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Chemical Filtration

Some tanks do quite well without any type of chemical filtration at all. Frequent small water changes are employed to remove nitrate and other toxins.

However, water chemistry varies radically in different areas and chemical filtration is sometimes necessary simply to keep the fish. If, for example, your tap water is very high in phosphate or nitrate, you may find that your fish don't do well until you pretreat the water with specific resins or activated carbon.

While it is not within the scope of this article to go into great depth on water chemistry, be aware that there is virtually no water that cannot be made suitable to keep even such a delicate species as discus.

Water chemistry is a fascinating study and in some areas it may be necessary to become quite adept at water chemistry and water treatment before you can keep discus successfully.

Written by Mary Ellen Sweeney