyone!
Best,
Luke
p.s. I’d like to apologize for the video quality (to my credit, I had to resize this vid from my website to a smaller size and resolution for it to show on Youtube). Still, the information is there, and I hope all benefit from it:)
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This …
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This filtration from, in large aquariums, is bay far the best available means of removing Ammonia from the water …the many experts and pioneers of the modern aquarium hobby with whom I;ve had the privilege to meet (and some of whom I’ve had the pleasure to work with) would attest to the merits of bio-filtration.
In fact, my planted discus tank, my anemone tank and my Acropora-dominated reef tank (which also has a protein skimmer)rely on bio-filtration to keep them clean and healthy.
(Part 6)
I will …
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I will say, however, that Ammonia is the waste product that fish release through their gills and feces in the vast majority of aquariums (So, I wouldn’t try my luck with hoping that Ammonium, and not Ammonia, is being released in your fish-tank). It’s better to be safe than sorry:)
To sum up (I see that this comment is indeed getting long) I would like to encourage all to learn about bio-filtration.
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As a …
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As a further note, I should say that toxic Ammonia (NH3) may also be released in a different form: as nontoxic Ammonium (NH4). Nevertheless, whether fish release NH3 or NH4, and whether Ammonium remains in the NH4 form, relies on a variety factors(which include pH and temperature).
Unfortunately, this ‘Youtube comment space’ is not a medium that’s ideal for a lengthy discussion about the Ammonia/Ammonium divide, so I won’t bore everyone with more of this already lengthy comment.
(Part 4)
I decided …
(Part 4)
I decided to post this video because I have found that the vast majority of people (I’ve worked at two of the best Aquarium shops in the country and have had to explain these basics to many, many people) don’t have a clue about how biological filtration works.
In other words, this video is dedicated only to explaining bio-filtration; and yes, bio-filtration is just one piece (though an important one, I think) of the aquarium puzzle.
(Part 3)
Having …
(Part 3)
Having said that, this video only explains the basics of biological filtration - of how it works and why it’s important. It seems that I have inadvertently taken this video out of its larger context by showing just a small fraction of the information provided by the book and by the accompanying videos. I do appreciate, snap112233, for bringing this to my attention:)
(Sorry, this is a …
(Sorry, this is a continuation of the last comment - not enough space - so I’ll call it Part 2)
This is why I always advocate getting larger fish-tanks (this bit of advice is especially relevant for beginners). In fact, small aquariums tend to suffer from rapid fluctuations in water parameters (which, as you indicate in your comment, are not only limited to the concentration of dissolved toxins, but also include pH, alkalinity, temperature and others).
Hey snap112233,
…
Hey snap112233,
Yes; I agree that bio-filtration isn’t as effective in, say, a 10 gallon tank as it is in larger aquariums. Smaller tanks just don’t have the capacity to house a large beneficial bacteria population, and sudden increases in the release of Ammonia can spell disaster even if a sufficient bacteria population exists.
These potential problems may be exacerbated by overstocking and overfeeding a small tank (not that you should do these horrible things to large aquariums either;).
I was too harsh in …
I was too harsh in my last comment the author is only trying to give the basics on Bio-Filtration (And does a great job). I am only concerned that major parameters like Oxygen ,pH Temp substrate and alkalinity were not discussed. Bacteria are not equipment we buy and plug in, they a living and need the same care as the fish to do the job. All the bacteria and time in the world can’t help 500 fish in a 10 gal aquarium.
I don’t want to say …
I don’t want to say bad things because you are doing good work. So Good work take your time adding fish to your tank…. But what you are saying is 60% wrong. But I really like your preachings. E-mail me for subtle corections.
Useful and easy to …
Useful and easy to understand. Good vid=)