General Information on Fish Tank Filters

The cleanliness of your fish tank water is constantly being compromised due to various events that happen in this closed environment. Examples of such events are pollution from fish waste and uneaten fish food, detritus from decomposing dead fish and plants, and changes in water composition such as shifts in pH levels and addition of medicines or new tap water.

Fish tank filters are necessary to make sure that the conditions needed for the fish to stay healthy and thrive are maintained. By providing mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration, these filters will remove pollutants and keep the water in your fish tank clean at all times.

The different kinds of filters

Fish tank filters come in various shapes, sizes, and capabilities. You have to familiarize yourself with each type in order to decide which one is best for the size of your tank and the number of fish you have.

Inexpensive filters such as hang-on filters, box or corner filters, internal power filters, diatom filters, and sponge filters are generally ideal for small tanks. Consisting of just a sponge or foam and a tube, sponge filters are the cheapest and simplest fish tank filters, ideal for tanks with small or newborn fish and quarantine tanks. Also known as external power filters, hang-on filters are among the most popular since they often provide all three filtration methods. On the other hand, internal power filters are placed inside the tank. These are ideal only for small freshwater tanks. Box or corner filters are also placed inside the aquarium, providing mechanical and chemical filtration for small tanks. To provide the best method of mechanical filtration, diatom filters use diatomaceous earth .

The filters mentioned above are both inexpensive, simple to set up, and easy to clean and maintain. They are ideal for beginners who wish to start with small tanks and small fish population. These filters can also be used in larger tanks but only as backup or secondary filters, or else they will get clogged up easily.

If you are looking for more powerful fish tank filters, you may want to consider buying canister filters, undergravel filters, wet/dry filters, and fluidized bed filters. The first three types can provide a complete three-step filtration system to your fish tank. While fluidized bed filters do not contain necessary mechanism for mechanical filtration, their biological and chemical filtration capabilities are good for tanks with live plants and heavy bio-loads.

While powerful and mostly complete, the above-mentioned filters also come with some disadvantages. Maintenance issues, such as periodic cleaning and replacement of parts, are the most common concerns with these types of filters. In the case of wet/dry filters, additional plumbing is one of the requirements.

Your fish tank filters have parts or accessories that you need to replace regularly. Most filters have filter cartridges. These have to be replaced regularly. Otherwise, toxins will leak back into the aquarium.

Other filters use filter bags and loose filter media. The bags have different mesh sizes corresponding to the size of the media to be placed inside. Examples of filter media are filter gravel, carbon pillows, and bio balls.

Clint Johnson is a pet store owner and an aquarium enthusiast who likes to help others succeed in raising their fish as well. He is a VIP member and VIP speaker at many aquarium clubs, as well as having a few very large tanks of his own. To learn more about fish tank filters and aquarium wet/dry filters, please visit marinedepot.com.