Pros and Cons of Different Filters
The Purpose Of A Fish Tank Filter The main purpose of a fish tank filter is to remove external matter from an aquarium so that the environment that the fish and other aquatic life live in is as close as possible to their natural environment.
The external matter that is removed can be large debris caused by excess food and fish waste, and chemicals which were used to treat the water or sick fish especially in a quarantine tank.
These, if left in the tank for extended periods of time, will reduce the quality of the water making the fish susceptible to disease, make them lethargic, lose their vibrant colors and inhibitting their ability to breed.
How Do You Choose The Right Filter For You? Your choice of the right fish tank filter for your aquarium should depend on the following criteria;
Here are the different filters available today to suit your needs.
Box Filters These are the most basic filters available.
They function by sucking in water through filter media in a clear box which sits at the back of the tank.
They are meant for small aquariums which have very little fish as they are not too efficient.
You would need to clean the filter media on a weekly basis or the large debris will clog the filter media.
They are however extremely cheap.
Sponge Filters While they can be used as a main filter, most times they are used along with another filter where they act as back up.
They function by sucking in water through the sponge which filters the water.
There are various sponge sizes you can get but they are meant for small to medium tanks.
You would need to clean the sponge on a weekly basis.
They are relatively cheap.
Undergravel Filters These filters usually come as a set when you purchase a beginner fish tank.
A layer of gravel sits on a slightly raised platform and the filter functions by sucking water through this layer of filter, where the gravel acts as the filter media.
Meant for medium tanks with not too many fish, they are relatively easy to clean.
Most of the time, all you need to do is vacuum or siphon the layer of muck that build up at the base of the tank.
They are not too expensive but the platform base comes in standard sizes that might not fit a custom fish tank.
Power Filters This is the type of filter favored by most fish breeders.
A powerhead pumps water through a series of filters that clears of the water.
They are meant for a well stocked medium sized tank and works quite efficiently especially when well maintained.
They do not need too much maintenance, a monthly cleaning schedule is sufficient.
They are not that cheap but will make up for the initial cost in the long run.
Canister Filters The Ferrari of the aquarium world.
These filter water through a series of filter media located in a canister that is placed outside of the tank, usually below it.
They are meant for medium to large tanks with as many fish as you can stock up because they are highly efficient.
Canister filters need very little maintenance, usually three times a year is more than enough.
The downside is that they are expensive but if you can afford the initial start up cost, then they will save you a whole lot of time and money in the long run.
The external matter that is removed can be large debris caused by excess food and fish waste, and chemicals which were used to treat the water or sick fish especially in a quarantine tank.
These, if left in the tank for extended periods of time, will reduce the quality of the water making the fish susceptible to disease, make them lethargic, lose their vibrant colors and inhibitting their ability to breed.
How Do You Choose The Right Filter For You? Your choice of the right fish tank filter for your aquarium should depend on the following criteria;
- How large is your fish tank
- How many fish you have in there
- How much time you can spend maintaining the filter
- How much money are you willing to spend on a filter
Here are the different filters available today to suit your needs.
Box Filters These are the most basic filters available.
They function by sucking in water through filter media in a clear box which sits at the back of the tank.
They are meant for small aquariums which have very little fish as they are not too efficient.
You would need to clean the filter media on a weekly basis or the large debris will clog the filter media.
They are however extremely cheap.
Sponge Filters While they can be used as a main filter, most times they are used along with another filter where they act as back up.
They function by sucking in water through the sponge which filters the water.
There are various sponge sizes you can get but they are meant for small to medium tanks.
You would need to clean the sponge on a weekly basis.
They are relatively cheap.
Undergravel Filters These filters usually come as a set when you purchase a beginner fish tank.
A layer of gravel sits on a slightly raised platform and the filter functions by sucking water through this layer of filter, where the gravel acts as the filter media.
Meant for medium tanks with not too many fish, they are relatively easy to clean.
Most of the time, all you need to do is vacuum or siphon the layer of muck that build up at the base of the tank.
They are not too expensive but the platform base comes in standard sizes that might not fit a custom fish tank.
Power Filters This is the type of filter favored by most fish breeders.
A powerhead pumps water through a series of filters that clears of the water.
They are meant for a well stocked medium sized tank and works quite efficiently especially when well maintained.
They do not need too much maintenance, a monthly cleaning schedule is sufficient.
They are not that cheap but will make up for the initial cost in the long run.
Canister Filters The Ferrari of the aquarium world.
These filter water through a series of filter media located in a canister that is placed outside of the tank, usually below it.
They are meant for medium to large tanks with as many fish as you can stock up because they are highly efficient.
Canister filters need very little maintenance, usually three times a year is more than enough.
The downside is that they are expensive but if you can afford the initial start up cost, then they will save you a whole lot of time and money in the long run.
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