Betta Fish Mini Sponge Filter for Nano Aquarium Mechanical Biological Filtration

Description

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The smallest sponge filter for your Betta fish tank. Designed for the smallest fish tanks and requires air pump to operate. Will provide the minimal filtration needs in a Betta tank that has no filtration at all!
Filter Size: 3 x 3 inch, Sponge Diameter: 1.5 inch.
Sponge filters provide economical method of filtration when used with an air pump, and thus filter and oxygenate tank water in the process. It will provide mechanical (particle filtration) and biological filtration. Biological Filtration:
Aerobic (oxygen loving) beneficial bacteria will colonize sponge surface and metabolize/convert highly toxic
ammonia
(fish dirt) into
nitrites
(also toxic to all aquarium inhabitants), and then
nitrites
metabolized/converted into
nitrates
(common plant fertilizer), which is the least toxic and better tolerated by living organisms.
Nitrates
are further removed with weekly water changes and partially removed/consumed with the help of aquarium plants. Anaerobic bacteria (oxygen intolerant), are another group of beneficial bacteria that will neutralize/metabolize
nitrates
into harmless
nitrogen gas
, which will naturally dissipate from the water column. This last stage, converting nitrates into nitrogen gas, is much harder to achieve and is a slow process. That's why weekly water changes are important (never use chlorinated and mostly hard water from the tap, use filtered drinking water).
Sophisticated and high quality filters are often neglected and not cleaned due to time consuming cleaning process. Sponge filters are the quickest to clean. Two, three gentle squeezes in a cup of aquarium water and done! There is no need for thorough sponge cleaning. Gentle sponge cleaning will preserve the
biofilm
(beneficial bacteria). With time, the sponge will lose its elasticity. Replace it with a spare one. It is recommended to increase the amount and/or frequency of water changes when a new sponge is placed on the filter.