Ways of getting the best filter for tropical fish aquariums. 

 

Filter system is the most vital part of any aquarium. Those of you who are thinking about setting up a tropical fish aquarium should know about its importance. Filters keep the aquarium free from toxins and other decaying matter like leftover food. Here’s how you can get the best filter for your tank.

The filter you choose should provide multiple levels of filtration. It should be appropriately sized i.e. neither too big, nor too small for your aquarium.

Many good quality filters provide biological, chemical and mechanical filtration.  Chemical filtration accounts for the removal of chemical waste such as ammonia and excess nitrates. Mechanical filters help in removing particles e.g. excess food, fish waste, dead plant etc. Biological filtration is done by bacteria which develop in the aquarium. These bacteria help in driving the nitrogen cycle thus converting fish waste into useful nitrates for the plants.

When you buy a filter, keep the dimensions of your tropical fish tank in mind. You should also decide about the number of fish you are going to keep in your aquarium. There are different types of filters available in the market. You can choose one according to its cost and properties. There are two kinds of filters; under gravel (internal power) filters and hang over the back (external power) filters. The external power filters can handle any sized aquarium i.e. from 10 to 40 gallons so they are better than the under gravel filters. The smallest filters are the sponge filters, and then are the internal power ones and finally the external power ones are the largest and can be scaled according to size of the aquarium.

Once you have installed the filter, you have to clean it regularly after some time. You can use a brush to unclog it. Also, the water needs to be changed frequently. All this is done to promote healthy environment for the fish to grow and develop.

tropical fish aquarium