Pentair Aquatics Lifegard Fluidized Bed Filter (3"L X 7.5"W X 26.75"H)

Support more aquatic life in your fresh or saltwater aquarium or pond with a Lifegard Fluidized Bed Filter. Tested and proven to supply the highest level of effluent water quality.Responds quickly to severe changes in ammonia levels.Adjustable Clamp: Spring loaded clamp creates a snug fit to any aquarium or reservoir tank.Check Valve: Keeps media in place and allows for easy start up. External location for easy cleaning or replacement. Can be used in either the top or bottom inlet port.Media: Angular shaped media collide frequently, knocking off debris which creates new area for bacterial growth to occur. Enormous surface area for bacterial growth. Easily fluidized with a small power head pump.Injection Molded Construction: Heavy duty thick wall ABS molded parts. Built to last.Free Standing Base: Holds unit in place for installations below or beside aquarium.High Capacity: More capacity than any other make of equal height.Design: Innovative design creates more filter volume area for increased capacity. Flat side for snug fit to any aquarium or reservoir tank.Plugs: Plug off inlet ports not in use. Can be removed to drain or clean unit.Control Valve: Adjusts media level for maximum expansion of the filter bed and proper water flow. Prevents media from escaping and entering aquarium. Can be easily removed to add additional media.Versatility: Inlet and outlet ports at the top for hang on aquarium installations.Water Fall: Increases oxygen level by spreading out a thick sheet of gently falling water.Clear Chamber: Easy to view fluidization level at a glance.Distribution Plate: Lifts the sand bed evenly and completely for perfect fluidization.Versatility: Inlet ports on each side of the base for below tank installations. Use inlet ports on each side to connect multiple units together for any size installation.Adjustment Screws: Keep unit level when installed in hanging position on aquarium or reservoir tank.Due to its unique shape, the Lifegard Fluidized Bed Filter is an extremely efficient, high capacity biological filter. Aquatic organisms excrete toxic ammonia as a metabolic waste product with additional ammonia produced as food and other organic matter breaks down and decomposes. This toxic ammonia is converted to another toxic compound nitrite by the nitrosomonas species of bacteria. The nitrite is then converted to a relatively non toxic compound called nitrate by the nitrobacter species of bacteria. This process is known as nitrification. A biological filter is a vessel where nitrification occurs and soluble waste is removed. Beneficial bacteria attach to the media within the Lifegard Fluidized Bed Filter creating a thin film around the sand grains. Water is pumped up through the unit lifting the sand into a fluidized bed. The beneficial bacteria attached to the media draw in dissolved wastes (ammonia and nitrite), oxygen supplied by Rainbow's exclusive water fall device and other required nutrients from the pa