Eclipse Three Aquarium Filtration

Nitrification occurs principally through bacteria (e.g. Nitrosomonas) metabolizing ammonia to nitrites (NO2-) and other groups (e.g. Nitrobacter) in turn converting nitrites to nitrates (NO3-). Lets look at this in another way (refer to Figure 3); an "idealized" time line for establishing nitrogen cycling in a new marine aquarium:

At mark "0" youve just set up your system and placed all new (read that as sterile) marine water (synthetic). In most cases, the hobbyist will shortly thereafter ("1") introduce either A) Some hardy (nitrogenous waste resistant) fishes, such as damsels to help "pop" t

VHO still holds one advantage over their competitor, Power Compact lamps, in that the lamps distribute light better over a greater area.

Power Compact Fluorescent

In our opinion, Power Compact bulbs are one of the most valuable innovations in the aquarium hobby in recent years. Power Compact bulbs consist of U-shaped fluorescent tub

Turns out, these organisms arent necessary, nor advised. There is plenty of ammonia available from live rock, live sand organisms, old/used media, and even starter cultures. Why risk introducing a parasite, pest or pollution to your new system by using live animals here? Dont.

Some folks endorse adding fish food, a bit of cocktail shrimp (sans sauce), even exogenous (like household cleaners) sources of ammonia to s

Modern power filters with their small cartridges, foam pads, and spinning or whirling gimmick devices, will never be adequate for proper biological filtration, in spite of the misleading and exaggerated claims made by some manufacturers.

Under-Gravel Filters: This was the first true biological filter invented for the aquarium. The gravel in an aquarium is suspended above one or more plastic plates, which are equipped with "lift tubes" that extend vertically from the bottom to the water surface. Air is pumped into the bottom of the lift tubes and rises up the tubes, carrying water w

with or without a source of beneficial microbes, C) And/or some "food" as a source of decomposing ammonia to instigate bacterial immobilization.

At point "2" enough ammonia is being converted by bacteria that have been intentionally or accidentally introduced to the system to detect the presence of the nitrification product, nitrite. Point "3" denotes the beginning of Nitrobacter activity with "4" marking the detectabl

African Cichlids in the aquarium

african cichlids

Cyprichromis leptosoma

The most popular African cichlids come from Lake Malawi and lake Tanganyika. The cich.