Filtration Foam Features

Mechanical Filtration

Mechanical filtration is the term used to describe the removal of particulate waste from the aquarium. This includes uneaten food, dead plant matter, fish waste and surfactants such as dust. In the PF filter, the plain foam performs the primary mechanical filtration.

Chemical Filtration

Chemical filtration takes place in the black foam of the filter. This foam is impregnated with carbon. Water is forced through this foam after having been pre-filtered by the plain foam. The carbon will help remove odours, toxic heavy metals and chlorine, water discolouration and unwanted treatments. The carbon foam has a finite life span and should be replaced every 3-6 weeks. The carbon foam must also be removed if treatments are in use, as if present, it will remove these treatments rendering them ineffective. Once the treatments have run their course, the carbon foam should be placed back into the filter.

Biological Filtration

Decaying plant matter, fish food, fish waste and other organics will break down into a highly toxic compound called “ammonia”. If untreated, ammonia is lethal to fish, even in very small concentrations. Fortunately, there are naturally occurring bacteria in the aquarium that will break down ammonia into less harmful compounds.

The bacteria (known as Nitrosomonas) require an oxygen-rich environment and a media with a very high surface area in order to flourish. Once they have broken ammonia down into nitrite, a different type of bacteria (nitrobacter) breaks the nitrite down into a compound called nitrate, which is far less harmful to fish. Nitrate content can be kept at safe levels by performing partial water changes (10% every 1-2 weeks). The bacteria mentioned above will thrive on the plain foam(s) included with the PF filter. The plain foam(s) must never be washed in tap water, as this will kill the beneficial bacteria. If it does require rinsing, this should only be done using a bucket of water taken from the aquarium.