| Freshwater aquariums, like any other kind of aquarium, | | | | hobbyists fish tank specifications whether a certain |
| need to be cleaned and freed from all unnecessary | | | | filter would best suit his or her aquarium or not. |
| particles that have the potential to ruin the aquarium or | | | | Alternatively, you can check out your local hobby |
| to harm your aquatic inhabitants inside. Although there | | | | stores for freshwater aquarium filters and ask certain |
| is the common manual way of cleaning fish tanks, | | | | experts for advice, but here's a starting list of filters: |
| doing this can often get very tedious, which is why we | | | | Power filters are the most common in terms of |
| seek the aid of filters, or more specifically, freshwater | | | | popularity, mainly because they are cheap, usually |
| aquarium filters. | | | | available at most hobby stores, and relatively efficient. |
| Filtration methods | | | | In addition, these kinds of filters are easy to install and |
| The filtration process for all aquariums is usually broken | | | | use, and you don't need to suffer much from their |
| down into three major processes: the biological, | | | | maintenance. |
| chemical and mechanical filtration, each with their own | | | | Canister filters offer that filtration power that you |
| way and own realm of dirt and waste materials to be | | | | probably can't find in other filters. They use a |
| cleaned. | | | | mechanism that forces water in the filter media, |
| Biological filtration is the filtration process involving the | | | | achieving greater filtering action than most. You have |
| use of beneficial bacteria to transform several | | | | to be wary though, this type of filters is quite hard to |
| substances in the water. These bacteria literally break | | | | maintain, and at most times quite expensive. |
| down toxic substances commonly found in fish tanks, | | | | Corner filters were the first kind of filters to be used. It |
| such as ammonia and nitrites, and transform them into | | | | works by the simple action of letting the water flow |
| less toxic substances such as nitrates. | | | | through the filter and into the filter media, and finally |
| Chemical filtration uses the aid of synthetic substances | | | | filter the water as the filter media begins forming its |
| to work out some of the waste material found in | | | | own beneficial bacteria colony. |
| water. The reaction of the waste material with the | | | | Sponge filters make use of a sponge (believe it or not) |
| synthetic material allows it to be dissolved, and to be | | | | inside a tube to hoard beneficial bacteria into them, |
| collected easily through the filter. Activated carbon is | | | | initiating the biological filtration process. Alternatively, the |
| one of the common materials used for chemical | | | | sponge can also be used as a mechanical filter, as it |
| filtration. | | | | can also trap certain solid particles into it. Some |
| Mechanical filtration is a filtration process that involves | | | | hobbyists install extra sponges for interchanging |
| the use of a filter media to trap solid waste particles in | | | | purposes. |
| the water. The filter media can be of any material, as | | | | Fluidized bed filters are a relatively new type of filter |
| long as it can make the waste material stick to it. | | | | that uses the concept of using sand for biological |
| Regular maintenance of the filter media is required, and | | | | filtration. These sands are installed into tubes and are |
| it should be replaced periodically. | | | | used as the main filter media, letting beneficial bacteria |
| Filter types | | | | colonize the sand, and then pumping the water |
| These filters usually involve one or more of the kinds | | | | upward, which produces the filtering action. |
| of filtration processes, and it's entirely up to the | | | | |