WISRD Research & Engineering Journal

Temperature

77˚F

pH

8.0

Alkalinity

6 dKH

Ammonia (NH3)

0 ppm

Nitrite (NO2)

Not Tested

Nitrate - Nitrogen (NO3)

0 ppm

Phosphate (PO4)

0.08 ppm

Calcium

437 ppm

Magnesium

1376 ppm

2.4 Tank Filtration System Our tank filtration consists of a 3-stage process: mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration methods. Both canister filters and hang-on-the-back filters are capable of this level of water filtration. Initially, we used only a hang-on-the-back AquaClear filter (Fig. 7) that was on hand and available in the onsite marine biology lab; the AquaClear filters approximately 200 gallons per hour. However, this filter was not effective in keeping the water clear, so we opted to add to a canister filter, specifically a Fluval 407 canister filter (Fig. 8), which filters 383 gallons per hour. This combination was effective in maintaining a healthy tank.

Figure 7. Tank filter initially used alone in filtration of coral tank water.

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