Fish Tank Filtration

Fish tank filtration is one of the most important aspects of fish care. It is absolutely essential that the water in the aquarium stays clean and fresh at all times if your fish are to remain healthy.

No matter how attractive your aquarium appears when you first set it up the water will quickly become contaminated by dissolved waste products from fishes. This dirt whether visible or not can be removed using a filter.

Remember that a filter itself needs to be properly maintained because a neglected filter will become a box of concentrated dirt through which the aquarium water is continually passed.

Choosing a Filter System

Filtration equipment varies from simple foam filters to sophisticated "total" filter systems.

An external, air operated filter has several advantages: it is inexpensive, efficient, and easy to access and clean.

Internal filters although simple and effective have a major drawback - cleaning and maintenance is difficult. As the filter is removed for cleaning dirty water can spill back into the tank.

Biological filtration is another method which works without a filter medium.

Biological Filtration

This filtration system, which has no filter medium, introduces a colony of beneficial bacteria into the gravel surface in order to neutralize toxic substances in the water.

It has several advantages over other types of filter. It is relatively unobtrusive, needs no long hoses and is quiet in operation. Suitable for all aquariums it is obligatory for marine systems.

For information on other aquarium equipment Click fish tank filtration