What Are The Common Types Of Filter For Fish Tank?

In order to take care of fish and ensure them live a healthy happy life, you have to feed them and clean up the mess that they left behind include their waste, leftover food, algae and dirt built up in the fish tank.

But you cannot completely clean the tank without a best filter for fish tank. Choosing the right fish tank filter can be difficult if you do not understand anything about the different types of them, what are the features of each type, their advantages and disadvantages.

So in this post, you will learn all you need to know about types of best fish tank filters that most common and available on the market:

Canister filters

The canister filter provides on all fronts of functions: mechanical, chemical and biological. Canister filter is kept at the outside of the tank make it easier when cleaning but there is also a problem if you do not have space outside since Canister filter is much larger than other filters.

This type of filter is one of the most effective and powerful devices in comparison with the other types.

However, great power and flexibility also come with lots of complications when install and maintain. It is also quite expensive.

Hang on back filter (HOB)

This type of filer is very common due to its reasonable price. As the name suggests, HOB filter usually hangs on the back of the tank. They are external but less bulky than Canister filters so it does not tank you much space to set up. It also does not tank the space inside where your fish live.

There is the down point that this HOB filter might be the poor chemical filtration and less efficient than other devices.

Sponge filter

This type of filter is mechanical and biological filter. Air pumps or power heads can power it. Sponge filter very effective will the small tank. It does not produce strong current and safe for your fish.

But the drawback is that you have to replace or clean the sponge to remove the bacteria. It is not difficult tank to clean but you need to do this work regularly.

Wet/dry filter

It is known as the best biological filtration. If you are keeping a large tank or a saltwater fish tank, this filter is absolutely suitable for your tank.

It increases the amount of beneficial bacteria and effective to waste treatment.  But it is not easy to install and take more cost to setup this filter