TYPES OF AQUARIUM FILTER / Basic to Complex

There are many types of aquarium filter with different function.

We can seperate aquarium filter in to 3 according to their function.

• Mechanic Filtration: desingned to catch particles in the aquarium water.
• Chemical Filtration: filter chemical impurities which like caused by food adulteration.
• Biological Filtration: helps to nitogen cycle and provides enough space for the grow of beneficial bacterias.

Basic to Complex Aquarium Filters

Up to now we learned function of aquarium filters. Now let’s look at types of aquarium filter from basic to complex.

Sponge/Air Driven Filter

Sponge/Air Driven Filter

The most basic aquarium filter. We can not classify this as a mechanic, chemical and biological because they do not do much this functions. You can use this filter for breeding, fry, nursery, hospital, small fish and invertebrates tanks.

Sponge filters’ working princable is to basic. It is powered with air pump and air starts to flow through tube in the center of filter. This flow force the water pull through sponge and filtration done this way.

Price Range: $1.00 - $25.00

Hang on Back (HOB) Filter

HOB Filter

This type of filter used commonly because it can provide mechanical, biological and chemical filtration at the same time.

You can hang over it to the back or the sides of aquarium. They suck water in the aquarium through their siphone and give back the water to aquarium over their waterfall.

Suck water pass through filter material and according to filter materials, they can provide different type of filtration.

Price Range: $10.00 - $180.00

Internal Filter

Internal Filter

Internal filters have dense structure. Because of that it is good to use them in small sized and nano aquariums. You can easily stick to the sides of aquarium.

They provide good mechanical, chemical and biological filtration for small sized aquariums. If you place an airline it can give air which produced movement of water to aquarium.

Price Range: $10.00 - $110.00

Undergravel Filter

Undergravel Filter

As you can understand from the name of filter, it is placed under the gravel of aquarium. It pulls water through the gravel.

Water pass through gravel and by this way mechanical filtration happen. We can not talk chemical and biological filtration very definitely.

Note: You must mix up the gravel over on the filter. If not, particules may collect over your gravel.

Price Range: $8.00 - $60.00

Canister Filter

Canister Filter

Canister filters are common for big size aquarium. They provide good chemical, mechanical and biological filtration. Because they have bigger size comparing with internal and HOB filters.

According to material inside of canister filter easily at same time as chemically, mechanically and biologically. By the help of siphon it draw water inside and water pass through the different filter materials and turn back to aquarium.

You can use this type of filter for every type of aquarium (salt, fresh and planted) with inner peace.

Price Range: $30.00 - $500.00

Wet/Dry Filter

Wet/Dry Filter

Wet/dry filters also called trickle filter. 

Setup of this type of aquarium is onerous but especially for salt aquarium it provides excellent biological filtration. Because it provides large area for beneficial bacteria grow.

It also do good chemical filtration with the material in the medium. But its mechanical filtration is limitted.

Price Range: $50.00 - $500.00

Fluidized Bed Filter

Fluidized Bed Filter

By the help of water pump water pumped into filter tube. Filter tube includes granules like sand, plastic or silica.

They provides good biological filtration, moderate mechanical filtration and not good chemical filtration.

Prize Range: $50.00 - $150.00

To Sum Up

According to your needs you can select one of these filters. Do not forget each aquarium needs a filter. Filtration is vital for aquarium fishes.

BLACK TETRA [GYMNOCORYMBUS TERNETZI] [CHARACIDAE]

After a short break I will continue to inform you about aquarium fishes starting with Black Tetra.

General Specifications

Latin Name: Gymnocorymbus ternetzi.

Geographic Origin: South America, Amazon River, Negro river, Argentine river.

Living Area: Small, slow-flowing rivers, particularly dangling tree branches and shrubs.

Nutrition Format: They show more interest in plant foods than other tetra species. For this reason, vegetable feeding should not be neglected as much as it feeds on animal foods.

Behavior: Peaceful

Behavior to Their Type: Peaceful

Swimming Level: Medium-Surface

Gender Discrimination: Sex discrimination is not easy. If reproduction is considered, it should be taken in groups. Females are bigger, have longer fins. Men's colors are darker.

Reproduction 

Spreading eggs. It's easy. The temperature is 28-30 ° C. Eggs can be prevented from ejaculating by stretching the bottom web. After breeding, the adult fish should definitely take another aquarium. The offspring come out from the egg 18-36 hours. After a few days they start swimming freely. For the first few days, the offspring must feed on infuseria. Then you can use microworm and artemia. Aquariums should be as dark as possible because they are sensitive to light and eggs.

Living Medium

Temperature: 23 - 28 ° C

Maximum Sizes: 6 cm.

Water Hardness: 2 - 20 ° d

pH: 5.5 - 7.0

General Comments: 

It should be viewed in at least six groups as it is in all tetra groups. When they feed in the form of herds, the fish are the ones that can get very comfortable. They are durable fish when appropriate water conditions are met. They can be seen in bituminous aquariums. Next to the plants, mangrove roots and hiding places should be formed. The level of the plants should be up to the level of love that this swim is swimming in. In the habitat, it is made to look at an aquarium where the plants are floating in the light current and the light is formed by the shadows.