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Chemical Filtration
Tammy Spear
Kevin Landry
Types of chemical filtration
There are different methods to “chemically”
treat or filter the water. Some of these
ways include: ion exchange, adsorption,
chemical bonding, and molecular
destruction.
• Carbon and Zeolite
• Ozone Generator
• Ultraviolet sterilizer
Different media that you can use in the
chemical filter
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Carbon
Zeolite
Peat moss
Calcium hydroxide
Poly adsorption pads
Other chemically treated media.
We will show Carbon and Zeolite for this presentation
Carbon
Carbon is generally activated
with a positive charge and is
designed to attract negatively
charged water contaminants.
Typical particle sizes that can
be removed by carbon filters
range from 0.5 to 50 µm
• Carbon filters are most
effective at removing
chlorine, sediment, and
volatile organic compounds
They are not effective at
removing minerals, salts,
and dissolved inorganic
compounds.
Zeolite
Zeolites are microporous,
aluminosilicate minerals
commonly used as adsorbents
Typical particle size that can be
removed is aprox. 3 microns
• Zeolites can be used to
adsorb ammonia and other
nitrogenous compounds.
• Zeolite filtration is used in
marine tanks to keep
nutrient concentrations low
for the benefit of corals
adapted to nutrientdepleted waters.
Ozone Generator
Ozone (O3) is a triatomic molecule, consisting of
three oxygen atoms. Ozone is a pale blue gas
and slightly soluble in water .
• Ozone is a powerful
oxidizing agent far stronger
than O2
• Its use can minimize
bacterial growth, control
parasites, eliminate
transmission of some
diseases, and reduce
yellowing of the water.
• Many municipal drinking
water systems kill bacteria
with ozone instead of
chlorine and Ozone does
not remain in the water
after treatment.
Ozone potential problems
• Ozone must not come in contact with fish's gill
structures, or they will atrophy. (Carbon can be used
to remove residual ozone)
• Due to the strong oxidizing properties of ozone it is a
primary irritant. Affecting the eyes and respiratory
systems it can be hazardous permanent lung injury
or death could result from even a very short-term
exposure to relatively low concentrations.
Foam
Fractionization
Or Protein skimming
The principle here is to pump
water and tiny air bubbles
into the column. This
air/water contact time allows
the toxins to bind to the
unstable oxygen molecules
and form a scummy
foam. This foam contains
many bad, (and sometimes
good) elements from the
aquarium water. They are
primarily used in saltwater
applications and good for
toxin removal.
Protein skimmers come in many
sizes
Ultraviolet Sterilizers
• Very effective filtration for
purifying the water and
killing bacteria and parasites
•
Water is passed through a
tubular filter body which is
exposed to ultraviolet
light. This filter kills a variety
of free floating fungi,
bacteria, and protozoan.