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Well, that can be answered a few different ways. But the most widely accepted answer would be an explanation of the nitrogen cycle.
When fish excrete urine and feces, it create ammonia in the tank. Yes that's the same ammonia you smell when you don't change the cat's little box for a couple days.
When this waste builds up to a certain point, it literally suffocates your fish to death. What a way to go, laying in a pile of your own excrement...gross.
Filters however provide a distinct advantage to our aquatic friends, and play an important part in breaking down that fish waste.
Filters typically have some sort of medium in them which remove particles from the water...usually foam. But all sorts of media exist for this purpose. When the ammonia begins to build up in the tank, a special type of bacteria actually eat the fish waste and it builds up on your filter foam. These bacteria convert the ammonia into their own form of waster called "nitrites". Nitrites are also deadly to fish.
Nitrites are also harmful to fish. After time goes on though the filter begins to grow an additional set of bacteria, specifically called "nitrobacter" that turn the nitrites...into nitrates. Which are more or less harmless to fish except in very high concentrations. Once nitrates build up and ammonia and nitrites are no longer being produced however, the nitrates can be removed by changing your water.
So now you may be asking yourself, "Well ponds aren't filtered are they?" But the answer to that is also yes and no. Yes because in the wild this process takes place naturally, with nitrates becoming diluted by rainwater and decreasing the concentration. But no the water is not being filtered for particles and chemicals. But we must also take into account that in the wild, fish live in untold millions of gallons of water, sometimes in streams or lakes too. In streams the fish waste is washed away almost instantly though by the steadily moving current, and in ponds and lakes the waste is diluted almost immediately, or the fish can simply swim away from it.
Filters are a very important part of fishkeeping, and allow hobbyists to cheat nature by stealing this important biological process for our own.
What else can I help you with?
Would a clown fish die if their not in salt water?
a clown fish will die because it is a ocean fish and with out salt water , it will die in fresh water.
How does a fish feel out of water?
fish die when taken out of the water because they have gills and fish absorb oxygen from the water and when the fish are taken out they die because of them .
Can you drink unfiltered water?
Yes, you may drink unfiltered water from things like your faucet. If it is unfiltered put it on the stove and boil it for a couple of minutes. doing this will get ride of any bacteria or unwanted things that would or could be in it.
Do you have to do anything before you put a fish in a un filtered tank?
If it hasn't got a filter you are limited to the type of fish that will live happily in your aquarium. In any case, use prime in the water to dechlorinate it and neutralise nitrate and nitrite. Without a fliter, you wont have your fish for long and will need to do daily water changes.
What fish in salt water die if you put it in the fresh water?
Most salt water fish will die if placed in fresh water.
Why do fish die in water when the water is too warm?
Will die
Is unfiltered water damaging to your body?
Ummm.....Ummm.....i
Why does a fish die when you put it out of the water?
Fish have gills and they absorb the water of the sea, ocean or anyplace with water. It's just like air. Without air we would die. Without water fish would die.
How did a fish die?
water temperature can “shock” the fish and even cause them to die! The water PH and hardness are also critical; the sudden drastic change in either of them can cause fish to die. Gold fish Who's Is Die quickly
Can fish die in salt water?
Fish are not immortal, so they can in fact die anywhere.
Why does a fish die when out of water?
The gills dry out and the fish suffocates.
What is in unfiltered water?
Unfiltered water may contain impurities such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, heavy metals, and chemicals. These contaminants can pose health risks if consumed, which is why it is important to properly filter and purify water before drinking it.
