Fish Filter in your tank is very important. You need to put many things in place before you can get fish if you plan to get a fish tank and/or aquarium at your home. The fish tank is, of course, necessary. The question whether you should filter your fish tank may arise in your mind.
The guide below explains the answer to your question. You can also learn how filters function and what would happen without them. You can learn all about fish tank filters by reading this comprehensive guide.
Filters for fish tanks: what are they?
You can keep your fish tank clean by using a filter and ensuring it is cleaned its. It filters or removes waste from the fish tank. Leftover food particles, decaying organic matter, fish waste, and other particles are removed from the fish tank by the filter.
There are three types of filters – biological, mechanical, and chemical.
A biological filter removes biological waste from the fish tank. Microorganisms in the tank break down the waste from the fish into ammonia and other substances. Furthermore these can become toxic and must be removed. The toxic ammonia is broken down into nitrate, which is not harmful. Biological filtration is necessary. Without it, ammonia can harm the fish and plants kept in the fish tank.
This is the basic type of filter and traps solid waste particles and plant matter as well. Mechanical filtration traps food not eaten, fish poop, and leaves. This helps keep the fish tank clean. The filter also needs to be cleaned to avoid clogging with waste.
There are various chemicals in your fish tank. What’s more these chemicals can harm your fish. A chemical filter will ensure all such chemicals are filtered out of the tank. Activated carbon filters are usually installed. This helps you to get rid of chemicals easily. What’s more the filter needs to be changed every couple of months.
Importance of fish tank filters
What’s more filters are very critical for a fish tank to ensure the fish remain healthy, and the tank remains clean. Of the three types of filters, a biological filter is necessary. You may not face many problems without a mechanical filter. You can clean the tank manually. But a biological filter is vital since it removes toxic ammonia from the tank.
The importance of fish tank and fish pond filters is explained by the various benefits they offer:
Filters keep fish tanks clean and allow them to thrive. It keeps the tank clear, so you can see the fish.
Stagnant water is avoided when you use a fish tank filter. Stagnant water can harm fish.
Solid waste, whether it is fish poop, plant debris, or any other particulate matter, is removed when a fish tank filter is used.
Toxic chemicals can be removed from the water, ensuring fish safety.
A filter ensures healthy bacteria live in the fish tank. This healthy bacteria allow fish and plants to thrive.
If your fish tank does not have a filter its important that you add one, if you don’t install a filter it will finally result in a dirty and unclean fish tank and lose of fish. Such a tank would make it difficult for your fish and other plants to survive. A dirty tank would have cloudy water that disturbed your fish view. In such a situation, you would need to change the water frequently.
The biggest problem without a filter is the risk of fish lives. Furthermore fish waste produces ammonia and nitrite. A filter converts these to harmless nitrate. Without a filter, ammonia and nitrite can kill your fish.
When a tank is not filtered or the water is not replaced, ammonia levels increase. This causes ammonia poisoning, which makes it difficult for fish to breathe. They become lethargic and do not move around in the tank. The gills may change color to purple or blood patches may be seen. Ultimately, the fish died.
A filter offers two or three benefits. Firstly, it breaks down bacteria and things like ammonia in the water. It will secondly besides this allow for a much more healthier bacteria to thrive in and around the tank in these conditions. Whatsoever nitrogen cycles maintain positive bacteria, which leads to lesser ammonia in the tank.
Besides you needing a good quality fish tank filter it is equally important to ensure your fish are healthy and doing well. There are different filters you can get. Here are 3 common types to choose from:
The tank will have a sponge placed at the bottom to filter out waste. What’s more tank debris is often sucked out through a filter air pump located outside the tank. A sponge furthermore will remove debris from the tank and is ideal for small tanks with fewer fish because these filters are easier to remove.
A powerful filter addition is placed below the tank to keep it out of sight.
Furthermore again these filters are undoubtedly best suited to larger tanks containing more fish. In addition these powerful filters have pipes that will suck out debris and other waste and send importantly filtered water back to the tank. They are a bit expensive, but they also offer the ability to do an excellent job.
Next a HOB filter or a hang-on-back filter is hung at the edge of the bottom of the tank and can be used in addition to other filters. Water sucked out of the tank is sent to a filter where waste and chemicals are removed. Next water that has been filtered is filtered first and then sent back into the tank. This filter is preferred by both hobbyists and experienced fish tank owners. It can be used in small and large sizes.
When buying a filter tank, you need to consider the flow rate. Lastly the rate at which the water flows through the filter and measured in GPH or gallons per hour. The filters GPH furthermore should be equal to or around four to six times the volume of the fish tank.
