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Filtration
Today's aquarium filtration offers a wide variety of options to keep your aquarium water clean and healthy.
When choosing filtration, base your decision on the size of your aquarium, the type of inhabitants it will have, and the amount of waste
these inhabitants will create. To achieve the best water conditions, you may need to incorporate more than one type of filter.
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Internal Filters:
These small, inexpensive box-like or foam filters are ideal for
rearing fry, hospital aquariums, and small aquariums with very small fish and invertebrates. Located within the aquarium, they
are strong enough to maintain good water conditions, yet gentle enough to keep small aquarium inhabitants free from harm. Although
a few are motor-driven, most use an air pump to operate. Motor-driven models are not typically recommended for fry growth. Many
internal filter models provide all types of filtration, including mechanical, chemical, and biological. They are placed inside
the aquarium. |
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Internal Filters |
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Under Gravel Filter |
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Undergravel Filters:
Designed to filter water by drawing it through the gravel, these
filters allow beneficial bacteria to colonize in the gravel, which in turn, breaks down waste. Undergravel filters are also relatively inexpensive and can be driven either by an air pump
or powerhead. Remember that these filters only provide biological filtration, so you may need supplementary filtration depending on your aquarium's inhabitants. |
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Power Filters:
Power filters, designed to hang off the back of your aquarium, provide biological, chemical, and mechanical filtration, and are ideal for small- to medium-sized aquariums with a moderate amount of debris. In addition to providing effective mechanical and chemical filtration, power filters have become much more efficient biological filters with the addition of biological grids, pads, and BIO-Wheels. Power filters are moderately priced and easy to install and maintain. |
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Power Filter |
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Canister Filters |
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Canister Filters:
Canister filters provide superior mechanical and chemical
filtration for aquariums with large amounts of debris. They are ideal for African and South American Cichlid aquariums, saltwater aquariums, and freshwater planted aquariums.
Typically placed in the stand beneath the aquarium, canister filters have been recently redesigned to provide better biological filtration with the addition of BIO-Wheels.
Many models have also been redesigned to include trays and disconnect valves to simplify maintenance. |
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Wet/Dry Filters:
Wet/dry filters provide the ultimate in
biological filtration. They are designed for aquariums with large biological loads such as saltwater reef and fish-only aquariums,
and any large freshwater aquarium that demands efficient biological filtration. Most models are designed for placement under an aquarium,
and require an overflow box on the back. Wet/dry filters include a sump, which can hold auxiliary equipment such as protein skimmers,
denitrators, and calcium reactors, along with the required water return pump. Most models do not include the return pump, so this must
be purchased separately. |
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Wet/Dry Filters |
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