How To Select The Right Fish Tank Filters
But Aren’t All Fish Tank Filters The Same?
This is a follow up from an earlier post titled “Ideal Fish Tank Filters For A Small Aquarium“.
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Well, I hate to say it but not all fish tank filters are created equal. It is true that some perform better than others while there are also fish tank filters that are suited for specific conditions and perform specific tasks. The also differ according to price and how often they need to be maintained. In this article I will expose you to the various choices of fish tank filters that you have and what you can do to select the ideal fish tank filters for your aquarium.
How Important Are Fish Tank Filters?
Fish tank filters are the most important equipment for any aquarium. Along with fish tank heaters, fish tank filters form a system that ensure the living conditions in a tank is just right for healthy and vibrant fish. Choosing the right fish tank filters for you is also a matter of personal choice. Even though different fish tank filters work differently, they all have the same basic purpose which is to filter out debris and externals from the water which would otherwise contaminate it .
How Do Fish Tank Filters Work?
Fish tank filters generally perform one or more of the following filtration tasks: chemical, mechanical and biological.
Chemical filtration involves the removal of toxins and dissolved matter usually through activated carbon. The porous carbon filter traps phosphates and waste in its pore. It is also able to remove ammonia and odor from the water. While it really isn’t all that important to perform chemical filtration, it can be useful especially in a tank meant for quarantine to filter out the excess chemicals used for treatment.
Mechanical filtration removes large waste and sediments from the aquarium. All fish tank filters perform this basic but important function. Biological filtration is a very important filtration task.
Biological fish tank filters utilize a colony of beneficial bacteria to filter out toxins and decay from the tank. If you wish to have healthy and thriving fish, then biological filtration is an absolute must.
Different Types Of Fish Tank Filters
The main filtration function performed by almost all fish tank filters are biological and mechanical. The more expensive ones add on chemical filtration as well. Your choice of aquarium filters to use should depend on the size of the tank, the quantity of fish, how sensitive the fish are, the budget you are willing to spend on the fish tank filters and finally how much time you are willing to set aside to clean it.
Here is a general look at the various types of fish tank filters being sold today:
- Box Filters: Also known as Corner Filters, this is usually a clear box that contains filter floss and other media. Air is push through an air stone that in turn pumps water into the filter, through the floss and filter media which performs mechanical filtration. Over time, there will be a build up of bacterial colony providing biological filtration . Box filters are inexpensive but you should only consider them for small tanks as they are generally not that efficient. Most fish enthusiasts today also do not favor them because the box which is placed inside the tank tends does not compliment the decoration. They require weekly cleaning but are easily to clean.
Undergravel Filters: A layer of gravel sits on top of a plastic platform. By utilizing a pump, water is suck from under the gravel, forcing it to flow through the gravel which performs mechanical and eventually biological filtration . Undergravel filters usually comes together with a beginners tank that you buy in a complete set. During the weekly cleaning session, you would have to vacuum the layer of sediments that will accumulate just above the gravel.
Aquarium Sponge Filter: These fairly efficient filters are usually used as a secondary filter attached to a main filter to further increase the filtration process. Sponge filters are cheap but the maintenance can be a bit messy because you’d need to remove the sponge from the tank and clean it before replacing it back again.- Power Filters: Most fish enthusiasts use this type of filter. They are very efficient and provides a complete filtration process. Some the reasons why they are so famous is because of the mid range price, efficient filtering and simple maintenance. Just right for a mid size tank.
Canister Filters: Meant mainly for larger thanks that need a powerful filter. Though they are expensive, they do perform the best filtration process than any other filters. They require very little maintenance usually just a couple of times in a year. Also, the filter is totally out of the water so maintenance does not involve the water in the tank at all.
In Conclusion….
Think carefully about the fish tank filter that you wish to purchase because it should be an investment that is supposed to last you for many years. Selecting the right fish tank filters for you will ensure not only healthy and vibrant fish but a hobby that will be totally satisfying.
From selecting fish tank filters, let’s look into how to move fish between tanks safely.
Protein Skimming is the process of removing any organic waste from the aquarium water before it even has the time to be broken down into ammonia. They do not break down the waste into any other forms.
Live Rock and Live Sand are natural biological saltwater filters. The way they function is by breaking down ammonia into nitrite, then nitrite into nitrate and finally nitrate into nitrogen gas. The major difference between conventional biological filters and these is the end product they produce. Biological filters produce nitrate which still needs to be removed from the water manually. Live Sand and Live Rock produce nitrogen gas which leaves the aquarium naturally and is harmless to the aquatic life you have.
When using Live Sand, it is recommended that you have a deep sand bed in order to maximize on the filtration that it produces.
Power fish tank filters are powered by a powerhead which is a piece of equipment located either inside or on top of the power filter. It consists of an electric motor which drive a pump and is sealed in hard plastic. It is this pump that sucks in the water, forces it through the fish tank filters and returns the clean water back into the tank. The speed and force of the water can be adjusted by regulating the airflow into the filter through adjustable valves. This is a very useful function especially when using power filters in small tanks or when there are small fish present, when having too strong currents into the tanks might be detremental to the fish’s health. Regulating the water flow will also allow its direction to be directed into a specific area of your fish tank.
Undergravel Fish Tank FiltersA good low budget filter which does not generate too strong currents in your tank. Once the undergravel fish tank filter is allowed to function for a while, it does quite a good job in maintaining the clarity of the water. Dirty water is forced to flow down the tank through the gravel where is trapped in the empty space beneathe the filter’s plastic grate. It is the gravel that does most of the filtration so if your fish tank water is cloudy, it will take a couple of days to clear up properly. It will also require an additional pump for sucking the water through the gravel.
External fish tank filters are the best type of filtration system to use if you are able to afford it. Because the filtering happens outside of the aquarium, it keeps the clean filtered water separated from the unfiltered water before it is returned pristine to the tank. Generally, external filters have a few long hoses connected to them, providing separate supply and return routes. Though it is the most effective filtration system, it is however the most expensive.
