What type of aquarium filter

The UGF under gravel filter is another aquarium filter that has been around for a long time. It utilizes a plate filter that is placed under the substrate, and an air pump that pulls the aquarium water down through the substrate, taking the particulate matter with it.

However, biological filtration is limited with this type of system, and chemical filtration is non-existent. The UGF is inexpensive, easy to set up, and it is relatively maintenance free once running.

On the downside, UGFs tend to clog and are not good choices for aquariums with live plants. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance.

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We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Plus, during power outages, the beneficial bacteria on the sponge stays in the oxygenated tank water which gives it a longer chance of surviving , and you can even purchase battery-operated air pumps to prepare for emergencies.

Cons: The sponge filter takes up physical space in the fish tank, so you may want to hide it behind a rock, plants, or other aquarium decor. Just as the name describes, a hang-on-back filter sits on the top rim of an aquarium with the filter box hanging outside the tank and the intake tube lowered into the tank.

Pros: I love how customizable the filter media is and the fact you can include all three types of filtration. The device is very simple to service since most of the media is outside of the aquarium, allowing you to easily remove the media for gentle washing. Plus, the AquaClear filter I own has an adjustable flow rate, so I can really crank up or slow down the water circulation as needed. As a popular staple in the freshwater aquarium hobby, the hang-on-back filter excels in all three arenas of filtration and has extremely flexible options for hot-rodding it to your tastes.

A canister filter is essentially filtration in a plastic cylinder or box form factor that often sits under the tank, with intake and output hoses that reach into the aquarium.

With the aid of a motor, water is drawn into the canister, travels through several trays of filter media, and then is returned to the fish tank. Pros: Just like the hang-on-back filter, the canister filter takes up very little room inside the aquarium and is highly customizable. In fact, some models come with fancy bells and whistles like an inline heater, UV sterilizer, and automatic priming. As one of the most powerful and quiet options on the market, many hobbyists consider this to be the king of all readymade filters.

Cons: You have to pay for performance, and the price tag on this one can be a little steep. Also, that nifty little canister is pretty difficult to service, requiring you to practically disassemble the whole setup every time you want to clean out the insides. Bottom Line: If you need extremely clean water for your discus or have an overstocked African cichlid tank with heavy bioloads, this may be the best option on the market for you.

Just be prepared to spend the extra money and time it takes to own this premium product. Water flows into a chamber of small media granules like sand or plastic pellets , causing the media to swirl about like a fluid.

Pros: The Ziss filter is air-driven like the sponge filter, so it has very few mechanical parts to break and provides plenty of surface agitation for increased gas exchange. It comes with a sponge prefilter at the bottom that prevents fry from getting sucked up and is easy to remove for maintenance. One Ziss Bubble Bio filter handles about 20 to 40 gallons of water and can be used either by itself or in conjunction with another filter. I bet you thought this entire blog post was going to be about equipment, right?

Many of the best models come with three or four types of filter media. Some even have extras such as UV sterilizers. HOB filters are incredibly common in the aquarium industry. Their frequent use has led to many great designs and upgrades.

Major manufacturers such as Fluval and Eheim can be found worldwide. Widespread availability of replacement parts and filter media make maintenance a little less problematic. Additional content : Check out our guide featuring the best HOB filter on the market. Sponge filters are some of the simplest, cheapest filters on the market. Just like HOB filters, the name is its own description.

Sponge filters are simply sponges placed over the intake of a water pump. They can be very large, small, coarse, fine, or even stacked together to create a more complex system. Most people just beginning to keep fish have seen an internal filter. These black pumps with sponge boxes attached are common accessories to small tanks and starter kits.

Companies sell them as adequate filtration systems for smaller tanks. To be fair, an internal filter can do a great job filtering the water for some tank setups. For example, a glass tank with gravel, ornaments, fake plants, and a few fish might be great for an internal filter. The filtration needs of this tank are probably not going to be very complex.

Saltwater tanks are almost always bigger than an internal filter can cope with, so these are usually freshwater filters. Additional content: Check out our guide featuring the best internal filters on the market. Canister filters are the workhorses of the intermediate and advanced aquarium hobby. These are brilliant for tanks larger than 10 gallons. They are used successfully on tanks up to gallons in size.

There are a few big brands on the market as well as some lesser-known brands offering bargains for those willing to do their research. Canister filters work for both saltwater and freshwater tanks. Their high output makes them ideal for larger tanks or tanks with a higher bio load of fish and animals. Additional content: Check out our guide featuring the best canister filters on the market. Surface skimmers add a useful capability to a filtration system.

They collect debris and oil buildup on the surface of the water and pass it through a filter media pad, usually a sponge or floss arrangement. Skimming the surface of the tank this way reduces the amount of junk floating in the tank. Doing so then reduces algae growth and promotes better gas exchange at the surface. It does need a separate filter or pump to drive the water so this is really an addition to your filtration system rather than a replacement.

If you have a larger tank, then you can use the Odyssea Clean Surface Skimmer. The Odyssea skimmer works for tanks up to about 60 gallons in size. Its pump moves much more water — up to gallons per hour. This should improve your water circulation as well as provide excellent surface cleaning. However, the powerful pump also uses more energy and takes up more space. Surface skimmers are great for both freshwater and marine tanks.

Both kinds of water will benefit from the extra level of cleaning provided by skimmers. Go big or go home! Some fish keepers seem to make this their motto. Their tanks are massive, their fish are huge, and their filtration systems are impressive. For those interested in truly huge tanks, a sump filter is probably the best option.

Sump filters are extra tanks that function as large filters. They usually sit somewhere under the main tank or behind the tank where they can be hidden from sight. Sumps are built with several different chambers. Chambers are created by adding glass or acrylic walls inside the spare tank.

Different filter media is placed in each chamber. Water is then pumped from the main tank into one end of the sump. The pump pulls clean, filtered water from the other end of the sump and returns it to the tank.