How the under gravel filtration works!

The only filtration that you have in your Tower Aquarium is the gravel. It is the bacteria which developes within the gravel that feeds on the fish waste and excess food.

The water is circulated by the Powerhead that sits on top of the uplift tube.

As the water is fed into the tank by the Powerhead, it is drawn down through the tank, through the gravel, and then passes through holes in the gravel tray and returns via the uplift tube to be re-fed back into the tank.

The base of the tank is designed as a large bucket into which we place a gravel tray on a shelf close to the bottom. On top of this tray we put approx 25kg of gravel (this amount of gravel will cope with almost any number of fish).

As the water is drawn through the gravel the Bacteria that develops within the gravel filters out the waste and excess food. The water then returns up the uplift tube to the Powerhead which begins the process again.

The Powerhead that we provide will circulate 75 gallons or 265 litres of water per hour, which means the entire volume of water in the tank passes through the Powerhead twice every hour.

When your aquarium is first installed there is no Bacteria in the gravel and it takes time for the bacteria to develop. Therefore we recommend that when your water is safe to begin introducing your fish, you begin with no more than 6 fish of approximately 2 ins long. Keep to this amount for 6 - 8 weeks to allow their waste to begin developing the bacteriological base. After this period have your water checked again and if it is within balance add a couple more fish, the following month do the same until you have your required number of fish.

We understand peoples enthusiasm in wanting a full tank of fish as soon as possible, however, we do urge caution because if you introduce too many fish before the bacteria can cope you will upset the balance of the tank resulting in a possible loss of fish and your having to do numerous partial water changes to return the tank to a balanced state.

REMEMBER you keep WATER, not FISH and if you keep good WATER you have fewer problems with your FISH!!