It is literally a living thing! Although the filter becomes a home for bacteria, it is good bacteria known as nitrifying bacteria. The bacteria takes in the unwanted substances found in the water. It produces its own waster products and creates the ideal setting for necessary bacteria to breed.
Toxic ammonia in the waste products are converted into nitrite and then converted into nitrate. Nitrate is less harmful than nitrite but it encourages the growth of algae. Once nitrite has been converted into nitrate, it can easily be removed during regular water changes or by using chemicals.
The most popular type of biological aquarium filter is live rock. The rock is used inside the tank and colonized by beneficial bacteria that helps to filter the water. The very best saltwater aquarium filtration system is a sump based system. However, it is also the most expensive because it requires additional equipment and plumbing. The sump itself is generally located underneath the tank in the cabinet, but can even be placed in another room, basement or closet.
Water is diverted to the sump where it is filtered and then pumped back into the tank. This type of system usually includes a protein skimmer, filter sponge, substrate reactors and a filter sock. Another really good choice for a saltwater aquarium is the canister filtration system.
This multi-purpose filter can be used alone or in combination with other types of filtration equipment. What are the specifications of the filter that will make it perfect for your needs? Let us take a look at some of the questions you need to ask yourself when choosing a filter.
Firstly, you need to know the size of the filter, and how powerful the filter is. This way, you will prevent the fish from suffering from a filtration that is too strong but also having too weak filtration which can cause the water to be poorly filtrated and full of debris. Make some research about the filter size.
Secondly, you need to know how much you are willing to spend on a filtration system. As you have seen, some are more expensive and some are a bit more on the budget side.
You do, however, get almost the same quality with some of the budget filters as you get with the pricey ones, but if you do want to make sure that you will have a top-quality filtration system, then spending a bit more on it would not go a miss. There are some other factors like personal preferences, the convenience and ease of use of the filters and how will it fit in the overall look of your tank.
Before you start the filtration system, you need to take care of some of the important things first. Prior to putting the filter into the water, it is preferred that you take the filter pads out of the filter and rinse and clean them thoroughly first, to prevent any dirty stuff from getting into the water.
Then clean the whole back of the aquarium, where your filter will be. It is then time to install the filtration system and mount it onto the back wall of the tank. You want to set up with a 3-stage filtration:. Make sure that you take care of all three steps of filtration to see the best possible filtration results. What is a protein skimmer? It is a water-cleaning system that gets rid of some unwanted chemicals that the filter does not get rid of.
These organic elements are dissolved organic compounds, phenol oils and other yellowing agents that can make your water smelly and produce a yellowing effect. If you want the best results and very clean water, then a protein skimmer is a must-have. It does take care of some very important things and gets rid of some unwanted chemicals that can actually harm your fish. So for a reef tank, it is advisable to get a protein skimmer and a filter as well.
So we have established that having a protein skimmer would be beneficial, but which protein skimmer to actually choose? This protein skimmer from Amazon could be the answer to this question. It is compact-sized and will not require too much space, and is a very effective protein skimmer that is also not too expensive.
Consider it for your new protein skimmer. This offers a couple of benefits to the owner. It is also beneficial because it means that you can sit the back of the tank flush against the wall, with no pump overhang. The Fluval also boasts a couple of other beneficial features. It has 3-way control that outputs water at the top of the unit for increased water circulation, the bottom of the unit to agitate deep water, and via a spray bar which gives a gentle flow and is ideal for weaker swimmers.
Marina Aquarium Power Filter. The Marina aquarium power filter is another filter that submerges in the tank. As well as reducing external space requirements and dampening noise from the filter, this also means that the Marina does not require priming before you start using it.
The power filter also has an adjustable flow control, allowing you to ensure that all of your fish are happy and able to comfortably swim around their home. Furthermore, the unit includes a strainer sponge that prevents small fish from getting sucked in, further highlighting its use for small tanks and small fish.
It runs quietly but there have been some complaints about the durability of the filter, with buyers complaining that the unit broke within a few months, and other users claiming that it requires more regular filter cleaning than other models. Pros Self-priming Submersible design Quiet operation Water flow controls Cons Not very powerful Some complaints that it breaks easily 9. The Penn-Plax Premium underground aquarium filter is an under-gravel filter. This means that it is silent to run and there are, in theory, fewer parts to break down and replace.
They are also hidden out of sight, which means that you can spend your time staring at the fish and not checking out the filter and tubes. They can also work out inexpensive and do a good job of filtering smaller tanks.
However, under gravel filters are harder to maintain and require more frequent cleaning. The Penn-Plax is inexpensive in itself.
There have also been several complaints that the filter is made using low quality and easily damaged parts, with some users also complaining of a layer of dust above the gravel when being used. Pros Invisible Silent Inexpensive Cons Low-quality parts Requires more frequent tank cleaning Not suitable for diggers or rooted plants Some complaints of murky water The API Filstar XP canister aquarium filter is a powerful canister filter available with a and gallon capacity.
Even considering the large capacity of the models, the API filters are the most expensive in our list, but do they justify the big price tag? It is self-priming, which removes the need for fiddly priming procedures. It also has an anti-overheating motor design to prevent burnout.
However, some buyers have reported the need to buy additional hosing and connections, despite the hefty price tag. There have also been complaints of leaking units, and the tubing that does come with the unit is rigid and difficult to attach to the filter.
Poor quality filters either fail to perform these duties, operate too loudly to be comfortable, or they cost a lot of money and still necessitate the purchase of additional accessories and items.
They can also be difficult to install, prime, and maintain. Choosing the right filter is important, and there is a large selection of different models available. The MarineLand Bio-Wheel Penguin was the best value for money and ideal if you need to save a few bucks while still ensuring that your fish are safe and healthy.
Hopefully, our list of the best aquarium filters has helped you find the best model for your tank and your needs. Live rock and live sand are both excellent biological filters as they provide a lot of surface area for bacteria that breaks down waste to colonize.
However, bare bottom tanks, man-made rock and minimalist aquascapes are becoming more and more popular. These types of aquariums have a lot less surface area than traditional aquariums filled with liverock and live sand. The reduced surface area means that there is an increasing need for adding biological filtration media to the system. Brightwell Xport Media is an extremely efficient biological media as it has A TON of surface area for bacteria to colonize.
Brightwell also offers different versions that can help to further improve your water quality; such as the Xport NO3 that helps to lower nitrates and Xport PO4 that removes phosphates. Refugiums and algae reactors work similarly by growing macroalgae in a chamber. As the macroalgae typically chaetomorpha or caulerpa grows, it consumes nitrates and phosphates from your water.
As you trim the excess macroalgae, the nutrients are then moved from the system. First, we will explain what each type of filtration is and why you need it. Mechanical filtration is the removal of particulates and detritus from your aquarium.
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