Additional information, questions and answers

As you can see below the article, we keep answering questions that visitors of Aqua-Fish.Net ask. Due to merging our aqua-fish.net/answers section with related articles we've updated this page on March 18th 2011 once again and here below you can find usual questions along with answers. Some of the questions may have been answered above, or right below (below the sponsored links), while some may be answered only partially, and most of them weren't answered on this page up until March 18th. If you still cannot find answer on your question here, feel free to use the form that can be found at the bottom of this page!

Which media should I use in my external filter?

Answer: Your external should hold media that will cover all aspects of filtration-mechanical, biological, and chemical. Mechanical filtration needs sponges adding to catch the debris, biological filtration is performed by adding ceramic rings or bio balls, chemical filtration is performed by adding carbon.

What size sponge filter for 10 gallon tank?

Answer: The pedestal sponge filters vary in size but will have their rating guide on the packaging. If you are using the basic sponge filters that clip on the side of the tank I always suggest getting the double sponge filter as it gives the option of cleaning each sponge at separate times.

Where do I buy a sponge filter for a breeding tank?

Answer: Local pet stores often carry sponge filters, and they can be found on many on-line stores such as aquatraders.com and ebay.com.

How do I know if I need an external filter?

Answer: Internal filters can cope with the water volumes held in smaller aquariums. When the water volumes get above a certain level you will need to invest in an external filter. All filter suppliers will provide a table stating which model of filter is best for which water volume.

What do carbon filters do for the aquarium?

Answer: Carbon filter inserts, removes and neutralizes dangerous chemicals such as ammonia, or even fish medication.

Why do a lot of bubbles come out of my aquarium filter?

Answer: The filter must be sucking in air from the atmosphere; this is mostly caused by the top of the filter being too close to the water surface.

Where are filters placed in an aquarium?

Answer: There are a few different kinds of filters: (HOT) hang on tank, canister, internal magnetically driven, and internal air driven. Hang on tank filters are generally placed on the back side of the tank and are probably 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 that sits behind or under the aquarium, and a siphon hose and return, it is also important to note that the higher end ones also have a shutoff valve that makes cleaning much easier. Internal magnetically driven work similar to the previous two types, except it is placed into the water, submerged to the manufactures recommendations it pumps the water through filter media within the tank. This filter will have 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.

Which external filter should I use?

Answer: The type of external filter you use should depend on the size of aquarium you have. For the smaller size aquariums it is perfectly OK to use a hang on back filter. They are relatively inexpensive, they are easy to maintain, and they are designed to move smaller quantities of water. For larger aquariums with more fish there are canister filters. They can be more expensive but they are designed to handle larger volumes of water with more waste loads.

Which fish can live without filter and oxygen?

Answer: Labyrinth fish such as bettas and gouramis are able to survive without a water oxygenating source. These fish have a labyrinth organ that gives them the ability to breathe atmospheric oxygen. This allows them to live in murky, oxygen depleted bodies of water where other fish would never survive.