Catch ya.
Scott Hunt
rainbowfish-owner#064#pcug.org.au - SMTPGATE at WT400 on 27/05/97 11:47:29 AM
To: rainbowfish#064#pcug.org.au - SMTPGATE at WT400
cc:
Subject: Re: [RML] Fluidized bed vs. Wet/dry
Jim wrote:
...0 chemical
filtration potential and no way to implement alternative media choices...
Can someone explain to me what chemicals need to be filtered from the
water?? I can not see where chemical filtration has any part other than the
removal of medication. I am not saying this is a bad thing but I just do
see where the "chemicals" come from. Filtration to me is purely biological.
What does nature do??
Granddad fish in Melbourne, Ron Bowman, Makes his filters out of drinking
straws and they work fantastic and he has been keeping fish from the day
God created them. I think 99.9% of these goodies they call filters are just
a way to make a buck. Granted some of them work well but to me it is just a
different way of doing the same old thing. Under gravel filters work well
because of the amount of area for the bacteria to grow on and that is the
principal of the sponge. Carbon, zeolite, resins etc are just not needed
and I personally think they are for those who do not do water changes or
have a tank where the biological filtration for what ever reason is not
functioning properly and they should be dubbed "artificial filtration". To
me the goal of fish keeping is the creation of a micro environment and that
environment should be natural. The only thing needed, and sometimes this is
not the case, is to circulate the water. Bacteria grow on everything.
Providing a large enough surface area for them will dictate the load you
can put on the tank no matter what type of filtration you use.
Rhonda Wilson has some of the best natural aquariums I have ever seen and
guess what... No filtration.
Peter Unmack who will someday write the book on fish, god help us, uses
nothing but a small bucket of rocks with an air tube and lift tube stuffed
in it and can breed fish most people cant.
I have a 180 gallon tank that has 1 Undergravel plate that is 18 inches by
24 inches with a pathetic 100 gallon per minute powerhead and I have over
200 fish in it and it has been running on that for 2 years with no
problems... dont believe me? ask Scott Buckell or Brian Lang.. both have
seen it many times and the fish are fine in it....
Filtration in not a 30$ gadget. It is and understanding of the principal
and applying that knowledge that works.
Go figure
Roy Hunter
Co-Chairman
ANGFA of North America
visit the ANGFA website at:
http://www.angfa.org
reach me at:
roy at angfa.org
----------
> From: Jim Priest <cat at lascruces.com>
> To: rainbowfish at pcug.org.au
> Subject: Re: [RML] Fluidized bed vs. Wet/dry
> Date: Monday, May 26, 1997 12:01 PM
>
> First of all, I think history proves that nitrifying bacteria do, in
> fact, survive quite well in non-wet/dry environments. I mean, look at
> UGFs and sponge filters. The beauty of wet/dry is that the bacteria are
> using atmospheric O2 for the most part and that the ease of maintenance
> is superior (and less often needed) compared to say a UGF or even a
> fluidized bed filter.
>
> I think it has been shown that wet/dry filters (especially Bio
> Wheels)are much more effecient, as well, compared to any other type of
> filtration system? This, when combined with the ease of maintenance
> make these type filters compelling choices.
>
> There are some who argue that the actual choice is sponge filters. These
> are very inexpensive to use but have their drawbacks. 0 chemical
> filtration potential and no way to implement alternative media choices
> (i.e. peat). Besides, you have to listen to those noisy-ass air pumps.
> I use sponge filters primarily to seed new tanks with biological
> filtration. I've also heard it argued that any filter besides a sponge
> filter is all manufacturer hype anyway to get you to buy a power,
> canister, trickle, bio-wheel, UGF, fluidized bed, or any other type
> filter system.
>
> I personally like the Emperor 280 for smaller tanks and the Emperor 400
> for larger ones (this is not a Marineland commercial, BTW). They're the
> only power filter I know of that gives you all the flexibility you could
> need. Quiet, easy access to all areas of the system, flexible media
> use, and virtually no maintenance with the exception of changing out the
> mechanical filtration and running a brush down your spray bar every now
> and then. I am a firm believer in the concept of the bio-wheel.
>
> This may sound crazy to some, but I would put 3 or 4 Emperor 400s on
> that 180 gallon tank and put all my filter maintenence worrys aside.
>
> Jim