Category Archives: Fish Tank Filters
An Overview of Fish Tank Filters
This article is a follow up of a previous post entitled “Maintenance Of Fish Tank Filters“.
In order to have a fish tank that runs perfectly with healthy fish swimming around, you need to ensure that your aquarium water is clean at all times. But the water in your fish tank will not stay clean forever and will be contaminated by excess food, fish waste, dying plants and even dead fish. If you were to leave this putrid state untreated, it will eventually cause your fish to get diseases and eventually die. Plus the fact that a cloudy, stinky aquarium will be a ghastly sight in your living room. That is why it is extremely important to install proper fish tank filters to keep your fish tank water clean.
Choosing Fish Tank Filters
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Complete fish tank filters provide three types of filtration: mechanical, chemical and biological. You have a choice of getting fish tank filters that perform each of these functions separately or one complete fish tank filter that does all three. If your aquarium isn’t that large, ranging from small to medium size, you can opt for Hang On filters, Corner filters, Sponge filters or Undergravel filters. The most commonly used here are Hang On filters which are usually hung at the back, on the outside of your fish tank. Corner filters are the cheapest type, which you place inside the aquarium water at one corner, but are the least efficient type of fish tank filters.
Sponge fish tank filters do not cost very much and do perform exceptional mechanical and biological filtration. They are great for small to medium tanks and are a perfect type of fish tank filtrers for beginners to start with. The downside, however, is that they do need to be cleaned quite often.
Better Fish Tank Filters
If you do have money to spare and own a slightly larger fish tank, then you may want to invest in better fish tank filters. Two of the best type of fish tank filters sold today are Diatom filters and Canister filters.
Diatom fish tank filters use microscopic earth particles to clean the fish tank water to an extremely pristine state. The level of purity that Diatom filters provide is unmatched by any other type of fish tank filters. But the filter media which is the diatom earth needs to be handle with extreme caution and should only be used by experience hobbyists.
Canister fish tank filters are generally the most expensive fish tank filters sold today. But what you pay is nothing compared to the minimal amount of work you will ever need to do. Canister filters are so efficient that they require very little maintenance which usually is done only every 3 months or more. You will have the peace of mind knowing that your fish tank will be pristine for a very long time without your intervention.
Parts For Fish Tank Filters
Once you have decided on the type of fish tank filters you would like to use, consult the expert at your local fish shop. You will need to discuss with him on the methods of maintaining the fish tank filters of your choice and most importantly the type of parts which you might have to replace from time to time. The most common of these are the filter media or filter cartridges but it may differ depending on the type of fish tank filters that you choose. It is always a good idea to keep the more important parts as spares in the event of an emergency.
Types Of Fish Tank Filters (Click for more details)
Regardless of the type of fish tank filters that you choose, they will provide you the most important and most basic function in keeping your fish tank water clean.
Maintenance Of Fish Tank Filters
This fish tank filters article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “Getting Rid Of Algae On Sponge Filters“.
You can find fish tank filters is a huge variety of models, shapes and sizes. But they don’t just differ in shape, they can also greatly differ in function as well as how effective they are. But in general we can classify a filter by three main filtration function, which are mechanical, chemical and biological fish tank filters.
Types Of Fish Tank Filters
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Mechanical Fish Tank Filters provide the most basic form of filtration. They allow water to pass through a porous filter media which traps large debris and waste while allowing cleaner water to flow through.
Chemical Fish Tank Filters either absorb chemical pollutants in the water or breaks them down into less deadly components. These type of filtration is general used along with mechanical fish tank filters to provide a more complete filtration process. An example of this type of filter media is activated carbon.
Biological Fish Tank Filters use live colonies of beneficial bacteria to maintain a perfect balance of chemical levels in the water. In general, these beneficial bacterias control the ammonium cycle in your fish tank and assist in eliminating nitrite and nitrate impurities.
Choosing Fish Tank Filters
Whether your fish tank filters use all three of these filtration methods or just one really depends on the type of fish tank filters that you are currently using. In general, the more expensive variety of fish tank filters tend to provide all three filtration types while the cheapest fish tank filters tend to focus more on mechanical filtration. But if you have a large fish tank, you should get fish tank filters that provide all three filtration methods.
Maintaining Fish Tank Filters
While these three filtration types differ in the type of filtration they provide, they also require different maintenance and cleaning methods. Here is a general idea on how you should maintain and clean each of the filter types:
The main component in mechanical fish tank filters is the filter media which is a porous material such as a pad or sponge that traps debris. This means that it will require washing to prevent the filter media from getting clogged. General what you would need to do is wash them properly at least once every week. When washing the filter media, never use direct tap water because the filter media is almost always home to colonies of beneficial bacteria which also provide biological filtration and the chlorine in tap water would kill off these important organisms.
Chemical fish tank filters never need cleaning, what they do need is replacement. The activated carbon used for filtering out chemicals in the water will eventually lose its potency and will need to be replaced at least once every two months.
Biological fish tank filters incorporate a passive filtration method, they do not trap any debris. But over time, the filter would be caked with a layer of grime and might need to be washed. When washing them, never ever use chlorinated water such as direct tap water. And never ever dry them out in sunlight because the UV rays will kills them. Be gently in your washing and just focus on removing the physical dirt.
Samples Of Fish Tank Filters (Click for details)
If you have not bought your fish tank filters, take into consideration the size of your fish tank to base your decision on what type of filtration you need. Also make sure you enquire from the sales person on the cleaning and maintenance methods to do your the fish tank filters that you have selected.
Getting Rid Of Algae On Sponge Filters
This algae on sponge filters article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “7 Ways To Avoid Fish Ich In Your Fish Tank“.
One common question which I keep getting from my readers these days is how it is possible to have algae on sponge filters. A lot of people are surprised that a sponge filter which is supposed to filter out contaminants can have algae growing on it but this is really not a strange thing, nor is it something to be too concerned about.
Algae On Sponge Filters
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You need to know how a sponge filter functions in order to figure out how algae on sponge filters can grow. A sponge filter is a very simple filtering device with one major filtration media which is the sponge. When water is drawn into the sponge head, large debris and waste matter is trapped on the sponge surface. This waste is mostly organic matter and is fertilizer for the algae. After all, algae is plant life. This makes the sponge head now an excellent breeding ground for algae.
Cleaning Off Algae On Sponge Filters
The beauty of a sponge filter is how relatively easy it is to clean. All you need to do is take off the sponge head and give it a little wash to get rid of the algae on sponge filters.
To properly wash the sponge head, you should not use tap water. What you should do is use some of the aquarium water. The best time to do this is when you are doing your weekly water change. Instead of throwing away the water, use if first to wash the sponge head. The reason why we do not use tap water is because the sponge head is also home to colonies of beneficial bacteria that will provide biological filtration to hour aquarium. The chlorine in tap water will kill of the beneficial bacteria and cause an imbalance in your fish tank water.
But just cleaning off algae on sponge filters is just a temporary solution. You have to get to the root of e problem which is why is algae growing in your fish tank in the first place. Once you tackle this issue, you would not have to keep cleaning off algae on sponge filters ever again.
Algae On Sponge Filters Causes
Algae is a form of plant life and as long as you know this, preventing algae from breeding in your fish tank and most importantly algae on sponge filters will be extremely easy. Like all forms of plant life, algae need sunlight and nutrients. Without them, the algae would never be able to thrive.
First off, inspect the position that you have placed your fish tank. Is it in a place that gets an ample amount of sunlight each day? Is it close to a window or door, or worst yet is it outdoors? Having a lot of sunlight is the perfect condition for algae growth. If possible, move your aquarium to an area that gets less sunlight.
Next, is there too much free floating nutrients in your fish tank? These nutrients can come from excess food or fish waste. Are you overfeeding your fish and allowing the food to dissolve in the water without the fish finishing it? Also, since you are using a sponge filter, you need to ensure that you perform regular cleaning or the sponge head would be clogged and not providing sufficient filtration.
To limit the amount of plant nutrients in your fish tank you could plant decorative plants that would compete fiercely with the algae for food. Wisteria is the type of plant that I personally use in all my fish tanks that are prone to algae because they are the best competitors to algae.
Algae Control Essentials
These are some of the simplest ways to combat algae in your fish tank. While algae presence if definitely not deadly to your fish, having them especially algae on sponge filters can be unsightly and more importantly reduce the efficiency of your filter.
Using An Aquarium Sponge Filter For A Small Fish Tank
This aquarium sponge filter article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “Tips For Choosing The Right Aquarium Canister Filter For Your Saltwater Aquarium“.
If you are looking for a filter that is ideal for a small aquarium of about 3 gallons such as ones used for betta fish, then an aquarium sponge filter would be ideal. There are many reasons for why an aquarium sponge filter would be best for a small fish tank, the main reason being the fact that they do not focus the water suction into a small inlet like the other filters. An aquarium sponge filter basically is a special piece of sponge that is attached to the end of the water inlet. In doing so, the inlet that water is suck into is spread out over a wider area, making it virtually impossible for weak or small fish to get sucked in and stuck.
Aquarium Sponge Filter Benefits
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The increased surface area of an aquarium sponge filter also prevents too much water movement. This reduces the amount of stress placed on the fish especially if your fish a very small or weak.
An aquarium sponge filter provides both mechanical as well as biological filtration. Large debris and excess food is trapped on the sponge head and can easily be discarded by washing it. The sponge itself is an excellent breeding ground for colonies of beneficial bacteria which provide biological filtration.
Another benefit of using the aquarium sponge filter is the cost of it. It is one of the cheapest fish tank filters on sale today. Because it is so basic, with its main component being a simple sponge head, it is not prone to mechanical failure like many of the other types of filters and in case of wearing due to long term use, all that is required is a cheap sponge head change.
Maintaining An Aquarium Sponge Filter
Because the mechanical filter is the sponge head that is soaking in the water, you have to clean it at least once a week to ensure that it is filtering at optimum levels. Cleaning an aquarium sponge filter is extremely easy. You would first want to prepare a small container beforehand. Slowly pull out the inlet tube ensuring that you do not shake off the trapped debris into the water. Place the sponge head into the container and dislodge it from the tube. Shake the tube a little to drip off any excess water.
All you need to do now is wash it. The best way to do this is to use some of the water from the fish tank itself. Because you are supposed to be doing a partial water change each week, make good use of the water you take out of the aquarium to wash the sponge head. Do not scrub the sponge as you would be causing damage to it. What you want to do is swish it around the water to dislodge large debris and give it a couple of squeezes inside the water.
Never ever use tap water to wash the sponge head. The sponge head is home to colonies of beneficial bacteria that provide biological filtration. The chlorine in tap water will kill off most if not all of the colonies of bacteria which took so long to grow.
Once washed, just shake the sponge head a little to drip off excess waste water and replace it onto the inlet tube and place it back into the fish tank. Never dry it especially in the sun because it will not only cause your sponge head to eventually crumble but the ultra violet rays of the sun will also kill off colonies of bacteria.
An Aquarium Sponge Filter Is Efficient
Strangely enough, with all the benefits that an aquarium sponge filter provides, it is one of the most underrated fish tank filters in the marketplace today. I guess one of the reasons could be because it just looks so basic and simple that no one can believe it is capable of providing good filtration. Another possible reason is that it does require weekly cleaning unlike some of the other fish tank filters on sale.
Samples Of Aquarium Sponge Filter (Click for specs)
If you are looking for an ideal fish tank filter for your aquarium especially a small one, then you will not go wrong with an aquarium sponge filter.
Tips For Choosing The Right Aquarium Canister Filter For Your Saltwater Aquarium
This canister filter article is a follow up to a previous post entitled “5 Fish Tank Filters That You Could Set Up“.
One of the best types of filters to implement in your saltwater aquarium is definitely the canister filter. A canister filter does a wonderful job at filtration, is easy to set up and maintain, and generally it is affordable. But not all canister filters perform the same. What i would like to do here is give you 3 tips that will help you select the right aquarium canister filter that you could opt for in your saltwater fish tank.
Tip #1: Canister Filter Parts
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Before buying the canister filter of your choice, check with your local aquarium shop if they carry replacement parts for the model of your choice. If you don’t notice them on the shelves,mask the store clerk if they are stored elsewhere. Some of the more common parts that may need to be replaced from time to time include the impeller, rubber gaskets and O rings. The problem is that you never know when these parts will wear out and when they do, the canister filter will stop functioning or leak badly. These need to be replaced urgently and you won’t be able to wait a few days for the parts to arrive through the mail. It is also a great idea to keep a spare set of these parts. Ask the store clerk what other parts you should keep on hand for an emergency.
Tip #2: Compliant Saltwater Canister Filter
Saltwater and freshwater filters are not the same. The salt in the water tends to be corrosive especially to metal and saltwater filters are generally made of material that does not corrode. Check with the store clerk that the canister filter of your choice is saltwater compliant and also ensure that it is mentioned on the box or the User Manual. Using the wrong type of canister filter in your saltwater aquarium will cause it to malfunction very fast.
Tip #3: Easy To Service Canister Filter
Any type of fish tank filter eventually needs to be serviced and some are harder to maintain than others. Check with the store clerk on how much maintenance needs to be performed and what the tasks involve. You will then need to make a judgement on whether the maintenance tasks can fit easily to your lifestyle and time.
Does the canister filter have fittings that are easy and quick to disconnect? If they do, then it would allow you to easily remove the canister from the hoses while preventing water from leaking out on your floor. Not every canister filter have such quick releases, so you might want to check with the store clerk if the canister filter of your choice has this. While it is not really crucial, it will save you a whole lot of trouble when it comes to maintenance especially if your aquarium is over a carpeted area.
Samples Of Canister Filter (Click for specs)
These are three of the most important tips that you should think about and enquire on when you decide to use a canister filter for your saltwater aquarium.
5 Fish Tank Filters That You Could Set Up
This fish tank filters article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “How To Control Hair Algae In Fish Tanks“.
Of all the equipment that you can get for your aquarium, fish tank filters are definitely the most important. You will have to accept that your fish have been taken out of their natural habitat and thrown into one that is totally alien to them. In order to ensure that they have a chance to survive in this artificial environment, you will have to replicate the ecosystem that the fish came from.
Fish tank filters cleanse the aquarium water of mechanical, chemical and biological waste. Without them, the water would turn cloudy within a day and be too polluted for your fish to even survive a day. That is why it is crucial to select one that is just right for you.
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Selecting fish tank filters is more a personal decision rather than a technical one. What you will to have to consider is your budget, the amount of time you have to do maintenance tasks, the size of your fish tank, the size of fishes you keep and the location of your aquarium.
In this post we will look at the various fish tank filters and how they will meet your own criteria.
1) Diatom Fish Tank Filters
A diatom fish tank filter uses diatomaceous earth as its filter media to filter out waste and debris from the aquarium water. While it is not as expensive as canister fish tank filters, they do cost more than other conventional filters. This is definitely the best filter that you could buy. It works for all sizes of fish tanks and any amount of fish. In terms of maintenance, diatom filters are not meant to run throughout the day like conventional filters. You would need to run it for about 2 to 3 hours at least once or twice a day.
2) Canister Fish Tank Filters
The most expensive and most efficient among conventional aquarium filters. Canister fil
ters provide all forms of filtration outside of the fish tank and pumps back clean water into the tank. The great thing about the canister filter is that it requires extremely little maintenance, probably once every three months or so and yet manages to keep the water pristine. This is ideal for larger fish tanks and for people with very little time for aquarium maintenance.
3) Power Fish Tank Filters
Also known as External Fish Tank Filters, these filters are hung on the outside of the fish tank and provide filtration away from the aquarium water. They are cheaper than canister filters and provide sufficient filtration for any size fish tank. But because of the power of the suction, they are more suitable for medium to big fishes. The filter media used in them is located in the body of the filter and cleaning it is just a matter of taking out the filter media and washing, without having to dip your hands in the aquarium water.
4) Sponge Fish Tank Filters
Sponge filters are usually used along with power filters but can be used alone, connected to a pump. Filtration is performed by the sponge which traps the debris as well as providing biological filtration from the colonies of beneficial bacteria that grows on the sponge itself. It is a cheap but effective form of filtration. However it does require a lot of maintenance especially if you have a lot of fish and feed them too much. The sponge needs to be physically removed from the water and washed at least once a week. This can be a messy job and a little time consuming. It’s a great filter for smaller tanks with tiny or weak fish because the suction is not too strong.
5) Corner Fish Tank Filters
Also known as Box Filters, the filters media which usually a sponge is inside a box that sits inside the fish tank in a corner. Not an efficient filter, it gets dirty fast and needs to be maintained a lot or else it will back up the waste matter into the aquarium water. Only consider it if you really cannot afford any other filter. Not at all suitable for a medium or large fish tank.
Types Of Fish Tank Filters (Click for more details)
This list should help you decide which is the best fish tank filters to set up to suit your lifestyle and personal needs.
