Aquarium Filter

There are two different kinds of filters; there are external
filtration systems and internal filters. Internal filters are
used in salt water and fresh water aquariums. Many salt water
aquariums have an internal tube for the water to flow down into
a sump tank, which is just below the main tank and all the water
passes through a certain type of foam where all the waste and
bad bacteria gather and this filters the water. The water is
then pumped back up to the top of the main tank and this flow
continues on constantly. Although a noisy method, it is the
second most effective but rather pricey. The other way of doing
internal filtering is to have what looks like a large black
rectangle stuck to the inside of your tank, this sucks up water
and waste through its bottom, the water then passes up through
the filter. This method is the third most effective method and
is very cheap.

The external filter is the way to go, this filter is a hard
working piece of machinery that keeps your aquarium in tip top
condition and gets rid of all the water. It is like the other
two methods of internal filtering above but it is al done
outside of the tank. The only thing connecting the tank to the
filter is a long black tube. This is the most effective and
expensive way to filter your tank but it is very worth it.

All these types of filters are available at your local fish
shop, but not really your local pet shop. For the internal
filter that requires a sump tank this is usually custom made to
suit your tank so it is expensive but not really worth the
money. You are probably better choosing an external filter,
although it will cost you more it is more effective and it
creates less noise.