Zebra danios require a filter to clean, oxygenate, and move the water in their tank. While zebra danios are hardy and tolerant of low oxygen levels their health will suffer if there is no filter in the tank. Standard hang-on-back tank filters are sufficient for zebras.
Aquarium filters are crucial for enabling fish to breathe, but the amount of filtration they need varies according to the species in the tank. The following information will enlighten readers about the filter requirements of zebra danios.
Zebra Danios Require Tank Filters
Examining the natural habitat of zebra danios helps one understand their tank filter requirements.
Zebra danios are found across the Indian subcontinent from Bhutan and Nepal in the Himalayas down to the southern portion of India.
This species is hardy and tolerates a wide range of fluctuating water conditions. The rivers and streams where zebras live often undergo periods when currents are slow-moving and the water quality is poor.
The ability of zebra danios to live for prolonged periods in sub-optimal water conditions has advantages for aquarium enthusiasts. One of the primary advantages is that zebras do not need intensive water filtration.
Despite their low filtration needs, zebra danios nonetheless require a filter in their tank. The filter will ensure that the zebra thrive.
Without a filter, the water conditions in the tank will deteriorate and compromise the zebras’ health and happiness.
Why Do Zebra Danios Need A Filter?
Filters serve several vital functions in aquariums, making them necessary for zebra danios.
Water Cleaning
Aquarium filters keep the water clean, which is essential for the well-being of zebra danios in the tank.
Fish tank water accumulates contaminant particles and harmful chemicals over time as a natural result of housing living organisms. These impurities come from decomposing organic matter such as:
- fish poop
- uneaten food
- decaying plant material
As aquatic microbes consume these different forms of organic matter, they release ammonia into the tank water. Fish also release ammonia into the water with each exhalation.
The problem with ammonia is that it is toxic to aquarium fish and makes them susceptible to disease.
Filters prevent the build-up of ammonia by physically removing (or filtering) particles of organic matter from the water. Some filters also neutralize ammonia in the water by converting it to its less harmful nitrate form.
Without a filter, constant tank water changes are necessary, which is highly inefficient and practically unfeasible for most aquarium enthusiasts.
Water Oxygenation
The second critical function of tank filters is to provide sufficient oxygen in the water for zebras to breathe.
Fish absorb oxygen in the water through their gills. Unless one introduces more oxygen, the fish will deplete the available oxygen in the water and eventually start suffocating.
Filters solve this problem by taking air from outside the tank and pushing it into the water. The result is that oxygen gets infused into the tank water, and the fish can breathe.
The alternative is to replenish the oxygen in the tank by changing the water frequently.
Water Current
Most aquarium filters produce a current in the water.
The current or flow circulates the water throughout the tank, facilitating an even distribution of oxygen and temperature levels.
By circulating the water in the tank, the filter maintains a more stable environment for the zebras.
The currents that filters produce also provide a source of interest and enjoyment for aquarium fish. Active and curious fish like zebra danios love swimming and playing in these currents.
How Do Tank Filters Work?
The three primary tank filtration processes are mechanical, chemical, and biological.
Mechanical Filtration
Mechanical filtration involves physically capturing undissolved particles of organic matter with a fine mesh screen or porous material.
Biological Filtration
Aquarium filters that use biological filtration rely on nitrifying bacteria to prevent the build-up of harmful ammonia in the water. The bacteria occur naturally on fish tank surfaces and embed themselves in the filter sponges.
Chemical Filtration
Filters that contain materials like activated carbon remove soluble contaminants through absorption
Types of Tank Filters
There are many different kinds of tank filters. Here is a brief overview of some commonly-used filters available for zebra danios and other freshwater aquarium fish.
HOB Filters
Hang-on-back (HOB) filters are commonly-used filtration systems.
As their name suggests, these filters hang outside of the tank. The devices have impellers that suck water into the filter and draw it through one or more sieves that remove impurities.
HOB filters produce a strong current that zebra danios love to swim around. The powerful water movement created by HOB filters is ideal for large aquariums but can be excessive in nano tanks.
Canister Filters
Canister filters are also popular among aquarium enthusiasts. These external filters have pumps that pull water into the devices and through porous materials that remove undissolved and soluble pollutants.
Canister filters can hold higher volumes of porous sieving material than their HOB cousins. The result is that canister filters are often more effective as they have a greater surface area to capture and hold contaminants.
Another advantage of canister filters is that they have fixtures to connect with other aquarium apparatuses like CO2 diffusers and heaters.
Airlift Filters
Airlift filters like the foam and corner varieties are placed inside fish tanks.
These filters have pumps that produce bubbles that force water into a tube. The water moves into the filter housing and through filtration media before being pumped back into the tank.
Airlift filters are not as powerful as canisters and HOBs. For this reason, it is advisable to use airlift filters for small tanks with low filtration requirements.
These filters have the advantage of operating more quietly that external filtration systems.
Under-Gravel Filters
Under-gravel filters have a flat filter plate (or plenum) on the base of the tank, beneath the sand or gravel. Uplift tubes attach to the plenum.
Air stones push water from below the plenum and up the tubes. This generates negative pressure underneath the plenum.
The negative pressure pulls unfiltered water down towards the plenum. This water is then filtered through the gravel, the bacteria colonizing this stony substrate, and the filter plate.
How To Maintain Tank Filters
One must maintain the tank filters diligently so that the devices provide zebra danios with clean, well-aerated water.
If a filter is not cared for, it will eventually get clogged with contaminants and no longer perform its essential functions. Poorly maintained filters are also vulnerable to leaking if rubber seals and pipes are compromised.
Routine Inspection
The maintenance of aquarium filters involves routinely inspecting the filter unit and pipes for leaks and blockages. Ideally, one should check the filter weekly.
Inspect the filter sponge, screen, or other filtration media inside the unit. When inspecting the tank filter, examine the exterior of the housing to ensure all the components are tightly secured.
Fish keepers should observe whether the filter pipes are clear and allow water to pass freely.
Change Tank Filters Regularly
In addition to routine inspections, one has to change the aquarium filters regularly.
The methods and timing for changing filters vary depending on the filter system.
For example, mechanical and chemical filters require the replacement of old filter pads, screens, or activated carbon from the filter housing.
How often should one clean or change a tank filter? Here is a rough recommendation for each filter type:
- micron filter screen – reposition or replace daily,
- canister – change weekly,
- activated carbon – change twice per month,
- siporax granules for biological filters – rinse or change every six months.
It is highly advantageous to adhere to a regular filter maintenance routine. Consistently maintaining tank filtration systems minimizes the time and energy required to check, clean, re-adjust, and replace the filters.
Conclusion
Zebra danios require a filter in their tank to live healthy, happy, and long lives. Filters perform essential functions, oxygenating, cleaning, and moving the water in the zebras’s tank.