Compact and Standard filter systems

The task of the filter is to reduce the strain emanation from fish and food. This strain on the water is reduced by bacteria which settle in the filter media (biological filtration). Consequently, there has to be a setup time for the aquarium when it is set-up for the first time of ca. 10 days , as a sufficient number of the bacteria has to form in the filter media first. To achieve rapid multiplication of the bacteria, sufficient food must be available.

Hint: for this purpose, it is beneficial to feed from the first day, even without fish in the aquarium.

In the Juwel filter system, large particles are picked up by the white filter pad in order to prevent the media below from blocking up quickly. If the filter pad is changed regularly (once a week) , the cleaning intervals of the remaining filter media can be extended (does not apply to the active carbon, which needs to be replaced every 4 - 6 weeks).

To sum up: the filter's main task does not consist in picking up dirt particles but to guarantee stable, healthy water conditions, with its biological filtration capabilities.

The large amount of porous areas in the blue sponge filters give the bacteria a large surface on which to settle. The coarse filter sponge should only be cleaned once every three months and the sponge filters below only once a year. Avoid cleaning all the blue sponges at the same time, as this reduces the number of filteration bacteria and biological filteration can be interrupted when they are cleaned completely.

Hint: half fill a bucket with aquarium water and squeeze out the sponges in it several times. This is the gentlest way of cleaning, where the filtering bacteria are concerned.

The cleaning intervals mentioned above mean that the pump does not need to be as powerful as is often recommended. Slow circulation of water through the media is the optimum for cleaning the water. The bacteria require sufficient contact time with the water to be cleaned.

Increased circulation produces less effective filtering! Also, an increase in water movement expels the most important plant nutrients.
For good plant growth, please do not use additional aeration.

To sum up: the more slowly the water flows through the filter, the more effective the cleaning. Optimum circulation only occurs as a result of large cleaning intervals. Vigorous water movement and aeration damage plant growth.