What kind of filter for saltwater aquarium

Two other kinds of filtration we'll be pointing out are mechanical filtration where debris is trapped and removed; and chemical filtration where chemical compounds are used to clean the water.

Designed by Out of the Sandbox. Powered by Shopify. Menu Cart. Continue Shopping Your Cart is Empty. Reef Aquarium Filtration. This is the aquarium where live rock and sand provide biological filtration. As water passes through the live rock, bacteria within the rock break down waste removing toxic ammonia and nitrites.

A built-in overflow box with large drains is very important. Too many aquariums are made with small 1" drains that clog easily and will not allow you to put enough water flow through the aquarium.

Water moves from the aquarium through the filter sock into the sump. The filter sock traps pieces of dirt and debris. This kind of filter is categorized as a mechanical filter. You can place a filter media bag with filter media inside of the filter sock if you don't have a media reactor, or enough media reactors.

Carbon works well run this way. It works in all three ways that are necessary — mechanical, biological and chemical. This filter offers a complete package and would make for a good choice for a beginner filter. You can switch freely between modes — from a floss pad that provides the mechanical filtering, to a coarse sponge that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria. The EHEIM classic filter is one of those filter options that is an established brand in this area and it has been tested numerous times.

So judging from experiences of many people using this filter, it is a great one and you cannot go wrong with this choice. It is suitable for smaller as well as some larger tanks — to up to 66 gallons in size. It provides a biomechanical cleaning process with a constant flow of oxygen to purify the water and make it fresher and more suitable for the living beings inside your reef tank.

It is a compact filter and it will not take too much space, if you are short on it — it also comes with a stand included in the package. The filter is equipped with two inlet and two outlet valves, which makes it more efficient and it will promote the cleaning of the filter, which will make it easier for you to clean it and spend much less time on this aspect.

The EHEIM classic external canister filter is a great, proven choice for a reef tank filter that you can try out. This one is a bit smaller tank — suitable for tanks to up to 50 gallons, but it will do a great job of cleaning while also taking up significantly less space than some other filters on this list. But if you do want a bigger one, there are also more sizes of this filter that you can choose from — there are smaller and larger ones as well.

The Aqua Clear offers easy installation and use, and you get a 2-year warranty with this one. This filter can provide efficient performance and a large filtration volume, which can be up to 7 times larger than of the similar filters in the same price range, which makes it a good budget option as far as reef tank filters go. The filter also offers good biological filtering and enables the fish to enjoy filtered water that remains clean and without debris.

Another budget option for a reef tank filter, this one is suitable for tank sizes of 30 to 50 gallons, and it produces a certified flow rate of GPH. It produces three-stage filtration — mechanical, biological and chemical filtration. It has Rite-Size C size filter cartridges, which are known as being quite easy to change and use and you get more cartridges in the starter package.

The Bio-wheel filter system will take care of efficient biological filtration. This filter is quite a cheap option at least compared to other items on this list , but it will not compromise on the quality of the filtration it provides.

You can be sure that the MarineLand Penguin filter will provide your tank with a quality filtration that will keep the water clean and the fish happy.

The MarineLand has another product on this list, and this is the Magnum polishing internal canister filter. This filter is a good option if you are looking for an efficient, yet quite a cheap filter that you can use for a reef tank. The filter uses two refillable chambers that you can customize and change at your own will. The filter offers an efficient and quality three-stage filtration to keep the water clear of any unwanted debris and also to keep the water from yellowing and to provide it with some beneficial bacteria over time.

The Undergravel Filter Controversy will probably rage on for years, but you can read the arguments and make your own decision as to whether or not it will work for you. There are a number of In-Tank-Skimmers which take up little room in your tank and work quite well.

For water circulation in your tank, the wide variety of Submersible Pumps on the market today gives you plenty of choices to pick from. Add a submersible heater optional and an air pump if needed and you are ready to go. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data.

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Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. Waste produced by fish and corals first breaks down in to ammonia; which is very toxic and can kill your tank inhabitants quickly. A proper biological filter will rapidly break down ammonia in to nitrite then to less-harmful nitrate. Live rock and live sand are both excellent biological filters as they provide a lot of surface area for bacteria that breaks down waste to colonize.

However, bare bottom tanks, man-made rock and minimalist aquascapes are becoming more and more popular. These types of aquariums have a lot less surface area than traditional aquariums filled with liverock and live sand. The reduced surface area means that there is an increasing need for adding biological filtration media to the system.

Brightwell Xport Media is an extremely efficient biological media as it has A TON of surface area for bacteria to colonize. Brightwell also offers different versions that can help to further improve your water quality; such as the Xport NO3 that helps to lower nitrates and Xport PO4 that removes phosphates. Refugiums and algae reactors work similarly by growing macroalgae in a chamber. As the macroalgae typically chaetomorpha or caulerpa grows, it consumes nitrates and phosphates from your water.

As you trim the excess macroalgae, the nutrients are then moved from the system.