Basic HTML Version
15
GET IT
MATURED!
As good as any filter is, when
you buy it new it will be sterile.
Filters need time to mature
and colonise with bacteria,
and in that time they will not
support a full stocking of fish.
Always add a maturation fluid
to a new tank and new filters,
and test water regularly to
monitor progress.
AVAILABLE FROM
WORLD OF WATER
www.worldofwater.com
●
Interpet Easy Test
is an
easy-to-use tablet test kit. It’s
great value too.
Filters can be divided into
internal and external, and
power filters and air-powered
filters. Internal filters sit inside
the tank whereas external
filters sit underneath the tank
in a cabinet, hang on the back
of the tank, or can be built into
the hood above the waterline.
●
Internal power filters
These are by far the most
popular and are most suited
to small tanks and beginners.
A water pump sits on top of
a small canister containing
sponge, and water is drawn
through the sponge, trapping
debris and breaking down
waste.
Some internal power
filters come with adjustable
flow and an aeration device
called a venturi, which
blows bubbles into the
water. Although traditionally
available just as mechanical
and biological filters, new
hi-tech internal filters come
with additional chemical filter
media and separate biological
media.
●
External power filters
The traditional external filter
consists of a sealed canister
connected to the aquarium
by an inlet pipe and an outlet
pipe. External filters are larger
and more powerful than most
internal filters and can hold a
lot more media, offering better
cleaning and supporting more
fish.
The superior power of
external filters makes them
suitable for large aquaria;
heavily stocked aquaria like
African cichlid tanks; and
large fish. External filters are
designed to hold a variety
of mechanical, biological
and chemical media and are
versatile so can be packed
with the media of your choice.
Being fitted underneath the
aquarium, it provides ease
of access and maintenance
with no disturbance to the
fish. The best filters are those
that come with a priming
mechanism, meaning that
they are easy to fill and get
going straight away.
●
Air-powered filters
Air-powered filters are now
largely a thing of the past,
but they still have their uses.
Air-powered filters are less
powerful than power filters so
they create a more gentle flow
and are less likely to suck up
small fish. Because of this,
air-powered sponge filters
are popular with fish breeders
and air pumps consume low
amounts of electricity, offering
low running costs.
Undergravel air-powered
filters were once popular
but they may hinder plant
growth. Undergravels can
be upgraded by fitting a
powerhead.
●
Interpet PF3
internal power filter
Dual action
filtration and
powerful aeration.
Simple to maintain.
Rotating head for
directional control.
Filter choice can depend on your budget,
experience and the sort of fish that you wish to
keep. You cannot over-filter, so the bigger the
better is the order of the day.
External filters can be more expensive to buy
and slightly more technical to set up, but they are
the best for your fish.
For small nano tanks, an internal power filter
will be fine.
Which one is best for me?
Types of filter
●
Aqua One external filter
fits in
the cabinet underneath the tank
and provides powerful filtration.
●
Interpet undergravel filter
is
a simple, air powered filter that
fits discretely under the gravel.