What's Filter foam and biochemical sponge different?
Updated: Jun 28, 2021
The two most commonly used foam in fish farming is biochemical sponge and Filter foam. However, many friends can't tell the difference between the two types of foam. Today, let's talk about the differences between the two kinds of foam.
Filter foam is the most basic filter material with the highest utilization rate. No matter what kind of filter it is, it is essential. The main thing is to filter out a large number of wastes such as fish excrement in the water and filter them out of the fish tank so that the filter materials behind it can play a role. The primary function of Filter foam is physical filtration. Although there are some nitrifying bacteria, the quantity is limited, and it needs to be cleaned frequently, so the function of biochemical filtration is lost.
Filter foam should be selected with good water permeability, not easy to be damaged, and not easy to fall, not fade, and will not cause secondary pollution to the water quality, usually pay more attention to maintenance, often check the water flow, to avoid excessive blockage caused by foreign matters. When cleaning, it is best to use the water in the tank or use the self-contained water instead of detergent. The Filter foam has a specific service life Their use regular replacement.
It is also a kind of filter material with a wide range of use, mainly playing biochemical filtration. Compared with Filter foam, the density is high, it is not too damaged, and it is much thicker, so there is enough space to parasitize nitrifying bacteria. Moreover, it can also filter out some large foreign matters, so it can be said that a biochemical sponge is a kind of filter material for physical and biochemical filtration.
However, because the top of the general biochemical sponge is Filter foam, so biological filtration is limited. The biochemical sponge is widely used in an upper filter, external filter, and internal filter.
The purchase of a biochemical sponge is essential. First of all, we should pay attention to the water filtering property, so that the water can pass smoothly without obviously slowing down the water flow. Choose those with large densities and many pores. Now there is a kind of yellow sponge on the market, which has low water filtering property, which will slow down the flow. The handle is very soft and has no elasticity. This kind of foam should not be purchased as far as possible, and its biochemical effect is not good.
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The maintenance frequency of biochemical sponge is much less than that of Filter foam. Generally, it takes about one to two months to determine according to the specific situation. When cleaning each time, you should use the water in the tank and gently rub it a few times. Do not use tap water, because there are many nitrifying bacteria parasitized in the biochemical sponge. If you wash it repeatedly, it is easy to wash out the nitrifying bacteria, which significantly reduces the nitrate.
The water quality fluctuates. The biochemical sponge does not need to be replaced frequently. If it is found that the elasticity is weakened, the inner part is damaged and the washing is too rotten; it needs to be replaced.
Distinguishing method between Filter foam and biochemical sponge
First of all, Filter foam and biochemical sponge, which are two different items, can not be distinguished by color.
Filter foam is mainly used to filter impurities. The material is like foam or silk. It is compact and soft, some fluffy and some compact. This can only show the filtering effect. It is recommended to use the one side green and white, with good density, good water permeability, and clean filtration.
Of course, Filter foam can also cultivate nitrifying bacteria.
The primary function of a biochemical sponge is to cultivate nitrifying bacteria. The texture is hard and the density is insufficient. Some of them are similar to foam, and some are similar to Filter foam (but much harder).
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