Which aquarium filter is
good?
Answer: The size of the aquarium
will help to determine the best type of aquarium filter to use. Smaller
aquariums that are 10 gallons or less can be maintained with either an under-gravel
filter or an air powered filter. These filters are only useful in situations
where the fish are not very messy and there is not much debris. 30-55 gallon
aquariums will do better with a hang on back or internal power-head filter. The
moderate water displacements for these systems are perfect for these aquarium
sizes. Any aquarium larger than 55 gallons would benefit greatly from having
either a canister filter or a sump. Both of these systems can be set up to
filter larger quantities of water in shorter periods of time because they are
generally larger than the other filtration systems.
When do I need to clean
out my canister filter?
Answer: Cleaning of canister filters
should be done on a regular timetable of every couple of months. If the water
flow reduces significantly in between the schedule, clean out the canister as
it has become blocked. Always use old tank water for cleaning purposes.
Where does a filter go on
an aquarium?
Answer: There are a few different
kinds of filters and each would be placed in a different location. Some
examples are: (HOT) hang on tank, canister, internal magnetically driven, air
driven (internal). Hang on tank filters are generally placed on the back side
of the tank and are arguably the most common type. These have a tube that
lowers over the side of the tank into the water and once primed (filled with
water) will "suck" water through physical/chemical media purifying
the water. Canister filters are similar to HOT filters in that they have a tube
that extends up and over the side of the tank siphoning out water and passing
it through filter media and returning it, via another tube, to the aquarium. These
are easy to spot as they have a canister like part that sits behind or under
the aquarium, and as noted, a siphon hose and return- it is also important to
note that the higher end ones have a shutoff valve that makes cleaning easier. Internal
magnetically driven work similar to the previous two types, except it is placed
into the water, submerged to the manufacturers recommendations, it pumps the
water through filter media within the tank and this filter has nothing outside
the tank except the power cord. Air driven filters work on a displacement
principal. The air creates a suction action as it passes through the tube
towards the surface. This drags water through the filter media or aquarium
substrate purifying the water.
Why are canister filters
so good?
Answer: All types of filtration are
good if used to the correct rating but canister filters are better for large
aquariums as they can hold a lot more filter media and filter more water per
hour. Always check the rating before purchasing your canister filter.
What is a canister filter?
Answer: A canister filter is a 2 or 3
step filter that is outside the tank, instead of hanging on the tank or
completely inside the tank like under gravel filters.
What causes a noisy fish
tank filter?
Answer: Usually some impurity. These
cause a filter to become dirty from inside, thus it is having problems
filtering the water. Impurities don't help the propeller to work properly. Clean
the filter and it should work quietly. If it's still noisy, there may be some
serious failure of the engine and it is recommended to use another filter
instead.
What size of power filter
do I need for fish tank?
Answer: The size of the filter
required depends on the water volume of your tank. With all filters there will
be a rating system for the size required. Normally internal filters will be
fine with tanks 3 feet or less. Over 3 feet larger canister filters will be
required.
What type of filter is
best to use with fish fry?
Answer: To keep the fry from being
sucked into the filter, a fine pore sponge or cheese cloth should be fitted
over your filter intake. Alternatively, you may remove the fry into a separate
aquarium that has only an air driven sponge filter or well cycled under gravel
filter. Take care not to have the fry out of water for long, and if possible
not at all. Chasing or scooping them up within their aquarium is best.
What fish can I keep
without a filter?
Answer: This depends on the size of
your aquarium. Imagine a 200L aquarium with 2 Siamese fighting fish in it and
say there are plants too; Then you don't need any filter because plants will
decompose all excrements. But if there are more excrements than plants can
decompose at the time, then you surely need a filter. Do not forget that even
filter is not needed in all aquariums, water current must exist. Without proper
water current the pH level can become very unpredictable very fast (usually
lower than 6) - however, pH is also closely related to carbonate hardness.
What is meant by the term "media"
in a fish tank filter?
Answer: Media is simply the physical
or chemical component of your filter. Physical filtration is usually a screen, sponge,
cheese cloth, or floss intended on catching larger waste, and suspended
particles. Charcoal/carbon is a chemical filter and is usually made from baked
coconut shell (or other wood like material) and appears as black granules. It
works by trapping chemical or physical material in microscopic cracks caused by
super heating in the manufacturing process. It also works as a biological filter
by providing surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow on. Another common
pouch found is an amonia-carb pouch (white or white and black granules) which
is simply a pouch filled with an aquarium safe chemical which would bond with
the ammonia produced by the fish waste. It would act as a biological filter the
same was as carbon/charcoal. Finally, some other types of media sold on the
market are bio rings and bio balls; both would act as part of your biological
filter. Peat pouches or peat moss would be used to change the pH of the water
and to create/convert water to be "black water". If you would like a
simplified answer: anything intended to be used as a insert into a filter could
be called filter media.
Why do some aquariums need canister
filters?
Answer: All aquariums need to have
the water filtrated for the highest of water quality. In larger tanks internal
filters are just too small to cope with the bio loads. Canister filters have
larger surface areas for the filter media so should be used with the larger
water volumes.
Where can I buy sponges to
make sponge filters?
Answer: Just about any sponge can be
used to make a sponge filter. just be sure that they are not impregnated with
any antibacterial or antifungal agents as they will be harmful to your fish. Usually
this means the cheaper the sponge the better. Plain "jumbo sized" yellow
or white sponges are often found in department stores and can be cut up many
different ways and shapes. It is important to note that most aquarium sponge
filters are engineered to catch specific size particulates and achieving the
same performance with DIY sponges may not be possible.
What size filter do I need
for a 16 gallon tank?
Answer: I normally use filters that
are rated for twice the aquarium water volume per hour. For a 16 gallon tank I
would use a filter that is rated at least 32 gallons per hour water flow.
What should the water
level be for an external power filter?
Answer: The water level should be
high enough so that the inlet pipe is immersed; this will prevent the pump from
overheating, trying to draw in water that is too low.
Why do we use an internal
filter in the aquarium?
Answer: All aquariums need to have
the water filtered to remove the toxins but with smaller tanks an internal
filter is large enough to keep the toxin levels at a safe level.
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