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How do they work? An external pump forces the water to flow through the sponge and then back into a water tube. Bacteria grows on the sponge due to the constant water flow. This is an internal form of biological filtration. What are the benefits of these filters? They are inexpensive and easy to maintain. These filters are good to use in a tank where a gentle water flow is needed. They can support a large bioload, as long as the fish aren't too large. What are the disadvantages? The sponges need to be rinsed on a regular basis because they get covered with waste. Power Filters How do these work? Power filters hang on the back of your tank and water is pulled into the filter, then pushed through a filter pad containing carbon. These provide both chemical and mechanical filtration. Some models also have a biological filtration pad. If your power filter does not have biological filtration, it can be used along with under gravel or sponge filters. How do I maintain this filter? You must rinse out the pads on a regular basis. You will also need to replace the pads as the carbon weakens. Bio-Wheel Filters How do these work? It is a unit that hangs on the back of the tank where water is pulled into the unit by an impeller and then discharged back into the aquarium after filtration. As the water is pulled from the tank, it first flows through a filter pad where particles are removed. There is a layer of activated carbon inside the filter pad which helps remove impurities and keep the tank water clear. The water then moves through the bio-wheel where there is a large growth of bacteria. This filter is good for large fish loads. How do I maintain this filter? You must rinse the filtration pads on a regular basis. Canister Filters What are they? The canister is placed outside the tank and it's a tightly locked container. Water is drawn out of the aquarium through a hose and enters the canister where it passes through several compartments containing filtration media. The pump pushes the water back into the tank through another hose. What are the advantages? You can configure the filtration media any way you want to. That is, you can use sponge along with bioballs and carbon. You can just use the sponge and carbon. What are the disadvantages? They are expensive. Fluidized Bed Filters How do these work? |
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