Marine Tank Filtration
A filter is an essential piece of equipment as this processes the waste from the fish and keeps the water healthy and clear. Fish only systems have more basic filtration needs whereas ‘reef’ aquaria need very complicated external filters or ‘live-rock’ filtration. Speak to our staff at Cascade for advice. Make sure you get a filter suitable for your tank, as this is the life-support system for your fish and invertebrates.
Most marine aquaria have a protein skimmer installed. This very useful piece of kit uses minute air bubbles to strip fish wastes out of the water and helps the filter to keep the water healthy and clear. There are many types available and they are an incredibly useful addition to the vast majority of marine aquaria.
This is one of the biggest parts of the tank to get right, filtration in a marine tank should make the water so clean that you could drink it. In a freshwater tank there is a definite cycle of ammonia-nitrite-nitrate, but in a marine tank we are able to go another step and process nitrate to its gas form, by using anaerobic bacteria and understanding what conditions this bacteria need to thrive will result in a virtually nitrate free system and its completely natural.
The berlin system is what most people tent to opt for, its the use of a skimmer and live rock to perform most if not all of the tanks filtration needs, a concentration of 1-2lbs of live rock is needed, and a good skimmer, after that there is no real need to purchase expensive external filters.
The live rock will cycle a tank and carry out all stages of filtration, the only thing that's really needed to make the berlin system work well is flow, water needs to be pushed through the rocks in order for the bacteria to have access to it, it also lends itself to be combined with a deep sand bed for total coverage from all angles.
External Canister Filtration
The Fluval 05 Series incorporates user-friendly elements to help facilitate and speed up filter set up. Now, when you want to know how difficult the filter is to set up and maintain, the answer is: it’s simple
INSTRUCTIONAL DVD & GUIDE
Eliminate the guesswork. The Fluval User Manual DVD
walks you through installation, maintenance and filter media
considerations in a clear, easy-to-follow manner. This
DVD works hand-in-hand with a convenient Quick-Start
Guide and a User Manual Book that has simple directives
and clear images to guide you through the various steps,
while providing the information you require to successfully use the product and maximize its effectiveness.
PRE-ASSEMBLED PARTS
No more sitting around trying to figure out which piece
goes where. The assorted parts come pre-assembled on
a card so that you can clearly identify the components. The
Intake Strainer is already pre-affixed to the Intake Tube,
and both the Intake Tube and Output Nozzle have Rubber
Hose Adapters on them - just cut the hosing, attach, and
it’s ready to go!
REINFORCED CANISTER
For increased strength, durability and ultimate quality, glass fibers have
been incorporated into the filter canister housing.
REINFORCED LIFT-LOCK CLAMPS
Clamps are now reinforced with glass fibers for maximum strength
and durability. CAM-action technology facilitates opening and closing
for ease of maintenance and accessibility, and to securely lock motor
housing in place.
RIM CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY
Easy-to-use rim connector assembly slides onto and snaps together
instantly for extra-quick set-up. The sleek, new connector system can
be relied on to hold the intake and output hosing securely in place
without being awkward or bulky.
INTAKE STRAINER
Promotes the capture of large debris in an innovative way that prevents
clogging, reduces maintenance and helps ensure that filter operation
is rarely impeded. The new design is also safer for fish. With a larger
diameter and extended ribs, the water flow around the strainer is
slower, preventing fish from being sucked onto the strainer.
AQUASTOPTM VALVE
Fluval’s proprietary AquaStopTM valve creates an airtight and watertight
seal so that hosing can be disconnected without breaking the
vacuum. This means that the system can be started up again without
the need for priming after routine maintenance, offering unparalleled
convenience and ease of use. The AquaStopTM lever can also be used
to reduce water flow without harming the motor or its components.
SELF-PRIMING INSTANT-START SYSTEM
For convenient, simple and quick filter start-up. No need for manual
siphoning.
Protien Skimmers
A protein skimmer or foam fractionator is a device used mostly in saltwater aquaria to remove organic compounds from the water before they break down into nitrogenous waste. Protein skimming is the only form of filtration that physically removes organic compounds before they begin to decompose, lightening the load on the biological filter and improving the water's redox potential.
A Protein Skimmer is a very important tool in reducing the amount of dissolved organic material in the aquarium water. This material consists of protein fragments and other waste, which assemble at air/water surfaces. Protein skimming (also called foam fractionation) can be considered as a form of mechanical filtration, since it is a physical process of removing substances from water, without any chemical or biological action. While a mechanical or pre-filter removes particles, a Protein Skimmer removes suspended or dissolved organic waste and invisible particles from the aquarium water. The advantage of Protein Skimming lies however in the fact that waste material is continuously removed, separating it from the water flow. Efficient removal of dissolved waste helps to reduce the amount of harmful floating bacteria, reduce the yellow discoloration of your aquarium water, limit nitrate and phosphate build up, and prevent the development of slime algae.
Red Sea Prizm and Prizm Pro Protein Skimmers
Prizm Features
- Red Sea and Cascade Prizm Protein Skimmer is ; Designed for Hang-on and Sump installations
- Red Sea and Cascade Prizm Protein Skimmer is Skim-enhancing, convergent-divergent reaction chamber with “Triple-pass” air flow
- Red Sea and Cascade Prizm Protein Skimmer has an 18-blade “Turbojet” air injector - generates a constant stream of micro-bubbles in a homogenous air/water mixture
- Red Sea and Cascade Prizm Protein Skimmer has a Flow regulator optimizes the skimming action for all aquarium conditions
- Red Sea and Cascade Prizm Protein Skimmer. Includes external water pump
- Red Sea and Cascade Prizm Protein Skimmer is Ideal for both new and experienced marine aquarists
- Red Sea and Cascade Prizm Protein Skimmer is User-friendly operation and set-up
The Prizm is sized and priced to deliver the absolute best results for the serious hobbyist while remaining very affordable. Incorporating all of the benefits described above the Prizm is without a doubt the best skimmer available today for any aquarium up to 100 gallons. The Prizm is an ideal starting point for anyone setting up a new tank or interested in maximizing the results on their existing aquarium. The Prizm can be easily upgraded to a Deluxe version with the purchase of an upgrade kit.
The slim line profile (only 2.4” wide) allows the Prizm to be discretely hung on behind the aquarium or on the side of the sump, with it’s fully submersible motor it can even be placed inside the sump! The numerous advantages of the Prizm make this the ideal skimmer of choice for the serious hobbyist.
The Prizm Pro Deluxe is an “upgraded” version of the regular Prizm Pro and includes all of the unique benefits of the Prizm Pro plus it incorporates two enhanced options. A surface skimmer attachment is included which is an important incorporation because roughly 70% of accumulated protein and waste material in an aquarium are in the top 1” of the water. The surface skimmer attachment allows for the top surface water to be drawn into the water inlet pipe of the skimmer, so you are constantly removing the maximum amount of waste from the aquarium.
This upgrade alone will provide significant increases in protein and waste removal.
The second upgrade is the inclusion of a refillable media basket. This basket can be filled with either biological or chemical media to obtain the desired results. The basket is easily refillable and allows you to change the type of media according to your needs. Placed in the water outflow chamber the basket comes into contact with virtually all of the water as it passes out of the skimmer. The use of the media basket turns your skimmer into a full purpose filter for most marine aquariums.
Cascade has grown its Marine fish and Invertibrate section and both branches now offer Quality Marine fish and Invertibrates. We quarantine all our marine fish and only sell healthy feeding marine fish.
Information about the reasons behind different saltwater fish diseases and how to avoid them, treat them and – if possible – cure them. Some of the most commonly occurring fish diseases in saltwater aquariums are Marine Velvet, Marine White Spot Disease.