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Although mechanical filtration removes most of the fine organic
material, what remains begins to decompose. Some of these
organic particles, known as dissolved organic carbons (DOCs),
are too small to be picked up by the protein skimmer, causing
build-up in the water giving it a yellowish hue. The chemical
filtration action of active carbon essentially acts as a large chemical
sponge, absorbing these impurities from the water.
The last stage in the decomposition of organic matter is
mineralization, where bacteria convert organic matter into
inorganic materials, such as ammonia and ortho-phosphate,
which can be harmful to the aquarium inhabitants. Through the
process of nitrification, a special species of nitrifying bacteria
converts toxic ammonia into less toxic nitrate. In order to provide
the bacteria with the large contact area and high flow rate it
needs to develop into a colony, biological filter media should be
part of the filtration system.
The Red Sea MAX features a 4-stage reef filtration system driven
by two 550lph / 145gph submersible pumps, sufficient to circulate
the entire water volume of the tank 10 times per hour. At the
entrance to the filtration system is a surface skimmer that takes
water from the aquarium water surface where the highest
concentration of waste materials is found. It is designed to prevent
clogging and the build-up of organics, maintaining the ideal
water quality for a reef aquarium. The system is comprised of
the following:
Red Sea MAX
Protein skimmer: The turbo air injector protein skimmer
provides a constant mixture of fine air bubbles (0.5-0.8mm
in diameter) and water, creating thick and stable foam of
partially dissolved organics. The MAX skimmer filters the
entire water volume of the tank almost 4 times per hour with
air throughput of 150 l/h (40 gph)
Mechanical filtration: The mechanical filtration media consists
of a sponge to trap coarse and fine particles. It is positioned
at the inlet of the filtration provide easy access.
Activate carbon: The granular activate carbon is made from
highly porous, phosphate-free charcoal. It removes any DOCs
for at least two months, depending on the aquarium bio-
load.
Biological media: The highly porous ceramic bio-media
provides a huge surface area - 420m
2
/l or 1,200 sq ft/gal
for nitrifying bacteria colonization.
Livestock
The following are basic guidelines regarding livestock selection
for the two main types of marine aquarium, Fish-Only and
Mini Reef, which combines reef fish with a multitude of reef
invertebrates such as anemones and corals. We recommend that
you refer to some of the many specialist fish and invertebrate
guides available in order to gain a more in-depth understanding
of the subject.
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