Many people think a filter removes the bad stuff, in reality it just takes chunks out of the water column and deposits them in the filter media, allowing water tp pass over it, and let dissolved substances back in the water . Nitrifying bacteria covert some of the worst, but many other chemicals are left in the tank amassing as a chemical hormone soup.
Some of these are growth inhibitors, so unless the filter media is cleaned daily, (or so) and water removed and replaced, fish can be stunted. I believe the old adage that "fish grow to the size of the tank", has more to do with "fish are stunted" by the concentration of the soup they are forced to endure in the average small tank.
Some of these are growth inhibitors, so unless the filter media is cleaned daily, (or so) and water removed and replaced, fish can be stunted. I believe the old adage that "fish grow to the size of the tank", has more to do with "fish are stunted" by the concentration of the soup they are forced to endure in the average small tank.
