Describe the Principle of the Fish Tank Filter

For the first-time aquatic hobbyist, setting up the first tank is an exciting experience. However, understanding the principles of fish tank filters can be confusing and lead to picking the wrong type of filter for the type of habitat they wish to have.

  1. Under-Gravel Filtering

    • The under-gravel filter system is one of the most popular filters available to fresh water hobbyists due to its ability to filter tanks ranging from 10 to hundreds of gallons. Due to its ease of installation and popularity, it's often the first filter system used by new hobbyists. The filter works by pulling the water through the tank's gravel. The gravel catches debris like old fish food, fecal matter and any other particulates that get introduced into the tank. This system is considered passive filtration because the gravel has to be sucked clean on a regular basis to prevent the tank from becoming polluted.

    Hang-on-Back Filtering

    • Hang-on-back filters are highly popular not only for use in fresh water tanks but also in marine tanks because they have less of a presence inside the tank than an under-gravel filtration system. This makes its possible to get a more natural-looking environment when decorating the tank. A hang-on-back filter pulls water out of the tank and puts it into a filtered container that hangs on the back of the tank. Depending on the size of the filter, the water will pass through one to four filter pads before returning to the tank. The filters then act as a neutralizer for harmful chemicals like ammonia. This method is also passive because the filter media must be removed and cleaned on a regular basis.

    UV Filtering

    • Most popular in marine aquariums, a UV sterilizing filter is an active filtration system that does not have a fiber filter that must be replaced. The basic principle of a UV sterilizing filter is to kill unwanted bacteria-like fungus. The light in a marine tank is not as sufficient as natural sunlight in the ocean; therefore, it can be very difficult to control bacteria and organisms that are not wanted in a tank. The UV light is a must have if you want to have a fungus-free environment in a tank.

    Chemical Filtering

    • Chemical filtering is usually used in conjunction with other filter systems, such as the under-gravel filter and the hang-on-back filter. The most common chemical filtration is carbon , which helps remove unwanted odors from the tank. Carbon is usually loaded into the filter media and must be changed on a regular basis.

    Canister Filtering

    • Canister filters are designed for tanks where a hang-on-back filter is not desired. The largest benefit to using a canister filter is purely aesthetics. They are used when the hobbyist wants to hide the filtration system. They work by pulling water from the tank to a remotely located canister. The filter media inside of the canister harbors the necessary bacteria to sustain a healthy living environment in the tank.