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! - See more at: http://aquaonefilter.blogspot.com/2012/01/additional-information-questions-and.html#sthash.HGkyfN9Z.dpuf

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.