Types of Aquarium Filters

An aquarium filter is one of the most important pieces of equipment you will add to your aquarium. The filter removes waste and dangerous chemicals from the water. Fish constantly excrete waste as they swim, and the chemicals created by this waste can build up in the water and kill the fish. There are three ways that filters clean your water, either biologically, mechanically, or chemically.

Biological filtration removes uses microorganisms to change waste into less dangerous substances. Fish waste turns into ammonia, and the biological filter changes the ammonium into nitrate, which is eventually removed during routine water changes. Biological filtration occurs when the water passes over any surface where the helpful bacteria is growing. Mechanical filtration is the process of removing particles in the water by filtering the water through a filter media, such as a sponge, filter floss, filter pads, or the aquarium gravel. Chemical filtration is done by carbon or other chemicals that remove toxins from the water. Activated carbon makes a great chemical filtration.

A good quality filter will employ all three means of filtration. Here are some common filter types: