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Filters and Fish...what works bestJun 24 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line The type of filter should depend on the type of fish and size of the tank. Combinations of mechanical and biological work best.
Most people do not realize that the type of fish changes the type of filtration needed for the tank. Below is a breakdown of the three major categories for types of fish. The first category will have detailed descriptions, with the last two being shorter and referring to the first. Goldfish These fish are by far the dirtiest and hardest to maintain. They leave thick slime coats everywhere and produce and excessive amount of ammonia in the water. The ammonia produced tends to make the tank look cloudier faster. Thus, you need a strong filter that can increase the circulation and remove some of the ammonia. If ammonia levels are not removed/reduced on a regular basis, it can poison your fish. Mechanical Filters One good filter is made by Aqua Clear. These filters have a motor that draws water in and over separately packaged filtering medias. The first is a sponge, which removes the physical items. This can easily be rinsed and reused several times. The second is a carbon bag, which helps remove some of the microorganisms and chemicals in the water. There is also an optional ammonia bag, which helps remove ammonia from the water - and is what makes this filter a good choice for goldfish. Just a note - the ammonia bags (and carbon) must be changed regularly - about once a month. If they are kept in use too long, they stop absorbing anything and will actually begin to release some of it back into the water. Filters such as Whisper or Tetra typically do not clean goldfish tanks well enough. There is not enough carbon to remove all that is needed - and there is no way of removing the extra ammonia from the tank. Biological and Mechanical Filters Another option is a filter with mechanical and biological filtration. These filters have "biowheels" (biological) in addition to the carbon and fiber filters. The biowheels collect bacteria which helps to detoxify the ammonia. The more "junk" that builds up on it, the better it will work. This is due to the higher amounts of bacteria. These wheels do not need to be replaced until they stop turning. Replacement wheels cost approximately $5. Examples of these types of filters are the Penguin Filters and Emperor. The Penguin simply have carbon filled cartridges and a bio wheel while the Emperor have an additional empty, refillable case. This case can be filled with additional carbon or ammo chips, or a mixture of the two. Undergravel Filters Undergravel filters are not filters in the sense that they physically remove things from the water. These filters are purely meant to increase the circulation throughout the water - especially through the gravel. The idea behind the filter is to draw the water through the gravel and draw some of the matter underneath the gravel. If in fact the filter does do this, the organic matter should be broken down by bacteria. The circulation increases the bacterial growth in the gravel, thus improving the natural breakdown of the matter. One false idea behind undergravel filters is that an Airpump provides enough power/suction to draw water through the gravel. This is false. While it may draw some water, it is not drawing enough water to increase the bacterial growth. To get around this, I would suggest buying a powerhead. This is basically a pump that sucks water in and spits it back out. These cost around $20 (for a weaker/cheaper one) but should be sufficient for most tanks. Also, undergravel filters work best with larger sized gravel. Smaller gravel sometimes get stuck in the holes of the plastic shelf - basically making it impossible for the filter to function properlly. Just keep in mind, this is only meant to increase circulation, thus improving the natural biological filter within the tank itself. Tropical Fish Tropical fish do not need any special filters. More is always better since it can only improve the water quality of the tank. For smaller tanks, most people find simple mechanical filters made by Whisper or Tetra will do. Others find that the biological filters increase the time needed between cleanings. For larger tanks, I would suggest either a combination of mechanical and undergravel or biological. You can also have biological and undergravel. Essentially, undergravels do a great job of increasing the circulation and require little maintenance. Salt Fish Salt fish I would suggest only one option...an undergravel filter and a biological filter. Circulation is a must for all salt tanks...otherwise they start to smell pretty quickly and can get cloudy. Circulation also ensures that the salt is evenly distributed within the tank. The biological filter is a must because the variety of bacteria in salt water tanks is very different than freshwater. There are also many more kinds. The filtration helps keep the bacteria in balance as well as the ammonia the bacteria produce. (Salt fish tanks typically have a little bit more ammonia than freshwater - but still much less than goldfish.) For extremely large salt tanks, I would suggest two smaller sized filters - on at each end. This will help increase circulation and ensure that more water is being filtered. It may help extend the life of the filters - because larger filters seem to burn out faster than smaller ones. Overall Keep in mind that it is better to be on the safe side than to be cleaning your tank every other day. Circulation is the key - promotes bacterial growth and helps put oxygen in the water (by breaking up the surface tension - oxygen can be absorbed into the water). Regardless of what type of filter you choose, and how well it works, you should do regularly scheduled water changes. This helps keep the water fresh, clear, and from smelling. Sizewise, bigger is always better. It is recommended that you buy at least one size bigger than needed. This is to make up for any manufacturer miscalculations/errors and to ensure that all of the water will get filtered. If possible, you can even buy a few sizes bigger than needed. If nothing else, you can transfer the filter to a bigger tank if you ever upgrade. The more powerful the filter, the more water it will clean per hour. This is especially helpful with larger tanks.  |
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