BBradbury
Aquarium Advice Addict
- Joined
- May 24, 2011
- Messages
- 5,011
Hello AA...
What if I had a tank that had been running for several months and decided I didn't want to use a mechanical filter system. Instead I replaced the aeration (gas exchange) the filter provides with a couple of air stones attached to air pumps. The bacteria living in the filter media takes in tank water and removes a tiny bit of the ammonia and nitrite from the wastes the fish and plants produce. But there's bacteria on all the surfaces inside the tank too. In place of the bacteria in the filter, I start a more aggressive water change routine and remove and replace, say 75 percent of the tank water every week.
Would the tank still be as healthy without the filter? Would it be healthier?
Just a thought. Wade in if you care to.
B
What if I had a tank that had been running for several months and decided I didn't want to use a mechanical filter system. Instead I replaced the aeration (gas exchange) the filter provides with a couple of air stones attached to air pumps. The bacteria living in the filter media takes in tank water and removes a tiny bit of the ammonia and nitrite from the wastes the fish and plants produce. But there's bacteria on all the surfaces inside the tank too. In place of the bacteria in the filter, I start a more aggressive water change routine and remove and replace, say 75 percent of the tank water every week.
Would the tank still be as healthy without the filter? Would it be healthier?
Just a thought. Wade in if you care to.
B