Freshwater

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Part I: Aquarium Basics
A wet/dry filter requires more maintenance, because the media must be
replaced to avoid build up of wastes, and it has a higher rate of evaporation.
This filter is mainly for biological and mechanical filtration, so you will need
an additional type or combination filter to take care of the chemical filtration
in your aquarium.
Natural filtration with plants
Long before artificial filters appeared on the market, as mentioned at the
beginning of this chapter, nature had its own special way of taking care of
everyday cleaning. That way is called plants. Plants act as natural filters and
complement the manufactured units in your home aquarium.
Freshwater plants help biological and chemical filtration in the home aquarium.
These aquatic marvels remove ammonia, nitrates, and carbon dioxide
from the water with relative ease. In aquatic systems, plants take in inorganic
molecules and carbon dioxide from the aquarium water and return oxygen
and organic molecules for your fish’s benefit as long as the plants have
enough light to carry out the process of photosynthesis during daylight hours.
Gauging Heaters and Thermometers
If you plan to set up any type of tropical freshwater system, you need to have
at least one heater.
The three main types of heaters you can purchase at a fish shop are
Submersible heaters
Non-submersible heaters
Undergravel heating cable
All aquarium equipment will make a bit of noise
now and then. Thankfully, today’s aquarium
equipment is much quieter than the stuff from
the early days of the fishkeeping hobby.
If your filter equipment is making too much noise,
you may need to replace it or have the motor (if
Reducing the noise
it has one) fixed by a professional at an aquarium
store. Save the directions that come with the
filter, because many models have parts that you
yourself can easily replace by following the manufacturer’s
instructions.