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Easy Tropical Community Fish For The Beginner

Getting started with keeping tropical fish can be a very exciting time indeed but it can be easy either to struggle to select appropriate fish from an ever-growing list of species available, or to overstretch yourself and unknowingly take on some of the slightly more difficult species.

The aim of this article then is to provide some guidance on great “starter” fish for the tropical community tank which are typically easy to keep, will live together happily and are also reasonably priced. This list certainly isn’t exhaustive so just because a fish isn’t on the list doesn’t necessarily mean it makes a bad starter fish.

I just wanted to select a range of reasonably-priced and commonly-found fish which most fish keepers should be able to find without problems at their local aquarium shop. So without further ado, let’s jump into the species list.

Neon Tetras

These small, brightly-colored fish instantly grab the eye in an aquarium environment and the fact that they “shoal” loosely means that investing in a number of these fish can really help to provide movement and color in your fish tank.

Guppies

Guppies are the classic tropical fish. Being brightly colored with a huge, showy tail these fish are available in an almost unlimited variety of colors and patterns meaning each one is almost unique so a decent number of these fish provides lots of opportunities for kids to have a “favorite”. Be aware how freely these fish will breed as some aquarium keepers have found themselves overrun by babies in the past!

Platy

The platy may not be the most exciting-looking fish here perhaps packing some of the impact of some other species mentioned here but will grow rather larger than, for example, the guppies and neons. Again, these fish are available in a variety of colors such as a golden yellow and even a black form so once again enabling you to add a variety of color to your fish tank.

Sword Tails

Sword tails superficially resemble the platies except that they male has a long “sword-like” projection from the tail which makes sexing these fish very easy indeed and like guppies they will often breed freely in a tropical community aquarium.

Corydoras Catfish

These ground-dwelling fish are peaceful if a little shy and should have some cover behind which they can hide from time to time. These fish may not be the most colorful available but provide a useful service filtering up leftover fish food from the bottom of the tank thus helping to keep it cleaner.

Danios

These little zebra-striped fish are once again hardy and easy to look after and some fish keepers have even had success keeping them as coldwater fish as a novel alternative (or addition) to standard goldfish.

Red Tailed Shark

Whilst the shark can attain a larger size than most of the fish here, the dark black body with red tail makes him a very attractive occupant and they really can look very shark-like in profile.

Plecos

These “sucker-mouths” look almost prehistoric and really add something to a tank. Just one or two of these fish will slowly work their way around your tank, feeding on any wood you have in your aquarium and also removing green algae from the glass walls of your aquarium. Like the cory catfish then these fish not only look interesting but also provide a useful practical service to you in helping your tank to look as good as possible.

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Fish Aquarium Decorations

Posted in: Fish Care Articles

photo credit: SantaRosa OLD SKOOL

Whilst the health and welfare of your fish is paramount in an aquarium, many fish keepers for obvious reasons want the most attractive aquarium possible and like to use a variety of decorations for their aquascaping attempts. Of course the goal is typically to produce the most attractive aqaurium possible to not only produce a living work of art but to also allow aquarium fish to live a more natural lifestyle, hiding amongst plants, rocks and wood.

Whilst decorations such as pirate ships, buried treasure and artificial crabs are available, most serious fish keepers using a decent-sized aquarium, rather than a small goldfish bowl, tend to favor the more natural-looking aquarium for which there are typically three main types of aquarium decorations.

The three main sources of aquarium decoration are rocks, wood and plants and whilst this may sound reasonably limited, the vast range and natural variation in plants, wood and rocks mean that they provide almost limitless possibilities to the fish keeper.

When it comes to buying and installing fish aquarium decorations there are a few commonsense steps worth considering in order to produce the most attractive tank possible and also the healthiest fish.

Buy From A Professional

Whilst one can pick up rocks at the beach or wood from your local forest this is generally to be recommended against. The reason is of course that the chemistry of a fish tank is of paramount importance and aquarium decorations have the potential to leach unwanted chemicals into your fish water.

For example rocks from the beach may release salt turning your tank saline while wood may leach pesticides, herbicides or other unwanted chemicals into your fish tank.

The equipment from aquarium shops is carefully chosen and cared for to minimize the risks of introducing any unwanted chemicals into your aquarium and so should be carefully considered.

Prepare All Tank Decorations Appropriately

Even professionally-bought fish aquarium decorations need to be correctly “prepared” before inserted into your tank. Rocks may well have dust on them and wood may well leach tannins – brown dyes – which whilst of no real problem to your fish may turn your water cloudy and take many days to settle out, thus lessening the impact of your aquarium.

It is therefore wise to prepare aquarium decorations by washing them thoroughly in aquarium water. The easiest way to do this is to wait until you are doing a partial water change, then inserting your new tank décor into the bucket of removed water before giving it a vigorous brushing with a toothbrush or similar all over the surface.

In my experience wood should be soaked for several days before placing it into an aquarium as tannins can leach out for some time after inserting into water.

Once further benefit of this soaking is that some aquarium wood has an annoying habit of trying to float because it is often porous and contains little pockets of air. By soaking wood before use you will push out much of this air making it easier to work with in your aquarium.

Fix Down Heavy Objects

As the health and welfare of your aquarium fish is of paramount importance it is worth considering fixing down heavy objects so that there is no risk of it falling over on your fish at any point in time.

Aquarium sealant can be bought from most aquarium shops and can be used to stick down wood or rocks for safety. Please be aware that standard “bathroom” sealant should not be used because it’s antifungal element can poison your fish. Also be aware that silicon sealant for aquariums is very strong-smelling and should only be used out of the water of your aquarium.

In this way the fixing should be done in an empty aquarium with plenty of ventilation and then the water and fish introduced only once the sealant is perfectly dry after a day or two.

Be Careful Of Your Fish

Lastly, be aware that adding aquarium decorations can be stressful for your fish and worse there is a chance you could squash one of your fish when inserting rocks and wood so be careful when doing this. The ideal would be to remove your fish for a short period of time while adding aquarium decorations and then add them in again some time later once the tank is set up and has settled down.

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Tags: aquarium, decor, decoration, decorations, fish, pet

Selecting Aquarium Pet Food

Posted in: Fish Care Articles

photo credit: cutecool

Whilst there are hundreds of different species of fish available to the passionate fish keeper, there are also dozens of different varieties of aquarium pet food to select between and the range can sometimes be overwhelming. Just where do you start, and what is best?

The first key to selecting aquarium pet food is to understand the needs of your fish. And there are three ways to gather this information. Firstly, and possibly best, a decent book on fish care with detailed species accounts will provide advice on what your fish like to eat, and how. Secondly you can ask your local aquarium shop when you’re considering purchasing some fish for advice on how they feed theirs.

And then lastly you can examine the fish themselves. There are two keys to examine and whilst you won’t get as much information as from a book or an experienced fish keeper, it can at least provide you with some pointers.

The two elements to look out for are (a) where abouts in the water column your fish swim and (b) where their mouths point.

For example most catfish will spend the vast majority of their time on the floor of the tank, and have down-turned mouths to feed from the bottom. So putting in floating fish flakes is less than ideal as your catfish may not see the flakes floating on the top of the water and if he or she does, they may not want to swim to the top to get it.

Equally, betta fish tend to swim near the top of the water, and have an upturned mouth which means they will typically be happy to feed from the top of the water and so in this case fish flakes can provide an ideal basic food source.

Now that you have a handle on the needs of the individual fish you care for, let’s take a look at a few aquarium pet foods in closer detail.

Fish Flakes

Fish flakes are the standard fish food for most aquarium fish. Fish flakes are quick, cheap and easy to feed and also typically have a long shelf life making them a perfet base food for many tropical community fish and also smaller coldwater fish.

Floating Pellets

Larger fish such as some cyclids and also larger coldwater fish like koi tend to have considerable appetites and so fish flakes may not provide them enough nutrients or may become overly expensive and in this case it is possible to buy larger containers of floating pellets for feeding such fish. It is these “pond pellets” that most fish keepers use as a base for feeding fish in outdoor ponds.

Color-Enahancing Foods

Some brightly-colored fish benefit from color-enhancing foods which contain dies to help them keep their bright colors which may otherwise fade in the confines of a captive aquarium. If you notice that formerly brightly-colored fish of yours are starting to fade then consider asking at your local aquarium shop about these foods so you can supplement the diet of your fish.

Sinking Pellets

Sinking pellets are ideal for bottom-feeding fish and also bottom-feeding invertebrates such as crayfish who may not want to come to the surface to feed. A small amount should be used if you keep fish such as corydoras and care should be paid to ensure that all your bottom-dwelling fish get enough to eat without leaving leftovers to dirty the water.

Dead Livefood

One can buy tubs of insects and suchlike to feed to aquarium fish and while this can be more expensive that feeding flakes or pellets, a small amount as a supplement each week can help to add extra vitamins and minerals to the diet of your fish and so the use of various “livefoods” is well worth considering.

Frozen Livefood

Livefoods that have been frozen, such as artmemia, are available in a “blister pack” style where volumes of frozen invertebrates are frozen into small ice cube-like blocks. It is easy to store this food in the freezer and just pop out one or two cubes as a weekly supplement for your fish. Frozen foods like this may be fresher and contain more nutrients than the dried version mentioned above.

Livefood

The last option is to buy small bags of actual living invertebrates which provide not just nutrition but also some mental stimulation to your fish. Typically the taste and indeed the movement of these foods can cause quite some excitement in an aquarium as your fish hunt down and eat the live animals. Whilst this may repulse some people, many fish keepers swear by the occasional livefood treat to keep their fish bright and healthy.

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Tags: aquarium, fish, food, pet, select, selecting

Introducing Fish Into Your Aquarium

Posted in: Fish Care Articles

photo credit: © M Ä T T

Typically when you buy fish to go into your aquarium you will receive them in a clear plastic bag which makes it easy to transport them home and also keep an eye on your fish.

Placing your fish into the dark will often help to keep them calmer and so a smart move is to take a brown paper bag with you to the aquarium shop into which you can place your bag of fish.

It goes without saying that once you have bought some fish you should aim to return home as soon as possible. So if you’re planning to buy some fish as well as do a number of other chores in town, try to make buying your fish the last job rather than buying them first and then leaving your new fish in the car while you go and do your grocery shopping or stop off for coffee.

Remember that fish can be very sensitive to vibrations and to to temperature changes and so you need to be very sensitive towards their needs – especially after the stress of just being caught and placed into a bag.

Once you arrive home it is a smart idea to remove the lid of your aquarium and float the bag(s) in the water for some time. Typically 30 minutes is sufficient to enable the water in the bag to match the same temperature as the water in your aquarium and taking the time to do this will reduce the stress your fish feel when they are finally released into their new home.

Once the temperatures are equal, and you have done a final check over your new fish to check they look healthy and disease-free you are ready to release them. Some aquarists actually specifically set up a quarantine tank to release new fish into to eliminate the chances of any diseases being passed on to their existing fish and this is a very smart idea though of course adds to your cost.

Whatever you decide, remember that fish can be fragile and so you should release them from the bag into your tank very gently. Snip open the top and slowly tip the bag on it’s side so that the fish can swim out naturally rather than being tipped out at speed.

Once your fish are all out fo the bag, carefully dispose of the bag and try to keep more of an eye on your tank than usual over the next 24-48 hours just to ensure that your new fish are settling in well and there are no signs of sickness or aggression.

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Tags: aquarium pet supplies, buy, buying, fish, new

How To Keep Your Aquarium Fish Fit And Healthy While On Vacation

Posted in: Fish Care Articles

photo credit: JoshuaDavisPhotography.COM

Keeping aquarium fish isn’t like having a dog or cat. Not only are not boarding kennels for fish typically but also the thought of moving even a small tank is a pretty scary proposition.

From the overall weight of the tank, to the risk of water clopping over the top to the potential stress and physical damage to your fish. No, an aquarium really needs to stay put. So what happens when you go on vacation?

Many people in the past have left their fish in the care of a friend or relative with basic guidance on how much to feed and how often but frequently this ends in disaster if the surrogate mom or dad doesn’t have experience in caring for fish.

A good place to start is with joining your local aquarists club or society where you can meet fellow-minded individuals who may well be willing to check on your your fish regularly while you are away – especially if you offer to do the same for them or offer up a small compensation for their help.

But let’s assume even this isn’t possible for whatever reason. A tank that isn’t being regularly watched and cared for is a potential risk and so some people may claim that you shouldn’t be taking a vacation in the first place if you don’t have someone to look after your pride and joy.

But for short periods of time (a few days) there are things you can do to minimize the risks for you and your fish and use technology to help you in your venture.

Firstly there are slow release fish blocks which one can float in the water, providing food for your fish whenever they are hungry. Indeed there are even automatic fish feeders available which will dose your tank with flakes whenever you tell it to.

Also, spreading your bets in terms of electricals can be a smart idea. For example, if you have a four foot long tank, then rather than using one pump specially designed for a tank of that size, why not use two smaller pumps so that if one fails, your aquarium will still at least have some filtration. You can even run these two pumps from two different electrical sockets to further spread your risk.

Timers can be bought to control your lights ensuring that your plants can photosynthesize during the day but your fish aren’t stressed by 24 hours of “sunlight” per day.

Incase of power cuts, it can be wise to consider insulating your tank with some bubble wrap so that if there is a problem, the water will cool far slower and hopefully when the electricity comes back on it will be less of a shock for your fish as your heater kicks back in.

Lastly, when you return from your few days away, be prepared for some serious tank maintenance. Check your fish over, carry out a water change and test the water for excess ammonia, nitrates and nitrites just to be certain that the water quality is as it should be after your absence.

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Tags: aquarium, aquarium pet supplies, fish, holiday, pet, supplies, vacation

Five Steps To An Attractive Aquarium

Posted in: Fish Care Articles

photo credit: threefingeredlord

Unlike many other pets, one of the key reasons to keep fish is simply to watch them and enjoy them in their “natural” environment. Fish typically aren’t pets you handle, teach tricks to or take for walks, after all!

And so to the aquarist, having an attractive, attention-grabbing and interesting aquarium is really a key goal if you are to enjoy your hobby to it’s fullest. But where do you start?

In this article I’d like to take a look at a few elements you may want to consider when it comes to creating the most attractive aquariun possible that you and your family will derive a huge amount of pleasure from over the forthcoming years.

Aquarium Dimensions

Bigger aquariums typically look nicer and more attention-grabbing that smaller ones. And the larger your tank is the more décor you can realistically get in whilst still giving your fish plenty of space to move around freely.

Furthermore, when considering aquarium dimensions don’t just consider the length of your tank but also the width and the height.

A deeper tank may be able to accommodate more décor again. When it comes to height, a taller aquarium may provide more space for your fish to swim, and enable you to grow some decent-sized plants, but you will also need to consider your lighting to ensure that your plants (if you use any) can photosynthesize properly.

Lighting

There are a huge range of different lighting units now available and there are solutions for every situation. Remember, for example, that plants will require special lighting if they are to be healthy. Equally, very powerful tank setups can involve lots of wood, no plants and no light levels to give an aquarium a mysterious feeling. Also be aware that there are aquarium tubes designed specifically to bring out the colors of some fish so these too may help to make your aquarium even more attractive.

Plants

Whole books have been published on the subject of aquarium plants and choosing between live and artificial plants, and then the individual plant species you want to use, can turn an average tank into an amazing one.

I remember many years ago after I had one aquarium plant after another die on me, I settled down with a good book to learn about caring for plants. Once I was happy I knew what I was doing I went out a invested in some new plants which not only survived but even thrived, growing so large, and releasing so many suckers, that they actually needed pruning from time to time.

And I still remember looking over at that tank a few weeks after I had introduced the live plants and being totally transfixed by the combination of fish and plants.

Plants can really transform a tank if you do it right. Taller plants at the back with smaller plants further forward tends to work well. It hides the back of the aquarium, draws attention to your fish, provides somewhere for them to feel safe and can take you into another world.

Rocks And Wood

Rocks and wood are further items of tank décor to consider when aiming for the most attractive tank possible.

Whenever possible it is advisable to use the décor available from a professional aquarist rather than things you find in the countryside because these may introduce chemicals or dyes into your tank. I still remember the case many years ago of someone who found some rocks on the beach and then added them to their tropical aquarium. Obviously the salt leached out anf the fish died which was a real shame.

Combining plants with rocks and wood can further help to create the illusion of an underwater wonderland.

Fish

Fish vary is size, shape and also the part of the water they frequent. While a Pleco may stick to the side eating algae, a Betta fish will likely swim closer to the top of the water while a loach will likely swim towards the bottom.

By selecting fish which swim at different heights in the water you will further add interest and color to your tank, this making it look even more attractive.

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Tags: aquarium, fish, size, tank

What Size Aquarium Is Best?

Posted in: Fish Care Articles

photo credit: Jasmic

A common question when it comes to keeping aquarium fish is how big your aquarium should really be. And of course this isn’t an easy question to answer.

One the one hand we all typically only have a limited amount of space available for a tank, and also limited funds. Obviously the larger an aquarium is, the more expensive it will be to buy and run.

On the other hand a larger tank is typically far more imposing and attractive and of course one can also keep a far larger number of fish in a large aquarium which consequently can maker them considerably more interesting.

Also bear in mind that there are some fish which may grow too large for a small aquarium and so depending on the species you choose, a larger aquarium may be called for.

But the killer fact really is that smaller tanks typically suffer more from fluctuations in water temperature and chemistry which can make keeping fish in them far more challenging and because of this I would advise you to try and select the largest fish tank that you can afford (within reason!).

For tropical fish, a bare minimum would really be a 3 foot long tank though 4 feet long would be even better. Marine fish require even more space and so I would suggest 4 feet long as a minimum for them.

It is often better to wait a short while, save up some extra funds and invest in the larger tank for all the reasons discussed above rather than to jump in and only start off with a small tank. Your aquarium will look better, you’ll be able to keep more fish and your fish will remain far healthier in a larger tank than a smaller one.

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Tags: aquarium, fish, size, tank

Getting Started With Aquarium Plants

Posted in: Fish Care Articles

photo credit: threefingeredlord

Setting up an aquarium is an exciting if somewhat nerve wracking business. After all, the typical fish keeper doesn’t just want to keep some fish alive, but wants to create a focal point in a room.

A well-stocked aquarium filled with colorful fish, rocks and plants can be an amazing draw for the eye and indeed I find I spend more time watching my fish than actually my TV which it is near.

Creating this intoxicating “underwater world” takes time and effort and one key ingredient in creating the right look is the use of plants in the aquarium.

Now I should say that there have been entire books written on the subject of aquarium plants so I shan’t be covering every aspect and element in this article but rather giving you a general overview of the use of plants in an aquarium. Future articles will deal with specific species.

Aquarium plants can typically be divided into two broad categories. Fake plants and real plants.

In days gone by fake plants looked just that and so were typically shunned by many fish keepers though these days the artificial aquarium plants are looking more and life lifelike.

On the flip side, an aquarium filled with live plants really has to be seen to be believed. The beauty and grace of the plants, the way they help to aerate the water by giving out oxygen and the way the plants, like the fish, will grow and multiply, has the benefit to add extra appeal to your tank.

One should be aware, however, that whilst aquatic horticulture has grown over the years, live aquarium plants still require considerable effort if you are to be successful with them.

Not only do they require the correct lighting, but many also require some form of aquatic fertilizer to be used if they are to be fit and healthy. While some fish will live happily and peacefully with live plants, other species may eat the plants or rip then to shreds “just because” and decaying plant matter in an aquarium can lead to problems with water quality which may, if left unchecked, cause problems for tank inhabitants.

Indeed some fish keepers use a combination of both live and artificial plants. The live plants are typically placed closer to the front of the aquarium whilst the artificial plants are placed behund to add “bulk” without looking too unnatural.

The question as to whether you should use live aquarium plants or artificial ones really comes down to the matter of effort versus appearance.

How essential are live plants to your plan, and are you will to put in the (considerable) extra effort that they will require? Or would you rather save yourself some work and simply invest in the best fake plants going?

Only you can make that decision.

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Tags: aquarium, care, fish, keeping, pet, plant, plants, supplies, tank

Cleaning Your Fish Tank

Posted in: Fish Care Articles

photo credit: marfis75

In a “closed system” like an aquarium dirt and impurities can build up even with today’s efficient filtration systems and so it is important to implement a system of cleaning your fish tank on a regular basis if you want your fish to be healthy and your tank to be attractive.

There are four key ingredients to consider when cleaning out an aquarium so lets look at each of those in turn to give you a better idea of the process involved.

Water Change

Changing the water in your fish tank is one of the most difficult (and misunderstood) elements of cleaning out a fish tank. Whilst one needs to use some common sense and some flexibility, changing around 20% of the water every one to two weeks seems to work well for most fish keepers.

There are a barrel of reasons for changing all the water at once and instead doing it in this piecemeal way. Firstly, your aquarium over time builds up a variety of useful bacteria which help to break down debris from your fish such as uneaten food and faecal material. Aged water is best for them and totally emptying the tank and then filling it up with fresh water is likely to kill these bacteria.

Secondly doing a whole water change is hard work with numerous visits to the bathroom or garden to empty water, and then back again with fresh water. And while you’re doing all that, you have to consider what is happening to your fish.

Finally remember that fish themselves can be very sensitive to massive changes in water temperature and so the less water you change, the less the effects will be on them. Most fish seem to cope fine with a 20% change in water while a complete change can cause problems with stress which can sometimes even lead to death in extreme cases.

The easiest way to remove water from an aquarium is through the use of some plastic piping. Place the piping into your fish tank so that it totally fills with water, then place a thumb over both ends to keep the water in the tube. Leaving one end in the aquarium, place the other into a bucket located lower than the tank and when you release the ends you should find that water starts to pour into the bucket.

For the safety of your fish, try to hold the end that is in the aquarium somewhere that your fish aren’t such as placing it close to one of the panes of glass.

Once you have removed and disposed of the dirty water fresh water can be brought through. Remember to let it warm up if it is fresh out of the tap and to treat it with a dechlorinator. Also, try to pour in the new water slowly and gently both to avoid stressing out your fish and to prevent moving around plants, gravel and so on.

For best results with a tropical tank consider buying a second aquarium heater which you can use to “prewarm” the new water before placing it into your existing fish tank.

Gravel Cleaning

Gravity pulls lots of the mess in your fish tank down into the gravel and so gravel cleaning is also an important element of tank husbandry.

Simple, low-cost gravel cleaners are available from most aquarists and work in a similar way to the plastic tubing earlier. The main difference is that the end that goes into the water is quite a bit wider to help you clean your gravel as quickly as possible.

Once the vacuum has been created with your thumbs and water starts to run into the bucket, dig the end of the cleaner into the gravel where the gravel will swirl and you will see dirt racing up the plastic tubing. Move the cleaner an inch or two away from the gravel and the now-clean gravel will fall away.

Follow this process around your tank cleaning as much of the gravel as possible.

Glass Cleaning

Glass can get dirty and it can also start to grow algae in the sunnier months which reduce your enjoyment of your tank. A variety of different implements are available to help you with this but personally I like to use a product which consists of two plastic blocks with magnets in. These blocks have scouring material on them so you can place one block inside the tank and one outside and they will stick together thanks to the magnets.

From the outside of the aquarium you can then quickly and easily clean the inside of the glass by simply dragging the outside block to where the algae is forming.

Filter Cleaning

By their very nature filters attract a lot of dirt and particulate matter and if your filter is to have a long and efficient life it is important to clean your filter from time to time.

Remember that we mentioned earlier on about all the helpful bacteria in your tank and your filter is no different. To clean it we want to avoid tap water and instead use aquarium water.

Therefore it is a good idea when doing a water change to take out your filter and clean it in the old water before placing the filter back into the tank and disposing of the water.

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Tags: aquarium, care, clean, cleaning, fish, maintenance, tank

An Introduction To Aquarium Filters

Posted in: Fish Care Articles

photo credit: law_keven

Aquarium filters typically come in three distinct forms; the undergravel filter, the internal filter and the external filter and whilst they all do a similar job, these three types of filters are used in entirely different ways and have a range of different strengths and weaknesses.

Undergravel Filters

The undergravel filter works by placing a plastic plate on the floor of the aquarium. This plate has tiny holes in it and once placing on the bottom of the tank, it should then be covered with gravel. In one corner of the plate you will find a vertical plastic tube into which you place an aerator.

This aerator bubbles out air, oxygenating the water and the same action of the bubbles running up the tube also helps to create a gentle current which then sucks any dirt out of the water and down into the gravel where bacteria break it down.

The undergravel filter is cheap and easy ot run but requires significant setup as it can only be installed when the tank is totally empty; it is therefore not suitable for added to an existing fish tank.

In addition, the pumps can be noisy as they are housed outside of the tank and so you may not want to run yours 24 hours a day, even when in a perfect world you will. Finally, some investigation may be required to find a plate which fits perfectly into your tank as the plate should cover as much of the base as possible.

Internal Filters

Internal power filters look typically like small black boxes which are placed into the aquarium. They can be attached either using suction cups or hooks and typically the fittings are present within the packaging.

Internet filters suck water into the base of the filter, remove particulate waste and then blast the clean water back out of the top to keep the water circulating.

In my experience these internal filters have a number of notable benefits over the undergravel filter units. Firstly as they are housed within the tank itself they tend to be far quieter than undergravel filters. As they simply sit under the water at one end of your aquarium they are also easy to access and so maintain. Cleaning your filter becomes a very simple task indeed.

Internal filters are therefore especially popular and so they are low cost and easy to find. Even better they are typically labeled clearly with the size of the aquarium they are intended for so one can easily be certain of getting the right filter.

The only real downsides with internal filters are that they need to remain unblocked. This means that you should try to keep any tank décor like plants or rocks away from them and of course whilst they are normally reasonably small a few fish keepers find them unsightly and would rather try to hide them away.

External Filters

External filters are typically used for larger fish tanks where an internal filter would simply need to be too large to be practical in order to keep the water clean. Typically the water inlet and outlet are located in the aquarium and then rubber tubing carries the water to and from the main filtration cylinder.

This means that the main canister needs to find a home and can be quite large.

Due to the power of these external filters they are typically the most expensive option though arguably do the best job of filtration because one can easily add a variety of different filtration treatments to them.

For example as well as the purely physical action of pushing water through a sponge to clean it, many of these filters have areas where one can place carbon granules for example, which will further help to remove impurities and toxins from the water.

In Closing

In my years of keeping fish and experimenting with different filtration methods, my own preference is for an internal power filter. They are reasonably priced, come in a range of sizes, are easy to care for and do a good job.

To me, undergravel filters are simply too impractical and while I have used external power filters from time to time, the cost (and the business of having to hide the canister) can be too much for many people.