Aquarium filters are necessary so that your aquarium will be free from the waste material that fish and marine animals give out as part of their biological processes. This device cleans the water in the aquarium through various means. Of the latest filter devices, the canister filter is one of those that can perform a number for functions so that a single device will be able to perform several clean-up tasks.

When you look at the built and functions of the canister filter, these are quite similar to that of the ?hang on? filters. However, the canister filters are designed to provide more mechanical filtration compared with that of other filters. These filters are best used for aquaria that have fish types that tend to be messy eaters. Unlike most filters that are hung on the tank, canister filters are usually placed below the tank. At times, you might also find them inside the tank. For this type, the term ?submersible filter? is used. Some aquarium owners also choose to attach a wet-dry wheel to the outflow of the canister filter, which leads to the improvement of the biological filtration.

Canister filters boast of their large water filtering capacity. Therefore, they can filter greater amounts of water than the power filters in the market. Canister filters also saves you space since you can hide it under your aquarium. These are also easy to customize so that you can have a combination of mechanical, chemical, and biological filter devices.

For this filter, the water is pumped at regular speeds into the filter. The filter usually performs its task using mechanical filters, such as a micron filter cartridge or glass wool. After the mechanical filtration stage, the water is then allowed to pass through different layers of media, including carbon and other absorbents. This will trap the odor, chlorine, ammonia, and other unnecessary chemicals that are in the water.

There are three types of filtration media found in the canister filter. These are the mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration media. The first level of filtration takes place when the water is allowed to pass through the glass wool layer that traps the solid wastes from the water. This is the part of the filter that gets clogged up, that you have to clean it regularly. The filtered water is then passed through the charcoal layer. Charcoal acts as an absorbent that traps the odor and some chemicals from the water. This procedure gets rid of ammonia and chlorine, which can cause the water to smell. The last filtration stage is the biological filtration in which bacteria are used to clean the water. Not all chemicals are trapped in the charcoal layer. Toxic nitrites have to be acted on by the bacteria in order to convert them into less toxic nitrate compounds.

Guide to proper choice of canister filters

1. Replacement parts are readily available

When shopping for a canister filter, you have to inquire if the store also carries replacement parts for the filter. Although the filter is durable and is guaranteed to last for a long time, there will be a time that you will have to change the parts of the canister filter as part of maintenance. It is best if you have spare o-rings, impellers, and rubber gaskets. You can?t be sure when you will need to replace them.

2. Are these the right ones for your aquarium type?

Before you purchase a canister filter, you have to inform the seller on whether you have a freshwater or a saltwater aquarium. There are canister filters that are not appropriate for saltwater and you have to clarify this before you close the sale.

3. Ease of installation and use

While you can get someone to install the canister filter for you, it should be easy enough for you to operate without any help from an expert. Also, you have to make sure that during emergencies, you will be able to manipulate the filters to prevent any danger on your pets. Many hobbyists prefer getting canister filters because they are inexpensive and have a variety of functions. With sufficient information on how to use them, your aquatic pets will have a better aquarium environment.