Fish Tanks - Fish Tank Filters

The Importance of Fish Tank Filters

One of the most important components for sustaining life in an aquarium or fish tank is the fish tank filter. Fish tank filters, currently the most complex systems in aquariums, function to remove poisonous chemical and biological wastes from the aquarium. They help to prevent build up of waste materials that foul the water leaving it unhealthy for plant and animal life in the tank and cloudy or murky in color which impacts on the viewing pleasure of observers.

Most fish tank filters consist of two filter types, a biological/chemical and mechanical filter. The biological filter is designed to remove chemical agents from the tank. The chemicals are created by fish excrement, fish shedding skin and plant decomposition. This will often include a build up of nitrogenous gases or phosphoric compounds.

The second part is a filter is the mechanical action of removing dead leaves, twigs and other debris.

The bilogical filtration effectively, regulates the life sustaining abilility within the water as a build up of nitrogen in the water would be fatal to fish and plant life. The mechanical apsect effectively cleans the water so that it looks tidy and provides good viewing.

In addition to using a fish tank filter, you may want to purchase a bottle of “Tidy Tank.” You can buy this product at most PetSmart stores. If you match it to the specifications of your tank (i.e. Saltwater, freshwater, acidic pH, basic pH, etc), it will keep to your miniature ecosystem functioning properly; and will prevent chemical and biological build-ups.

In addition to fish tank filters and Tidy Tank, you will want to consider whether or not you need an air pump. These used to be a feature of virtually all tanks; however, whether or not you need an air pump will be contingent on the filter you purchase. The mechanical action of the filter causes air to be bubbled into the water and this may facilitate the oxygenation of your tank. In this case, you will not need to purchase an additional air pump.

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