Keeping pets requires a lot of responsibility. It doubles when it comes to the inhabitants of the aquatic environment, for example, fish. Pleasing to the eye and soul with their appearance, they need constant care and guardianship, because various factors can harm their well-being. The main condition for their longevity is a comfortable aquarium and clean water in it. In order to rid it of pollution, it is necessary to install a filter. Currently, their variety is so great that it is easy to get confused. This article will help you make the right choice of filter for your aquarium. Despite the fact that there are many of them in pet stores, they are not identical to each other. It will not be superfluous to also learn how to properly install the filter in the aquarium, care for it and much more.
What is an aquarium filter?
This is a design that is installed either inside the aquarium,or next to it. It consists of a compartment for filter materials and an electric pump that promotes the movement of water and various fillers. They are based on materials that trap debris, chemicals or special bacteria. Each filtering method has its strengths and weaknesses. In addition, the selection takes into account the volume of water that the aquarium filter is able to handle without replacing elements in accordance with the dimensions of the tank.
External filters
Suitable for both compact and large aquariums. In most cases, they are equipped with fairly capacious canisters, which makes it possible to use several types of fillers, which allows for better water purification. In addition, the location of the device outside the aquarium will not occupy its useful area and scare away the fish with unnecessary noise.
Two hoses are attached to the canister. One of them is for collecting dirty water, it is connected to the pump with the other end, and the second one is for supplying it to the aquarium after cleaning. Compared to other types, these filters are more expensive, but these costs pay off. Proper installation of the filter in the aquarium and the use of quality materials will allow you to clean the tank once every 5-6 months.
Internal filter
It is advisable to use it in small aquariums, the volume of which does not exceed 70-90 liters. These samples are low cost and easy tocollect and install. They are especially appreciated by those customers who are just starting to get acquainted with the rules for installing an aquarium and keeping fish. The main disadvantage of these filters is that they are designed for a small amount of water, so they require more frequent cleaning. Small dimensions make it possible to use only one type of filler. Care must also be taken to mask the filter, for example, with the help of aquatic plants, so that its design does not scare away fish.
Aquarium bottom filter
Consists of drainage pipes, a pump and a porous plate on which a layer of soil is placed. The main advantage of this filter is its invisibility, which allows the fish to feel comfortable, and the interior of the room and the aquarium is not disturbed by unnecessary details. However, it is rarely used, mainly only in the smallest aquariums. Main cons:
- To clean the filter, you must completely empty the aquarium of water and temporarily relocate the fish.
- Too much water circulation at the bottom can harm plants because it oxygenates them too much.
Filtration methods
- Mechanical. Its main task is to rid the aquarium of debris and waste products, to create primary cleanliness. For this, filters made of porous materials are used, which best of all retain all kinds of debris. This method of treatment should be used in combination with others, because getting rid of blockages alone is not enough to maintain water quality at the proper level.
- Chemical. Helps to purify water from harmful chemical impurities that appear in water over time. These are, first of all, chlorine, nitrogen-containing poisons, heavy metals and drug residues. Best of all, activated carbon can handle this as the most budget option, as well as zeolite resin. This method allows for a deeper cleaning, which will allow the inhabitants of the aquarium to remain he althy.
- Biological. Its task is the reproduction of special bacteria that rid the water of ammonia harmful to fish. To do this, they do not need to be populated from the outside, in a small amount these bacteria are already in the aquarium. It is only necessary to create the necessary conditions for their life. The use of fillers that tend to enrich the water with oxygen can help. In this regard, plastic, sintepon, pebbles, foam rubber, bioceramics have proven themselves best.
- Combined. Some filter models have capacious canisters, which allows the use of several types of filler at once, due to which multi-stage water purification will be carried out. You can use factory designs, or you can make it yourself - everyone decides for himself.
How to choose a filter?
To purchase the right device, you need to know the parameters of the aquarium. It has already been noted above that it makes sense to choose internal or mounted filters only for compact tanks, because these treatment structures are not designed to process large volumes of water.
For aquariums that contain more than 100 liters of water, only external filters with the possibility of multi-stage cleaning are suitable. In some cases, it is advisable to install several filters, but it is unlikely that such bulky aquariums are often found in residential buildings.
An important parameter is the power of the pump. It should be selected in such a way that it can process 4-5 aquarium volumes per hour. Filters of lower capacity will not be able to maintain the required purity of water, especially if the number of fish is too large.
Aquarium Filter Manufacturers
- Aquael is a Polish company that mainly manufactures internal filters for aquariums up to 100 liters. Although they are not silent, they are appreciated by aquarists for their reliability and cleaning quality. Installing a filter in an aquarium does not take much time. When buying, you should check the tightness of the structure so that the parts do not loosen during use.
- Chinese firms Dennerle, Jebo, Resun, Sobo produce internal filters that will delight you with their low price and noiselessness, but their quality can be found in different ways. Quite often there are fakes, so if you buy them, then only in specialized stores with a good reputation.
- Canister filter for aquarium "Tetra" (Tetratec) is the most popular among German devices. They are silent, designed for multi-stage cleaning, maintenance and purchase of components does not cause problems. Some of them have sensors for regulationwater temperature. You should check the quality of the fasteners more carefully to prevent future leaks.
- Eheim. These filters are in many ways similar to the previous brand in terms of efficiency and quality, there are models for aquariums of all sizes. The price for them is quite high. In addition, it may be difficult to find spare parts.
Installing a water filter in an aquarium
Installation of the internal filter in the aquarium is carried out using special suction cups. The device should be completely immersed in water, the distance between its surface and the filter should be at least 5 cm. Only the tube through which oxygen is supplied is brought out. It should be remembered that during installation the filter must not be connected to the mains in order to avoid electric shock. In order to adjust the air circulation sensor, you should know what kind of fish will live in the aquarium. Some of them need a more intense current, while others need a slower one.
Installation of an external filter in an aquarium begins with assembly in accordance with the instructions. If it is multi-stage, then it is important to fix the cassettes in the correct sequence: a porous material for mechanical cleaning is placed at the very bottom, then a biological filler made of finely porous material and a chemical one are installed. The final step is to connect the pipes and fill the filter with water. After that, the device can be connected to the network.
Cleaning filters
The frequency of its holding depends on the number of inhabitants of the aquarium. On average, the internal filter is cleaned once a month, and the external filter once every two to three months. Care must be taken when cleaning the biological filler so as not to destroy beneficial bacteria. Processing of this element is carried out in aquarium water. The rest of the elements can be washed with tap water using a brush. Do not use disinfectants, as traces of them can get into the aquarium and pose a threat to the he alth of the fish.
Helpful tips
- Do not connect the filter to the mains without immersion in the aquarium, its electrical system quickly overheats without water.
- Do not turn off the filter for a long period of time. In this case, the threat to the inhabitants of the aquarium is not only dirty water, the filter itself, which turns on after a break without rinsing, can also cause harm. Pathogenic bacteria can form there, which will instantly lead to the death of fish.
- Do not place the external filter and the aquarium in places where direct sunlight falls. Excessive heating will contribute to the formation of harmful chemical impurities in the aquarium, the reproduction of poisonous algae.
- If several filters are used in a large aquarium and it is time to clean them, it is recommended to process them one by one, this will maintain the correct biobalance of the entire aquarium system.
- Do not wash the filter design elements under a direct stream of water, boiling water is contraindicated.
Conclusion
Installing a filter in an aquarium is a must in its arrangement. Without it, the fish will not live long. You need to know how to place the filter in the aquarium, how to keep it clean, what fillers to use. Following the recommendations of the article, you can avoid unnecessary mistakes associated with the selection, operation and care of it. The optimal ratio of the volume of the aquarium with the type and power of the filter, the choice of the right method of water purification, timely care of all components will avoid many problems and unnecessary financial costs for medicines. Aquatic inhabitants will surely thank for such responsibility, they will please the eye and soul not only for many months, but also for years.
