Alternatives to Solana Aquarium Filter Material

The Solana is an all-inclusive aquarium system that includes a hidden filter compartment. This filter area includes chemical, biological and mechanical filter materials. Although many filter material brands exist, provided the filter medium is able to perform its function, materials can be exchanged with each other. The Solana all-inclusive aquarium has been manufactured with a number of compartments, which are part of the overall aquarium design. A number of alternate filter material brands, which will be equally effective as those used in the Solana system, are available as alternative products.

  1. Biological Filter Material

    • Beneficial bacteria that breakdown the metabolic waste of fish and marine invertebrate animals, such as sponges and corals, colonize biological filter material. These bacteria are capable of colonizing any suitable material and the Solana biological filter material can be replaced with the open-pore sintered glass rings from Schott Glass Werke in Germany. These rings, called Siporax, allow both the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria to proliferate. Many biological filter materials do not cater for the presence of anaerobic bacteria, which have the essential function of removing nitrate (NO3-) from the aquarium water.

    Chemical Filter Material

    • Poly-Bio-Marine produces a polymer-based pad which removes a variety of pollutants, including phosphates (PO4 -3). The poly-filter incorporates are available in a pad like material, with its active ingredients bonded to a synthetic matrix. This highly effective product can be used as an alternative to the Solana chemical filter medium, if required.

    Additional Chemical Filter Material

    • Depending on the bio load, or the amount of fish that the Solana aquarium is required to house, you may choose to add additional chemical filter material. Chemi-Pure, which functions as a chemical absorption filter material, includes a high quality active carbon ingredient. Chemi-Pure, which removes copper, odors and carbon dioxide, is manufactured by Boyd Enterprises and is absolutely suitable as an alternative material for the Solana system.

    Mechanical Filter Material

    • Mechanical filter materials remove large pieces of detritus and debris by trapping the particles in their structure. Filter floss is typically used as a mechanical filter material and if required, any brand of aquarium filter floss, can be used as an alternative to the mechanical filter medium that is supplied by Solana aquarium. Any of the many mechanical filter pads can also be used, including the AquaClear-Quick Filer cartridge mat. This mat can be cut to size and be placed over the hidden filter compartment's intake area.