The Fisharium

Porosity in filtration is the basic mechanism in the sand based ocean - biologically sponges,. coral, rock and even fish manifest different forms of porous filtration - in some cases reversing the process in a reactionary manner with one type of porous filtration mechanism enhancing or stimulating the other. Aerobic and anerobic bacteria are an over simplification of the complex biological filtration systems espoused in aquarium literature.

Movement and light also manifest biological filtration health - they stir the pot of life - photosynthesis, oxygen, carbon and the many components of the atmosphere integrate down into the depths of the ocean - and life adapts and thrives in millions of forms both macro and microscopic -

For those who must have a mechanical solution to keeping an aquarium - sadly there is none - for current procedure is nothing more than conventional wisdom that only partially succeeds in keeping life in a 4 walled container -

open systems adjoining the ocean are the most successful for obvious reasons - needless to say there is no pill to take the place of a steak nor an aquarium system that will take the place of the ocean -

to many that statement will seem trite - but its very truth is ignored by the experts themselves in that there IS NO EXPERTISE - there is only what is - and what is depends on water volume, movement, porosity and light -

sponge filters are the least expensive most effective form of filtration in an aquarium - fresh or salt - they must merely be periodically squeezed in a bucket of water taken from the aquarium to maintain their porosity and act as a home for aerobic bacteria as well as a mechanical filtering device.

recently in an attempt to budgetize nature nano-aquariums (small tanks) have become popular - they are merely a low budget item whereby labor is substituted for a larger more expensive system - and have in essence become even more complex and expensive then the larger systems they were meant to budgetarily replace!!

Convincing hobbyists to spend hundreds of dollars to establish an aquarium in what amounts to a large cocktail glass is a marketing feat for sure - aided and abetted by the DIY mentality of many financially constrained hobbyists.

It is painful to acknowledge that there is no short cut to keeping a healthy aquarium - nor is there any equipment that will substitute for simplicity itself - sponges, water, movement, light and intelligence.

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