Important Considerations When Buying Your Fish Tank Filter

Fish tank filters are probably one of the most important equipment in an aquarium unit but it is also one where little consideration is initially given. It is this piece of equipment that maintains the delicate balance of water purification in the aquarium allowing for an environment that is able to sustain your aquatic life.

The aquarium is an enclosed ecosystem unlike the lakes and sea that the fish originated from. In nature, the size of the body of water plus the natural environment allows for a balance of chemical concentration and pH levels that make it ideal for fish to live and breed. But in the aquarium, the amount of water is small and it is only the filter that aids in removing waste matter and balancing acidic levels to livable conditions.

When buying a fish tank filter, there are a number of considerations which you do need to take into account before actually making the purchase. They include the cost of the filter, the amount of maintenance you are able to do and the type of aquatic life that you are planning to breed.

Cost is definitely a big consideration. There are so many fish tank filters to choose from and their prices can range from mere dollars to hundreds. Canister fish tank filters are notably the most expensive and for the price that you pay, they do provide excellent filtration. The same goes for diatom fish tank filters. These expensive filters also require very little maintenance and allow you to go for long periods of time without having to do a water change. The cheaper filters such as corner filters or sponge filters will require a lot more maintenance and cleaning and do not provide as efficient filtration as their more expensive counterparts.

The amount of maintenance you are willing to do for your aquarium will play a big part in the type of aquarium filter that you buy. If you are a busy person with very little time on your hands, you will need to opt for filters that require little maintenance. These include canister filters and diatom filters. But these filters do come with a high price. However, if you are not willing to spend that much on your aquarium, bear in mind that you will need to do frequent cleaning. For undergravel filters, this involves vacuuming the gravel. for sponge filters, it would mean washing the sponge and for corner filters, you would have to remove the filter media from the box and washing it. Not doing this will cause the filter to be clogged and might even back the waste up not the aquarium water.

The type of aquatic life you plan to breed in your tank is the final consideration. The main concern here is the strength of the filter suction. If the suction is too strong, weaker aquatic life might get sucked in or stuck at the suction inlet. This will definitely kill your fish. Canister, diatom and power filters tend to have too strong suction but the more expensive models might allow you to regulate this. It is also a good idea here to place a small cage like attachment or a sponge head over the inlet to so that suction will not be focus on a small area. Undergravel and sponge filters are ideal for weaker fish. They do not suck in the fish no matter how strong the suction may be.

By Timothy Kessler

Posted in: PETS