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.

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.

This fish tank filters article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “How To Control Hair Algae In Fish Tanks“.

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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.

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 filters 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.

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This list should help you decide which is the best fish tank filters to set up to suit your lifestyle and personal needs.

Hair Algae In Fish Tanks

This article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “Get Rid Of Snails In Fish Tank Naturally“.

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Who can deny what a nuisance is hair algae in fish tanks. If environmental conditions are right to it, hair algae can grow extremely fast to a point that it will overrun the aquarium. And to make matters worst, no matter how hard you scrub them off, it will grow back. So the most important aspect of controlling hair algae in fish tanks is not to fight the effect but to try as much as you can to eliminate the cause.

Control Hair Algae In Fish Tanks

Hair algae is tough, tough enough to grow on virtually any surface. But although it is unsightly, hair algae like any other plant does provide some benefits to the aquatic life. It does oxygenate the water and there are fish that feed on the algae. So if you want to get rid of hair algae, do it as a gradual process or it might affect the fish. On the other end of the scale, having too much algae is bad to the fish too.

So how do you properly control hair algae in fish tanks? Here are some of the main factors for you to work on.

Hair Algae In Fish Tanks: Proper Water Management

Controlling the level of nitrates in your aquarium is very important in controlling hair algae on fish tanks. Hair algae thrives on high levels of nitrates and suddenly changes in the level will cause algae blooms. As long as these levels remain high, they will keep growing back no matter how much you remove them. The key here is to not overfeed your fish and remove any excess food. Another thing you might want to try is using live food. As long as the feed is not dead and rotting, it would not raise nitrate levels.

Hair Algae In Fish Tanks: Increase The Algae’s Competition

As long as hair algae is the sole consumer of all that yummy nitrate, it will thrive. Add in some plants and they will compete with the algae for food and eventually starve it out of your aquarium.

Hair Algae In Fish Tanks: Animals That Eat Algae

There are a number of aquatic animals that love eating algae. These include Scarlet Hermits and Tangs to name a few. But don’t just go out and buy some immediately. Speak to the specialist at the fish shop and explain about your situation and your aquarium specifications, especially its size and what fish tank filters you are using. He would be able to provide a better suggestion on the most suitable creature that you should get for your situation.

Hair Algae In Fish Tanks: The Amount Of Light

Algae is a plant and like all plants, it thrives in places that gets a lot of sunlight. Moving your aquarium to a less bright area of your home will hinder the growth of hair algae in fish tanks.

These are some of the main ways to control hair algae in fish tanks.

Snails In Fish Tank

This article is a follow up to a previous post entitled “Clearing Cloudy Water In A Marine Aquarium“.

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While snails in fish tank don’t really harm the fish, they do tend to nibble on the aquatic plants in your aquarium. Having too many snails in fish tank will definitely cause your plants to look tattered and unsightly. The problem with snails in fish tank is that they tend to breed really fast if left uncontrolled. There are numerous ways to get rid of them from chemical treatments to gadgets but as a personal preference, I’ve always preferred a more natural way in combating any of my aquarium problems.

Before we get into the method that I favor, let’s look at the various other ways.

Snails In Fish Tank: Chemical Treatment

There are numerous chemical treatments sold in the marketplace today that such as Snail-Rid and Aquari-Sol that do kill snails in fish tank. But when choosing any chemical treatment, ensure that it does not contain Copper Sulfate which can be fatal to your fish. I’ve always had a thing against pouring chemicals into my aquarium.

You could also try Aquarium Salt or Sodium Chloride. Everyone knows salt kills garden snails and it works the same for snails in fish tank. However, the smaller variation of aquarium snails have a higher tolerance to salt and might not have a reaction to aquarium salt.

Snails In Fish Tank: Natural Methods

My favorite method to get rid of snails is to use Loaches. There are two breeds of Loaches that you could keep; Clown Loaches and Lohachata Loaches.

Clown Loaches are better suited for larger aquariums between 40 to 50 gallons. They tend to grow a little big and survive better in schools of six or more. But Clown Loaches are notorious for troubling tiny fish like Neon Tetra.

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Lohachata Loaches also known as Yoyo Loaches are smaller and can live comfortably in groups of three, so they are suited for smaller aquariums. But Yoyo Loaches can be a little hard to find in smaller fish shops.

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These two fishes will go immediately to work devouring all the snails they can find.

Snails In Fish Tank: A Cool Trick

This is one cool trick that I read online somewhere before and put it to the test with surprisingly excellent results.

Get a small jar, the size of a pepper shaker. You could even use a pepper shaker without the cap. Wash it properly with plain water, do not use detergent to wash anything you plan to put into an aquarium. Place a piece of lettuce in the jar and sink it to the bottom of the tank and that’s it. When you come back to it tomorrow, there will be lots of tiny snails inside it. Just remove the jar, get rid of the snails and repeat the process again. In a couple of days, your tank will be snail free.

These are some of the best natural ways to get rid of snails in fish tank.

Clearing Cloudy Water

This article is a follow up from the previous post entitled “Love Your Pets – Feed Them Best”

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When it comes to maintaining a saltwater fish tank, one of the commonest problems that many enthusiasts face is clearing cloudy water. Nothing beats admiring the beautiful, colorful fish swimming in a well decorated marine aquarium but how can you do that if the water is cloudy? What I hope to do in this article is to guide you on what turns your saltwater fish tank cloudy in the first place and tips on clearing cloudy water that you could use instantly.

Why Clearing Cloudy Water Is Important

When clearing cloudy water, it is first best to understand how the water got cloudy in the first place. There are three main causes of cloudy water; bacterial blooms, algae growth and debris from decorations. Knowing which type of cloudy water you are facing will making clearing cloudy water so much easier.

Bacterial blooms make the water a whitish tint. This is usually the result of over feeding your fish or allowing plants or dead fish to rot in the tank.

Algae growth makes the water a greenish tint. This is usually the result of placing the tank in excessive sunlight and too much nitrates in the tank.

Debris from decorations usually make the tank water a brownish or yellowish tint. This is the result of not properly washing new decoration before putting it into the aquarium.

Tips On Clearing Cloudy Water

Check the population of fish in your aquarium. The ideal population in a saltwater aquarium is one medium size fish for every 8 to 10 gallons of water. Maintaining the ideal level of fish in a tank will allow the fish tank filters to properly function in filtering the tank water.

If your filter causes too much water circulation, turn it off for a while each time you feed the fish to allow them to eat the food completely. And always feed a little at a time. Over feeding will cause the food to rot in the aquarium water, promoting excessive bacterial growth.

Ensure that the fish tank filters that you use is suitable for the size of the tank that you have. Too small and it would not be able to filter the water properly. Too large and it will cause too much water movement and affect the fish.

Clean the filter media weekly or bi-weekly. This ensures that the filter media is not clogged and function to the maximum capability.

Do proper water changes each week. This will control the amount of bacteria and algae in your tank.

If you are affect by algae growth, ensure that you do not have the tank placed in a location that experiences too much sunlight. Remember, algae is a plant and it thrives on sunlight.

Finally, before placing any decoration into your aquarium, wash it thoroughly first. This is especially important for driftwood. These usually shed a brownish or yellowish dust when the are dry which can cause cloudy water.

These are some of the simplest tips that you can use immediately when clearing cloudy water.