| An Aquarium filter is a required device for | | | | that you can use for your fish tank. Under |
| both freshwater and marine aquaria, and are | | | | gravel filters are one of the more regularly |
| very important for maintaining high water | | | | used styles of fish tank filters due to its |
| quality in your fish tank. Aquarium Filters | | | | large area for biological filtration. |
| can be either internal or external to the | | | | |
| aquarium, external filters are sometimes | | | | Under gravel filters are comprised of a |
| called HOB's or hang on back. A filter will | | | | porous plate which is placed an inch or two |
| process fish waste, unconsumed food and other | | | | under the gravel substrate with one or more |
| particulates, some filters can even filter | | | | uplift tubes and an aerator. The UGF is a |
| down to the micron level. Filters are | | | | type of biological filter that draws the |
| available in a wide variety of sizes and | | | | water through the substrate material and then |
| styles to work with any type or size aquarium | | | | returns it at the top of the tank. |
| you choose. Below are some of the most | | | | |
| common filter styles used today. | | | | The only drawbacks to this type of filter is |
| | | | that the fish waste tends to get pulled down |
| Power Filters | | | | into the gravel which requires regular |
| | | | vacuuming and live plants do not grow well |
| Power filters are the most common and popular | | | | planted over a UGF. Under gravel filters are |
| filter for most aquarium enthusiasts. They | | | | sometimes paired with a power filter to |
| are easy to set up, require very little | | | | provide extra filtration for the aquarium. |
| maintenance and are inexpensive which makes | | | | |
| them a good choice for the new hobbyist. Many | | | | Canister Filters |
| times power filters are used together with an | | | | |
| under gravel filter for increased water | | | | One of the best filtration choices for any |
| purity. | | | | aquarium set up is a Canister Filter. |
| | | | Canister filters contain an internal pump |
| The filter works by drawing the water through | | | | connected to a sealed container where waste |
| the filter media under slight pressure and | | | | from the water is trapped for removal. A |
| forcing it back into the tank. An aerator is | | | | canister filter is an ideal choice for |
| not usually needed when using a power filter | | | | filtering large aquariums that contain many |
| since it provides enough water movement | | | | fish, or fish that create a lot of waste like |
| during filtration to keep the tank | | | | large tropical fish or goldfish. Canister |
| oxygenated. | | | | filters don't provide much aeration so bubble |
| | | | stones are recommended to help bring oxygen |
| Sponge Filters | | | | into the tank. Canister filters are great but |
| | | | are usually more expensive than ordinary hang |
| Sponge filters are most commonly used in | | | | on tank type filters. |
| breeding tanks to keep small fish from | | | | |
| entering the filter and are appropriate only | | | | Diatom Filters |
| for very small aquariums. Sponge filters use | | | | |
| an internal form of biological filtration to | | | | Diatom filters are primarily used for |
| keep the aquarium water clean and safe for | | | | occasional cleaning of tanks, and are not |
| your tropical fish. Aerobic bacteria will | | | | constantly connected to the aquarium. Diatom |
| grow on the filter's sponge helping to | | | | Filters are extremely efficient and are |
| facilitate the tanks nitrogen cycle. Extra | | | | designed to mechanically filter out the |
| care should be used when cleaning a sponge | | | | smallest of particles all the way down into |
| filter so as not to wash away the nitrifying | | | | the 1 micron size range. Aquarium diatom |
| bacteria. | | | | filters also help with "sick tanks" |
| | | | encouraging quicker fish healing by removing |
| Under Gravel Filters | | | | organics and other parasites. They are also |
| | | | excellent for removing algae blooms and clean |
| Under gravel filters, also referred to as UGF | | | | your tanks water to an incredibly pure state. |
| are another popular type of aquarium filter | | | | |