| All aquariums will need some sort of filtration system | | | | be cleaned out or replace now and then. A lot of |
| to help create healthy living conditions for your fish. It | | | | these types of filters can be removed or rinsed out. |
| will also make it easier for you by keeping your tank | | | | Other types can just be replaced according to the |
| and water clean, eliminating toxins and aerating the | | | | instructions. |
| water. | | | | Chemical Filtration |
| There are 3 different types of filters available for | | | | This type of filter is not used as often as the above |
| freshwater aquariums. All tanks will need at least a | | | | two, but can be used for dissolved toxins (the finest |
| biological filtration method AND a mechanical one. The | | | | particles) or in combination with the above two |
| biological filter will be incorporated into the aquarium | | | | methods. |
| itself. And the mechanical filter is a separate system | | | | The chemical filter often uses carbon or some other |
| usually generated by a motor. | | | | type of material to pass the aquarium water through |
| Three major types of filters: | | | | to remove minute particles and toxins. Often there's |
| Biological Filtration | | | | a buildup of ammonia or toxic metals that can be |
| This type of tank filtering system will break down | | | | caught with a chemical filter. This type of system is |
| toxins and waste matter and uses bacteria to do so. | | | | best particularly when starting a new tank or even |
| It is usually a very simple system and quite often | | | | when there seems to be some problem in the |
| uses a pump to run the tank water through different | | | | aquarium water. |
| materials like sponge filters, bio-balls and under-gravel | | | | There are also some basic filter types to consider. |
| filters. A bacterial colony will form inside the filter that | | | | But if you're a beginner aquarist, you'll want to use a |
| can break down waste into material that is less toxic | | | | power filter along with the biological filter. |
| to the tank. | | | | These are the basic filter types: |
| Fish waste can not be completely filtered out with a | | | | - Power |
| mechanical or a chemical filtration system. If these | | | | - Sponge |
| wastes are not removed, they can build up over | | | | - Box and canister |
| time, creating a toxic environment. That's why it's | | | | - Bed |
| necessary to have a biological filtration system set | | | | - Underground |
| up, too. | | | | - Wet/Dry |
| Mechanical Filtration | | | | For small tanks, 10 gallons or under, most use a |
| You will also need the mechanical filter to filter out | | | | corner box-type filter that fit nicely into the corner |
| solid waste from your tank. This kind of system | | | | of your tank. For medium sized tanks, use an |
| sends the aquarium water through a filtering | | | | underground filter or a power filter. Larger tanks, 50 |
| substance, usually foam or some other type of | | | | gallons or larger, usually use canister filters. These will |
| porous material. | | | | give you all of the above 3 types of filtration, which |
| This material will trap waste and other debris. The | | | | is what you'll need for a larger aquarium. |
| foam or other material part of the filter will need to | | | | |