Water Filtration Types For Fish Tanks

One of the most important tasks the owner of a fish tank has is to keep the water clean. This means ridding it of waste matter that could make the inhabitants of the aquarium sick, or make the water unattractively turbid. This goes for fish farming in Hydroponic as well as Aquaponic systems.

Types of Water Filtration

The types of water filtration necessary for an aquarium are mechanical, biological, and chemical. These systems work together to support a healthy environment in the tank. All filters need to be changed regularly to keep them working properly. It is also a good idea to change the water in the aquarium from time to time.

Types of Filters

Internal Filters- These type of water filters have proven beneficial for small aquariums with only a few plants and animals. They are most often corner box filters or sponge filters. The corner box has perforations to let water circulate through it. Air is pumped into this type of filter through the bottom, and it usually uses floss or activated carbon to clean the water. A sponge filter uses a sponge-like filter with a lot of surface area. Sponge filters are easy to use because all the owner has to do to clean them is rinse them with aquarium water from time to time.

Under Gravel Filters- These are also good for smaller aquariums. They are made of a perforated plate thats buried beneath the gravel. They have uplift tubes that reach toward the top of the tank. Under gravel filters use gravel to catch and hold debris, so the gravel needs to be agitated and cleaned fairly frequently.

Canister Filters- These are excellent water filters for larger aqua animals because they are pressurized and can force the water through fine filtering material. This allows more particulate matter to be trapped. They are not placed in the water but are usually placed beneath the tank. Canisters can also use many different type of materials, including glass, material that resembles gravel and biowheels.

Wet-Dry Filters-Perhaps the best type of water filter for a large aquarium with lots of animals is a wet-dry filter. Like canisters, part of the system is placed beneath the aquarium. It is made of two boxes. One is inside the tank, and the other is outside. The boxes are connected by a tube that moves the water from the interior box to the outside box, and the water is cleaned by mechanical, chemical and biological means. Though they are expensive, wet-dry filters are so efficient that they are used for commercial tanks where there are no fresh water plants, which would not receive the right amount of carbon dioxide due to the action of the filter. However, wet-dry filters are easy to maintain

Power Filters- These filters are more robust then the others and are placed at the back of the tank. They are often operated by pumps and have filter cartridges and biowheels to make them more efficient. They are not good for salt water aquaria or fresh water aquaria with plants. This is because power filters agitate the surface of the water, which is not good for fresh water aquarium plants and can spray salt over the tank’s hood and lights.