How should we select a fish tank filter? Many novice fish keepers, just starting out, are overwhelmed by the options for configuring filters. Today, we’ve compiled the pros and cons of various filtration methods. These methods are designed for fish enthusiasts. We’re sure one will be right for you!
1.Filter at the top of the fish tank
advantage:
- Easy Maintenance:Positioned at the top of the fish tank, the filter is easily accessible.This ensures quick resolution of any issues within minutes.
- Thorough Physical Isolation:The system physically separates waste from the tank.This significantly reduces organic content.It eases the load on biochemical filtration.This is an advantage not found in other physical filtration methods.
Disadvantage:
Due to limited volume, the internal space of the filter is relatively small.This results in insufficient space for placing biochemical filter materials.he physical filtration part takes up some of this limited space.Biochemical filter materials are crucial for maintaining water quality.They help to decompose harmful substances like organic matter and ammonia nitrogen.Insufficient space can lead to a severe lack of biochemical filtration efficiency.This makes it difficult to effectively treat pollutants in the fish
2.Internal filter of fish tank
The internal filter is directly connected to a submersible pump and sits submerged in the water. Inside the filter chamber, a roll of filter floss is wrapped around a perforated cylinder, which contains many bio-balls to facilitate the attachment of nitrifying bacteria. The primary advantage of an internal filter is its quiet operation and the flexibility to adjust the direction of the water flow, making it particularly suitable for planted aquariums. The outlet of the internal filter also features a connection for carbon dioxide (CO2) injection, allowing CO2 to enter the water and be evenly distributed throughout the aquarium by the water flow, facilitating absorption by aquatic plants.
Advantages:
- Easy to use and install.
- Water flow direction can be adjusted as needed.
- Especially well-suited for small aquariums with a focus on aquatic plants.
disadvantages:
- It occupies some space within the aquarium.
- Being fully submerged, it’s difficult to achieve dry-wet separation, leading to filtered waste lingering in the water, potentially causing secondary pollution.
- When cleaning, the filter needs to be removed from the water, which can result in a significant amount of debris re-entering the tank.
- The filtration effectiveness is limited, making it challenging to independently perform efficient filtration; it is recommended to use nitrifying bacteria to enhance biological filtration capacity.
3.overflow filter
This is a single-layer, multi-compartment overflow filtration system. Under the instructions of the pink arrow, we can easily see the flow direction of the water. It uses the working method of water overflow to achieve the purpose of layer-by-layer filtration. The structure is simple and the effect is remarkable. The first area is filter cotton (physical filtration), the second area is ceramic ring and biochemical cotton, and the third area is biochemical cotton and filter cotton. Of course, you can also add biochemical balls, coral bones, volcanic rocks, etc. Depends on the type of fish you raise.
Working principle
When water flows through a trickle filtration system, it first passes through a physical filtration chamber, where media such as filter cotton capture suspended solids and particulate matter in the water. The water then continues downward, passing through layers of biological filter media that provide a huge surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow. Beneficial bacteria convert harmful ammonia into relatively harmless nitrates, improving water quality. In addition, the water flow increases the contact area with the air when passing through the filter material, which helps to increase the dissolved oxygen content in the water and provides the best living environment for aerobic bacteria.
advantage:
- Complete physical and biological filtration: The trickle filtration system provides efficient physical filtration and powerful biological filtration capabilities to ensure clean water quality.
- Excellent filtration effect: The design of the multi-layer drip box can effectively remove impurities in the water and maintain stable water quality.
disadvantages:
- Space occupied: The trickle filter system occupies the space above the fish tank, which may affect the overall aesthetics of the fish tank.
- Noise issues: Compared to other types of filters, the sound of water flow produced by a trickle filtration system may be relatively loud.
4.Fish tank side filtration and back filtration
Side and back filters are filtration systems that cleverly utilize the space inside your fish tank. They achieve the filtration function by dividing a part of the space with glass on the side or back of the fish tank, which not only saves additional space requirements, but also forms an integral part with the fish tank, which is both beautiful and practical. Let’s take a closer look at the working principles, advantages and disadvantages of side filtration and back filters.
Working principle
The side filter and the back filter use glass to separate a part of the space on the side or back of the fish tank. This part of the space is divided into several small grids for placing filter materials and circulation pumps. There is an overflow port on one side of the fish tank. When the water pump pumps water from the filter part to the fish tank, the overflow water from the fish tank will flow into the first compartment of the filter part through the overflow port. Then, the water flow will flow through various filter materials in sequence under the guidance of the partition, and finally sent to the fish tank again through the water pump from the last grid, forming a complete cycle process.
advantage:
- Space integration: Make full use of the internal space of the fish tank, so that the fish tank and the filtration system form a whole, and a good filtration process can be completed without occupying additional space outside the tank.
● Aesthetics: Some necessary equipment can be placed in the side filter or back filter area. Appropriate arrangement will not affect the visual beauty of the front of the fish tank.
● Simplicity: The design of this filter system is simpler, reducing the clutter of external equipment.
disadvantages:
- Space occupation: It occupies a certain amount of space inside the fish tank, reducing the available breeding space.
● Restrictions: Limited by the width or length of the fish tank, the space for placing filter materials will also be limited.
● Water replenishment frequency: The natural evaporation of water will cause the water level in the area where the water pump is located to drop rapidly, so frequent replenishment of water is required to maintain a normal filtration cycle.
If you’d like to purchase fish tank filters online, simply follow this link.
This article outlines the basic concepts of upper, built-in, side and back filtration in fish tanks, how they work, and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. If you are interested in these filter products, you can click here to view them for yourself.
In the following articles, we will continue to discuss bottom sand filtration, biochemical cotton filtration, pneumatic style filtration, plug-in type, external filter barrel filtration, and bottom filtration. Click to go to the next article!
