Zeolite

Description

Zeolite aquarium media are used for chemical ammonia removal in freshwater. Ammonia is bound through ion exchange as water contacts the material. This is different from a biological filter, where bacteria process nitrogen waste, and from a mechanical medium that catches dirt. Choose an aquarium product with directions for the water you keep. Natural zeolite is ineffective for ammonia removal in seawater and its performance is affected by salt in freshwater. It is not a nitrate remover. Check compatibility before adding salt to a system using zeolite. Rinse handling dust away before use and contain loose granules as the filter requires. Place the medium where water passes through it. Products may be sold as zeolite alone or in a blend with carbon; the blend combines different chemical-filtration roles and carries its own restrictions. The ammonia-removal medium gradually loses activity. Follow the selected product’s replacement or regeneration guidance and keep checking aquarium ammonia. Treat it as a targeted medium alongside appropriate biological filtration and water changes, rather than using its presence as proof that a new aquarium is ready for fish.

Sources

• fluvalaquatics.com — https://fluvalaquatics.com/manuals/Fluval_Filter-Media_Manual.pdf
• seachem.com — https://www.seachem.com/download.php?f=articles%2FBasics-of-Filtration.pdf
• fluvalaquatics.com — https://fluvalaquatics.com/manuals/Fluval_A410-A412_G-Filter_Manual.pdf

Further reading on identification and aquarium care.