How does water quality work exactly?

[Roxxy]

The tooltips and the tutorial were really vague about this. Does the protein skimmer do something different than the normal filters?

[Nedrial]

Yes, this is the only thing I felt is very vague. Temperature is super clear, but how the water quality is comprised off, would be good to know. This is something that could be in a kind of glossar or help section to re-read.

When a filter says it has 18 filter power, it doesn't really tell me, how it affects the water quality. Most of the time I place filters down in a trial and error mode until I have the one that is sufficient.

I'm also not sure how much the rocks contribute. Sometimes it improves the water quality, sometimes it doesn't seem to do anything even if I place down 4 rocks or so.

[Twice Circled]

The formulas for water quality are very complicated. What you need to know is that using multiple types of filtering (basic filtering, protein skimming and more later) is more effective than using lots and lots of just one type (just basic filtering for example).

They are most efficient when used in equal numbers. E.g. One power filter and one basic skimmer give you 36 of each. This is better than 40 basic filtering and 32 skimming, even though they add up to the same number.

On the other side of the equation you have the size of your animals pushing your water quality down. 'Greedy' animals push 33% harder.

The game compares the combined size of your animals to the combined power of your equipment to come up with the water quality.

There is a power law in the formula that makes it increasingly difficult to reach the high water quality numbers, almost impossible with just one type of filtration.

It is all designed like this to be as close to true life as possible. One type of filter is not enough, it takes a combination to keep the most delicate animals! :D

[Twice Circled]

Here are some quick 'rule of thumbs' for you (assumes no greedy animals):

X size of animals and X basic filtering = 49% water quality
X size of animals and X basic filtering + X skimming = 70% water quality
X size of animals and X basic filtering + X skimming + X Nitrate reacting (3rd type) = 81% water quality
X size of animals and X basic filtering + X skimming + X Nitrate reacting + X UV sterilising (4th type) = 90% water quality

So that is with all matching parameters.

You can see how having the different types gets you to the high water qualities you need. If you try with just one type though, for example:

X size of animals and 2X basic filtering = 64% rather than the 70% you would have got if you used a mix of basic and skimming.

Is that starting to make sense? You can overcompensate with just lots of one type but you will get diminishing returns.

[Roxxy]

Yeah this kind of makes sense now. The jist of it is that I should use equal amounts of different kinds of filtering to get what I need as far as water quality