bio filters

[skulker]

hi all what job does a bio filter do ?and do i need one on my bathtub system?thanks

[Pugo]

You ask why Bio filters, well as I understand it they help the fish and the plants.. A bio filter is another place in your system that nitrifying bacteria can live. they improve water quality increase the amounts of nitrates for your plants and decrease ammonia it like another growbed. As for me I like the idea of growing my fish for the table the Vegetables are just a plus. The are easy to build and worth it.. clearer water and more food for the plants.. why not build one..

[kellenw]

There is a ton of information regarding biofilters here on the forum, so make sure to do a thorough search.

Growbeds are bio filters by function, so is every surface in a system for that matter (anywhere bacteria can live). However, most people prefer to carry fish densities that provide for a more bountiful fish harvest than their growbeds alone could handle. In comes supplemental bio filtration. It helps to keep ammonia and nitrites from accumulating to toxic levels, and instead allows for you to "stockpile" nitrates for your plants, which are pretty benign to fish unless in extremely high concentrations. It can also be seen as a nice form of insurance as it will help to keep nitrogenous levels more consistent, helping you to avoid most unexpected/unforeseen spikes.

In order for a biofilter to work well, you must make sure you keep solids from entering it. Solids will seriously impair a biofilter's ability to perform its job, and could potentially even do more harm than good if not addressed. Best to work out a way to filter out solids prior to the water entering the biofilter. This is called mechanical filtration. There are also a lot of great examples of mechanical filters here on the forum.

I'm a HUGE proponent of supplemental biofiltration. It just keeps a system running in a more stable and SAFE fashion.