Filtration methods
The filtration process for all aquariums is usually broken down into three major processes: the biological, chemical and mechanical filtration, each with their own way and own realm of dirt and waste materials to be cleaned.

Biological filtration is the filtration process involving the use of beneficial bacteria to transform several substances in the water. These bacteria literally break down toxic substances commonly found in fish tanks, such as ammonia and nitrites, and transform them into less toxic substances such as nitrates.

Chemical filtration uses the aid of synthetic substances to work out some of the waste material found in water. The reaction of the waste material with the synthetic material allows it to be dissolved, and to be collected easily through the filter. Activated carbon is one of the common materials used for chemical filtration.

Mechanical filtration is a filtration process that involves the use of a filter media to trap solid waste particles in the water. The filter media can be of any material, as long as it can make the waste material stick to it. Regular maintenance of the filter media is required, and it should be replaced periodically.

Filter types
These filters usually involve one or more of the kinds of filtration processes, and it’s entirely up to the hobbyists fish tank specifications whether a certain filter would best suit his or her aquarium or not. Alternatively, you can check out your local hobby stores for freshwater aquarium filters and ask certain experts for advice, but here’s a starting list of filters:

Power filters are the most common in terms of popularity, mainly because they are cheap, usually available at most hobby stores, and relatively efficient. In addition, these kinds of filters are easy to install and use, and you don’t need to suffer much from their maintenance.Canister filters offer that filtration power that you probably can’t find in other filters. They use a mechanism that forces water in the filter media, achieving greater filtering action than most. You have to be wary though, this type of filters is quite hard to maintain, and at most times quite expensive.

Corner filters were the first kind of filters to be used. It works by the simple action of letting the water flow through the filter and into the filter media, and finally filter the water as the filter media begins forming its own beneficial bacteria colony.

Sponge filters make use of a sponge (believe it or not) inside a tube to hoard beneficial bacteria into them, initiating the biological filtration process. Alternatively, the sponge can also be used as a mechanical filter, as it can also trap certain solid particles into it. Some hobbyists install extra sponges for interchanging purposes.

Fluidized bed filters are a relatively new type of filter that uses the concept of using sand for biological filtration. These sands are installed into tubes and are used as the main filter media, letting beneficial bacteria colonize the sand, and then pumping the water upward, which produces the filtering action.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/the-dirtfree-fish-tank-freshwater-aquarium-filters-1522694.html

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1. Consider where you want to put your aquarium. Where an aquarium is going will affect the size of the aquarium you choose. A bookshelf will hold a fishbowl for a single Betta, while a corner in a room will hold a larger tank for entire schools of fish. Do not forget about lighting – fish need light too, and putting them near a window or lamp means you will not have to buy a light especially for your aquarium.

2. Decide on an Aquarium Size. Determining freshwater aquarium size is done by thinking of the fish you want in the tank. If you are a beginner, starting with twenty gallons or under is a safe idea. As always, do research on the fish you want to determine how much space they need before purchasing a tank.

3. Go Shopping! After all that careful time and thought, now you can finally buy your tank and equipment. Purchase a tank, filter, heater, a light if you need one, gravel, plants, and decorations – meaning all the shipwrecks, scuba divers, and logs your fish could want!

4. Set Up! Go ahead and set up your aquarium at the desired location – rinse everything only with water. Read: no soap, no detergents. It is difficult to remove the residue left over from soaps and it is poisonous for your fish.

5. Wash Everything Else. Wash your gravel, plants, and decorations also with water only. An easy way to do this is to place things in a colander and run water over it in your bathtub or sink. After cleaning, place gravel in the aquarium first, and then add the plants and decorations.

6. Add Water. To avoid disturbing the contents of your tank including decorations, gravel and plants, place something flat (like a plate) in your aquarium and allow the water to flow onto it. Ensure your water is at room temperature prior to filling the tank. Test for chlorine (also bad for your fish) and be sure to remove any signs of it.

7. Set Up the Equipment. Install the heater – but wait! – do not plug it in yet. The thermostat needs time to adjust to the water temperature. It should be ready to plug in after approximately fifteen to twenty minutes. Set up the filter and whatever other equipment you have. After everything is set up, fill up the aquarium to just under the hood. Place the hood and tank light (if you have one) on the aquarium and make sure any power cords are clear of water. That sounds pretty common sense, but it can be overlooked!

8. Play the Waiting Game. The aquarium has to cycle before adding any fish. This takes about twenty-four hours. If you must put in fish before the aquarium has gone through one nitrogen cycle, choose a hardy species. Otherwise, wait a day, test parameters, and continue on to the next step if ammonia and nitrate levels are at zero.

9. Add Fish! Exactly what you have been waiting for! Only add a couple at a time. Slowly introducing fish gives the filtration system time to get used to the new biological load. When you bring the fish home, allow the container (usually a plastic bag) to float in the tank so the water in the bag can sync up with the parameters in the tank. Set the fish free after five minutes of floating. Do not feed fish on the first day. They probably will not eat anyway. Get them used to their new environment first.

10. Enjoy Your New Aquarium! After all of your careful planning, research, and setup, you can now enjoy the tranquility of a freshwater aquarium in your home. Keep up regular maintenance, love your fish, and enjoy the peacefulness of the aquarium.

There is a good deal of freshwater aquarium information available and obviously the above list is not an all inclusive one. Rather the ten steps are what I consider to be some of the more important ones you must be aware of.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/freshwater-aquarium-setup-in-10-steps-4120784.html

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There are some things you ought to be ready for with a freshwater aquarium setup though, because it does come with responsibility. First off, there is a cost element. You’ll have the one-off cost to set it up, and you’ll regularly be buying supplies and fish food. You’ll also need to maintain it on a daily basis at least to feed the fish, and then every two weeks or every month. It’s like having any other pet – the better care you take of them, the more rewarding it is.

Let’s start with the equipment that you’ll need. You’ll have to buy most of this especially if you are a beginner – a more experienced aquarium keeper may be able to improvise for one or two items.

• A fish tank or aquarium that will take the number of fish you want.
• Substrate and a substrate vacuum
• An aquarium filter and filter replacements for future maintenance
• A heater and a thermometer
• Plants – these can be real or fake, but if you can get real ones, they are much better for your freshwater aquarium setup.
• An aquarium test kit to help you test the salinity of your aquarium
• A sizeable bucket
• A net and a big-holed strainer

Here’s your step by step guide to freshwater aquarium setup:

1. The size of tank that you choose will be determined by the number and size of fish that you want to keep. You don’t want fish that are overcrowded, or that grow too big. The best way to start is to get a 10 gallon tank and then stock it with small fish that don’t grow too much. When you become a bit more experienced, you can experiment with other species and a bigger tank.
2. Look for a place to keep your aquarium that is stable and safe. It needs to be away from children and other pets that can upset it. If it’s near a window that lets in sunshine, this could raise the water temperature. Too much direct sunshine means that you have to deal with increased algae. Think of the weight of the aquarium as you choose a stand for it. To know how much it weighs, multiply the number of gallons of water in it by 10.
3. Consider the equipment: filters are varied and come at different prices. Some fish also produce more waste than others and they will need special kinds of filters. Think about the heater too in relation to the size of the tank. You also will consider substrate, plants and any other decorations that you will be putting into the tank.
4. Washthe aquarium with water – a rinse of all the parts that will go in there will do. Do not use soap as it will kill your fish. Set up your filter once your parts and tank are clean.
5. Wash the gravel and the pants in clean water and any other decorations that are a part of your freshwater aquarium setup. The substrate needs to be washed thoroughly and you can do this using your pasta strainer. Put is in the bucket and place it in the aquarium along with the plants and decorations.
6. Once you have all this in place, you can now put in the water. To make sure that you don’t mess with the way you had arranged the gravel and plants, place a saucer in the middle and run the water on it and let it flow over into the aquarium. Water should be at room temperature but de-chlorinated.
7. Install the heater and wait for about 15 minutes for the thermostat in the heater to adjust to the water temperature. Place the lid and make sure that the tank light is working properly and that the chords are not in contact with water. Plug it all the bits that will use electrical power and then turn on.
8. Its time to wait. You are waiting for a complete nitrogen cycle in your freshwater aquarium setup to take place. If you put in your fish before it does, they will likely die. You’ll know its cycling when you notice after a few days that the water is getting cloudy.
9. Lastly, add your fish one or two at a time. You are adapting the filtration system slowly. You also need to acclimatize the fish before you put them in. When you bring them home in the bag you bought them in, drop it into the tank for about 15 minutes. There is no need to feed them on their first day home.
10. Don’t forget to feed them the next day, and be ready for your bi-weekly or monthly spring cleaning.

Its lots of fun going through a freshwater aquarium setup. Make it easy on yourself by making sure that you have all the things you need to hand. If you are not very sure, start off with hardy fish – you are more likely to be successful.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/a-complete-guide-to-a-freshwater-aquarium-setup-4608631.html

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