Aquarium filters
There are many different aquarium filters and each one is slightly
different. Whichever you choose, all filters have specific functions
and you should find out what’s available before purchasing any.
Aquarium filters come in the following different categories:
• Bubble-up filters – This is an internal filter that uses
a stream of air bubbles to push water up and out of a tube. When this
process happens, a pull of water into the filter through the filter
media is created.
• External filters – For the most part, these filters are
very similar to power filters, however the terms are not always synonymous.
• Skimmer – There are two different types of skimmers –
surface and protein. The surface skimmers are essentially boxes placed
just below the fish tank or aquarium. The water then basically “spills”
out of the aquarium and into the box. Then, the water is usually siphoned
out.
• Under gravel filters – These are very popular, but are
often used more as supplemental filters than as primary devices. This
filter is placed in the very bottom of the tank before anything else.
After it has been placed, other items like gravel and water can be put
into place. It does not do much to remove debris from the tank unless
you make the effort to remove it yourself.
• Wet/Dry filters – The activity of beneficial bacteria
is affected by the use of these filters. These filters actually help
more beneficial bacteria to be created at a quicker rate. The basic
way these operate is that water is first spread over a media that is
for the most part exposed to a lot of air. Then, as the random patterns
of water formulate and move across the media, it is constantly kept
wet with a very thin sheet of water. This leads to the media being able
to play host to many kinds of bacteria.
All aquarium filters serve their own purposes, but some may be used
together for increased productivity.