A large part of the problems with which aquarists most frequently collide are directly influenced (if not caused) by the biochemical instability of the ecosystem recreated in the tank.
In particular from the incorrect balance of microbial and bacterial flora and the consequent type and concentration of organic compounds present.
In the absence of this balance, the tank will inevitably be affected by a series of problems deriving from uncontrolled algal bloom*, alteration of the main parameters (pH, Redox, dissolved oxygen, concentration of nutrients, etc.), lack of plant growth, diseases and death of animal hosts (fish, shrimps), etc.
In these conditions and in the absence of a rebalancing, maintaining an aquarium becomes a very difficult, if not impossible, undertaking.
We at alxyon have always been well aware of this problem, which we have observed in practice over many years of activity, also through our customers.
We therefore know that, in the absence of the correct biological balance in the tank, it may even prove to be of little use (if not counterproductive) to introduce nutrients for the benefit of the plants.
That they could, in the first place, feed the ever-present algal population, providing the necessary stimulus for their uncontrolled proliferation.
Since the biological balance in the tank is generally limited by the incorrect development of the aerobic nitrosating-nitrifying bacterial population (the most efficient in the degradation of the dissolved nitrogenous organic substance), this is of fundamental importance (and, generally, decisive in case of problems above), ensure that the optimal conditions of life and growth are guaranteed for the above bacterial populations.
This passes from the knowledge of their vital needs (see: Biological filtration in the aquarium) and from the ability to supply them in the aquarium.
Starting with the correct filter material that allows the anchoring and growth of their colonies.
Various types of biological filter media have been used or developed over the years, ranging from simple gravel with porous rock grit (lapillus, pumice, etc.) to more or less porous "rings" (the best ones being those made of sintered glass) and specially designed plastic substrates (bio-balls, Kaldnes, Raschig rings, etc. ).
Each one of these has pros and cons for use as a biological filter material.
If, in fact, materials such as pumice and ceramic rings have (considering their entire volume, including the internal one) a very large microporous surface (even in the order of thousands of m2/mc), this unfortunately is only minimally exploitable for our purpose.
This is because the pores have too small a diameter to allow the growth of the bacterial biofilm (thickness of several tens of microns) and because said surface is mainly located in structures internal to the material, which do not allow the necessary water flow and, consequently, they do not guarantee the vital needs of purely aerobic nitrosating-nitrifying bacteria. (see: Biological filtration in the aquarium).
Materials such as bio-balls, and the various plastic rings/cylinders instead brilliantly solve this problem, since their entire surface is exposed to the correct flow of water.
But, on the other hand, due to their conformation, they have a limited useful surface (200-300 q/mc).
Inevitably, therefore, there is a need to use a material that combines the advantages of the two types of materials indicated above.
That is, a material that has a high surface area and which guarantees that this, due to its conformation, is totally exposed to the flow of water and therefore usable for aerobic nitrosating-nitrifying bacteria.
In this regard, based on its own research and testing, Alxyon has developed ProFilter BF1; Synthetic filter material optimized for the vital needs of purely aerobic Nitrosant-Nitrifying bacteria.
Pro-Filter BF1 consists of a macro-porous three-dimensional matrix of perfectly non-toxic and water-resistant plastic material, with pores regularly arranged, totally open and passing through, with a diameter optimized for the purpose, controlled and uniform of approximately 2 mm.
Its structure therefore allows Pro-Filter BF1 to offer a very large surface area (approximately 1400 m2/m3) that can be totally reached by the water flow and, therefore, totally exploitable by nitrosating-nitrifying bacterial colonies.
This is because, thanks to the optimal flow of water inside it, it also manages to guarantee the optimal supply of oxygen, nutrients and bicarbonates and the removal of the acid and waste substances produced by the bacteria.
Thus ensuring that Pro-Filter BF1 can offer in all its volume the ideal environment for the engraftment of purely aerobic nitrosating-nitrifying bacterial colonies.
Pro-Filter BF1 is laser cut in the form of small cubes (15 mm) to ensure the best occupation (efficient filling) of the filter volume and therefore the highest surface area available to bacterial colonies compared to the available filter volume.
This while leaving the necessary amount of empty volumes, such as to allow the correct flow of water between the individual elements and minimizing the loss of flow rate of the filter.
It is also opaque black, so as not to transmit light, which is harmful to nitrosating-nitrifying bacterial colonies.
It therefore does not get clogged (if normally/correctly maintained) with the growth of bacterial colonies and allows the optimal flow for the correct maintenance and regeneration of bacterial colonies, which are constantly exfoliated on the surface and correctly exchanged/reformed.
All this makes alxyon Pro-Filter BF1 a highly efficient biological filter material in AEROBIC biological filtration in the aquarium and in water treatment in general.
Associated with a smaller quantity of BR1 (natural material based on a particular type of pumice rock specially selected by alxyon) it guarantees very high efficiency in combined filtration (aerobic/anaerobic) in the aquarium, for the metabolization and removal of a very wide range of compounds organic and waste substances and dangerous for the balance of the tank and the life of its inhabitants.
* Among the algae that are the masters in these circumstances, the red algae of the Audouinella genus (BBA) stand out, but also many green algae or even Diatoms. The predominance of one or the other being decided by factors such as the composition and concentration of the dissolved organic substance, the concentration of silicates, the light intensity, etc.)
