Aquarium filters are types of filters that are very important for both marine aquaria and fresh water. The filters have the ability to remove soluble and physical chemical waste products in an aquarium and thereby make the maintenance an easier and simplified process. In addition to this, the aquarium filters are very important especially for the support of life since most aquaria are small and contain controlled volumes of water in comparison to any natural environment for fish. 

 

Most of the animals especially fish that are kept in the fish tanks normally produce waste that is either as a result of respiration or excrement. Waste has one more source; it is caused by plants or food that has not been eaten as well as dead fish. If left unattended, the waste matter will collect within the tanks and as a result, cause the contamination of the water. As the level of water contamination grows, the aquaria will be exposed to a serious health risk and it will continue rising and subsequently, it becomes very critical for the contamination be removed as soon as possible. Filtration is regarded as the most common method for maintaining a healthy aquarium. There are three types of filtration systems today; the mechanical filtration, biological filtration and the chemical filtration.

 

The mechanical filtration process removes particles present and debris in water by being able to pass water from the tank via foam or through any spongy type of material that has the capacity to trap the debris from accessing the tank water. The foam is then replaced on a regular basis to stop back up as well as to maintain an effective filtering system The Biological Filtration is regarded as the most important type of filtration process for the aquarium. It removes toxic waste that is as a result of fish and the decaying matter. It does this efficiently by creating a bed full of beneficial bacteria in the filter meant to break down the harmful toxins like nitrites and ammonia and nitrites. 

 

The Chemical Filtration process removes any waste matter that has been dissolved in flowing water by activated carbon. Activated carbon is considered to be extremely porous and if water flows by it, the ‘pores’ are able to trap all the dissolved minerals and wastes like phosphate. Activated carbon is also known to remove ammonia and bad odor. Chemical filtration is not necessary for maintaining healthy fish, but it is an effective way of maintaining high quality of water especially when it is used together with the other processes of filtration.