filter question

[once i was a maggot]

wats the difference between a mechanical filter, and a biological filter
so for eg: wat would a hang on the back type filter be? mechanical or biological?
damo

 

[The-Wolf]

a mechanical filter would "strain" the water removing detrius from it, like plant leaves and fish poo.
A biological filter utalises bacteria to change ammonia, to nitrites and then the nitrites to nitrates

as for the second part of the question, that all depends on the make etc.

 

[once i was a maggot]

so do some filters do both?

 

[Nik_boyd]

yes, there are a several manufacrturers that produce external canister filters than can be filled with a variety of media, allowing for biological and mechanical filtration.

In addition to this there are wet and dry filters, hang on back filters...you should be able to find one to do pretty much anything you want.

I'm currently running and Eheim 2128 thermo filter, biologial and mechanical, and contains the tank heater in one.

 

[The-Wolf]

yes and some do mecanical, biological and chemical.

what size tank you have and is your budget large or small?
external cannisters are the best, but expensive, as for internal it all depends on make etc as to the price (cheaper is not always better)
I personally like the fluval+ for internal filters and Eheim for cannisters.

 

[once i was a maggot]

well im going to be getting a 55 gallon for discus, and ive read that the hang on the back type filters are best, so any recomendations?

also wats chemical?

 

[keane]

also wats chemical?

Carbon.

If you have to medicate your tank in any way, once the treatment is over you place carbon in the filter and it removes the chemicals (medicines).

To add on to previous posts...I use fluval external canisters on both my larger tanks with foam and biomax in them. The foam is the mechanical side of filtration (holding on to all of the gunk) and the biomax retains the beneficial bacteria, which rids the water of your ammonia and nitrites.

I have had ich in my tank once and once the medication period was over I added carbon into the filter to remove the rest of the chemicals.

hope this helps.

steve.

 

[once i was a maggot]

oh ok thanx steve
yes this dus really help lol
damo

 

[yvez9]

Most filters will do both

sponges and floss are the most popular forms of mechanical filtration and they will hold massive amounts of bacteria as well.

Bio-Max and such won't do much for mechanical filtration, but will hold on to bacteria

I'd say all filters are mechanical and biological really.

as for a 55 gallon tank, I would recommend an aqauclear 300/500 or a canister filter

 

[Blue Lobster]

Get a HOB filter. This way you can load it with filter floss, carbon bags, sponges, bio balls etc.

HOB are great because the filtering can be custom taylored to your needs.

Like right now my water has some ditrius (crap and crud) suspended in it, so I put an extra floss pad in there and it will dissappear in a day or two.