How to reduce the flow rate of the filter

A filter is one of the essential equipment in the aquarium. A suitable filter corresponds to healthy fish in your little water eco-system. Installing a high-quality filter which is equipped with every necessary feature is a must in every aquarium. Other than this, maintaining it with a regular inspection is also vital.

But people struggle with its maintenance a lot. The flow rate of the filter is the primary concern which needs heed most of the time. Aquarists and new hobbyists often don’t find out as for how to maintain the filter and especially the flow rate.

Knowing the quandaries people face, here we have come up with complete information regarding the working of filters and how its flow rate can be reduced.

Working of the filters

The primary function of aquarium filter is to maintain the cleanliness of the water. Since water in the aquarium is the sole of fish’s’ life, it is highly essential to retain its hygiene and purity. Healthy water directly corresponds to a healthy fish.

Aquarium filters come in different shapes and dimensions. A large number of companies are floating in the market claiming to manufacture the best aquarium filter. Therefore, proper research is required before purchase if the fitness of your fish is your priority.

These devices are equipped with a filter media preferably sponge, filter wool, fine gravel, ceramic rings and much more. As the water passes through the aquarium filter and goes through the media, it gets cleaned effectively and come back to the aquarium.

Different media work differently, but the major motto is the same- to make the water free from impurities and perfect for the fish.

The dirty water of the aquarium

Fish excreta and the waste products of other inhabitants of the aquarium alter the purity of the water. If you have water plants, they also contribute in the process of making the water filthy. All this provides a bed for the development of bacteria and harmful microbes.

Most of the waste products come in the form of ammonia which is considered toxic to the fish. Here is when an aquarium filter comes to rescue. When the filter provides excellent water flow, the Nitrobacter and Nitrosomonas bacteria colonize the medium in the presence of toxic ammonia. These bacteria along with the filter media assists in breaking down ammonia into the compounds which are less toxic to the fish.

Maintaining a proper nitrogen cycle in the aquarium is highly essential to retain the purity of water. It directly relates to the health of the fish. When an adequate medium is provided, and bacteria find the place to colonize, the nitrogen cycle operates effectively, and fish remain healthy and happy.

Filter flow and its reduction

Well, getting right into the business now, here we will provide specific tips with the help of which reducing the filter flow rate can be adjusted. Since a newly bought filter might have a high flow rate which causes a threat to some of your expensive fish, maintaining it properly is a great idea.

So check them out!

• Increase the holes– In order to make filter less turbulent, drilling more holes or fitting a large intake pipe seems highly useful. It helps in pressure buildup and thereby reduces the filter flow rate.
• Get denser filter media– These days most of the filters come equipped with a sponge as media. Since the sponge is little loose and allows the passage of water through it in an expeditious manner, denser media could overcome the issue. You can use dense filter media where the water passes slowly reducing the flow rate to a great extent.
• Lift the filter up- Lifting the filter above the water line can reduce the flow. The water turbulence get reduces which in turn reduce the flow rate. You can fit a hood on to your aquarium if you see water is splashing all over and making the floor messy.
• Use spray bars– Spray bars are highly effective in reducing the flow rate. Spray bars distribute the water through small holes along a tube which creates a gentle current. These bars can be either made with simple DUY steps or found in the market after a little effort.

So these are some of the simplest was to reduce the flow of filter and make your fish inside the aquarium safe and secure. While getting a high-grade filter is essential to the excellent upkeep of fish, maintaining its flow rate is equally important. Only opt for the filters with effective media and keep the above points under your belt so that your fish flourish and thrive inside the little water ecosystem.