Page 9 - TBAS-October-2020

TBASOctober 2020 .................... -9-

One of the most challenging and enjoyable aspects of fishkeeping is
keeping abreast of the constant technological advances that are revolutionizing
the field of aquarium filtration and water treatment.
Retailers who have been in business for 40 years or more can attest to
how many changes this industry has seen, as companies revise old products and
make new discoveries about what works in keeping fish healthy and thriving.
But as much as some things change, they also stay the same. Products
that were good 40 years ago can still be found on retailers’ shelves.
And although researchers have uncovered
important new details about water quality and
its effects on fish health, the basics remain
the same. All fishkeepers need to learn and
understanding about the fundamental
principles governing mechanical, chemical
and biolosrical filtration.
What follows is a look at the most
common forms of filtration that have been the
backbone of “modern” fishkeeping. Some
of these technologies were in use for longer
than anybody can probably remember, while others attained their place only in
the last decade or so.
I will also give some advice on various techniques and methods that can
enhance the benefits already offered by today’s top-notch filtration products.
In the end, though, the most important thing is not simply to “recognize”
these filtration technologies and techniques, but to make sure you become completely
familiar with how and why they work to provide optimum water quality.

Subgravel Filters
When I was only seven years old I received my first aquarium, and the filter
I used way back then was a subgravel filter. And soon, when my son receives his
first Christmas Aquarium setup, it will include a subgravel filter. The subgravel (or

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