Freshwater Aquarium Filtration - By: David R. Grayson

Having clean water is a must for survival; this goes for any living creature. The water that is in your home aquarium should be clean at all times as well. Having a quality freshwater aquarium filtration system working around the clock helps to ensure clean water all of the time.

When you first start your aquarium, the filtration system is one of the necessary components that has to be installed. You may have either purchased it directly from store where the tank was purchased or perhaps it is a hand-me-down from a garage sale. Regardless, the filter must be a quality product, in working order and must continue to fulfill its capabilities of creating clean water.

So what type of system do you have or thinking of getting? Is it or will it be the right one for your needs or rather the aquariums needs? There are three different types of freshwater aquarium filtration systems available and each one works towards a goal but works differently. There is the filter that goes under the substrate (undergravel), one that hangs over the back wall of the tank (wet/dry or mechanical) and the canister which is set elsewhere and attached only by hoses.

Choosing the best freshwater aquarium filtration system will depend upon the size of the tank. If you have a 5 gallon sitting on your desk, you certainly don't need a canister filter for it. But if you have a 55 gallon or a 100 gallon tank, then a canister filter would be a much better choice. The filters that hang over the bank of the tank are best for 20/25 to 55 gallon tanks.

The underwater filter system was the first invented and it has every intention of doing a good job but it really doesn't. Here's how it works: the waste or other debris that needs to be removed falls to the floor of the tank and works its way through the substrate to the filter grates lying on the bottom of the tank. The pump pulls it up through tubes that hold filters and then returns the water back into the tank.

The wet/dry or mechanical freshwater aquarium filtration system works well although they have bio wheels that can get stuck if they themselves are not kept clean. This unit pulls water from tank and through a porous filter or cartridge that usually contains charcoal which catches any unwanted debris and toxins then pushes the cleaned water back into the tank.

A canister filter is probably the best system but it is also the biggest and the most expensive to use in a freshwater aquarium filtrations setup. As the name suggests, it has the look of a canister and the entire unit is enclosed and can sit in the cabinet underneath the tank. It is connected by special tubing that goes into the tank. With a little horsepower, it pulls in the dirty water from the tank, cycles it through the filters inside the canister and pushes the clean water bank into the tank.

Knowing what your options are and comparing them to your needs will help you decide which freshwater aquarium filtration system will best suit your needs. Each filter system will clean your water which will in turn make a clean tank. With a clean tank, both you and your fish will be happy.

About the Author

David Grayson, has been captivated with Freshwaton Aquariums for many years and offers for free A Freshwater Aquarium Guide to help you understand and get the most out of a freshwater aquarium. Checkout my website.

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