Fish Tank Filters: Which One Should You Get?

What do most people think when they hear you keep pet fish? They probably conjure up memories of their great aunt’s dirty goldfish tank, covered in mystery slime and reeking of stagnant swamp water. But you and I know the secret to having a beautiful aquarium with crystal clear water… clearly, we just need to find the perfect fish tank filter!

Why do Aquariums Need Filtration?

As one of the key components of an aquarium, filtration is responsible for moving and cleaning the tank water, making it safe for fish to live in. The three main types of filtration are mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration. Certain filters are better at one type versus another, so here’s a brief overview of each category:

• Mechanical filtration uses sponges, filter socks, and filter floss pads that physically strain out debris from the water, much like a coffee filter. Mechanical filtration acts as a garbage can that collects trash – which means you as the fish owner are still responsible for cleaning the filter media (in other words, “emptying” the trash can before it overflows).
• Biological filtration uses beneficial bacteria or aquarium plants that can consume the toxic ammonia and nitrogen compounds that result from your fish’s waste. Beneficial bacteria grows on any surface, including the walls and gravel in your aquarium, so many filters come with biomedia or bio-rings with high surface area to provide more places for the bacteria to live.
• Chemical filtration uses activated carbon or special resins that can remove medications, tannins, and other impurities from the water. Once the chemical filtration becomes saturated with impurities, the media is no longer able to absorb pollutants from the water

Examples of mechanical, biological, and chemical filter media

Bottom Line: mechanical filtration makes your water clearer, biological filtration makes your water safer, and chemical filtration is something best saved for removing impurities from the water.

What Are the Most Popular Types of Filters?

Now that you’re familiar with what filtration does for an aquarium, let’s talk about the actual equipment you can purchase (in rough order of most to least common).

Sponge Filter

Aquarium Co-Op sponge filters

This most basic of all filters requires at least three components: a sponge filter (which sits inside the tank), air pump (which sits outside the tank), and airline tubing to connect them. The air pump pushes air through the tubing into the hollow cavity inside the sponge filter. The rising bubbles of air draw water through the sponge walls, thus mechanically collecting debris from the water and giving beneficial bacteria place to grow.

Pros: I could go on and on, but this device is cheap, easy to clean, and hard to break since it has very few mechanical parts. It provides good water circulation and surface agitation, while being gentle enough to avoid sucking up fish fry, shrimp, and other slow-moving creatures. Plus, during power outages, the beneficial bacteria on the sponge stays in the oxygenated tank water (which gives it a longer chance of surviving), and you can even purchase battery-operated air pumps to prepare for emergencies.

Cons: The sponge filter takes up physical space in the fish tank, so you may want to hide it behind a rock, plants, or other aquarium decor. Also, there’s no way to add chemical filtration if needed. I personally don’t like the bubbling sound from a sponge filter, but that’s easily remedied with a little air stone.

Bottom Line: Sponge filters are frequently found in fish stores, fish rooms, and breeding facilities because they’re so reliable and cost-effective. Why not use what’s tried and true?

Hang-on-Back Filter

Hang-on-back filter for nano tanks

Just as the name describes, a hang-on-back filter sits on the top rim of an aquarium with the filter box hanging outside the tank and the intake tube lowered into the tank. Water is sucked up the intake tube via the filter’s motor, passed through all the media in the filter box, and then typically returned back into the aquarium like a mini waterfall.

Pros: I love how customizable the filter media is and the fact you can include all three types of filtration. In fact, I’d say a hang-on-back filter is even better at mechanical filtration than a sponge filter because you can add a fine filter pad to really polish the water. The device is very simple to service since most of the media is outside of the aquarium, allowing you to easily remove the media for gentle washing. Plus, the AquaClear filter I own has an adjustable flow rate, so I can really crank up or slow down the water circulation as needed.

Cons: Because a power motor drives the water flow, there’s a chance it can burn out if the filter runs dry or accidentally sucks up sand (use a pre filter sponge to prevent the latter). Additionally, if you don’t like the waterfall sound, just raise the water level in your aquarium and you’ll barely notice the noise.

Bottom Line: This is the first filter I ever purchased and it’s still in use today for good reason. As a popular staple in the freshwater aquarium hobby, the hang-on-back filter excels in all three arenas of filtration and has extremely flexible options for hot-rodding it to your tastes.

Canister Filter

 

A canister filter is essentially filtration in a plastic cylinder or box form factor that often sits under the tank, with intake and output hoses that reach into the aquarium. With the aid of a motor, water is drawn into the canister, travels through several trays of filter media, and then is returned to the fish tank.

Pros: Just like the hang-on-back filter, the canister filter takes up very little room inside the aquarium and is highly customizable. In fact, some models come with fancy bells and whistles like an inline heater, UV sterilizer, and automatic priming. As one of the most powerful and quiet options on the market, many hobbyists consider this to be the king of all readymade filters.

Cons: You have to pay for performance, and the price tag on this one can be a little steep. Also, that nifty little canister is pretty difficult to service, requiring you to practically disassemble the whole setup every time you want to clean out the insides. (Note: there’s a greater chance for flooding during maintenance, so keep those towels handy!) Finally, because the filter media lives outside the aquarium in a closed box, there’s a greater risk of suffocating and killing off your beneficial bacteria during a power outage.

Bottom Line: If you need extremely clean water for your discus or have an overstocked African cichlid tank with heavy bioloads, this may be the best option on the market for you. Just be prepared to spend the extra money and time it takes to own this premium product.

Fluidized Bed Filter

Ziss moving bed filter, powered by an air pump

Traditionally, fluidized bed filters have been more of a DIY approach to filtration, but now there’s a compact, off-the-shelf version known as the Ziss Bubble Moving Media Filter. Water flows into a chamber of small media granules (like sand or plastic pellets), causing the media to swirl about like a fluid. This constant churning greatly enhances bacteria growth from the media’s constant contact with oxygenated water.

Pros: The Ziss filter is air-driven like the sponge filter, so it has very few mechanical parts to break and provides plenty of surface agitation for increased gas exchange. It comes with a sponge prefilter at the bottom that prevents fry from getting sucked up and is easy to remove for maintenance. As a device focused on biological filtration, it’s great for goldfish and turtle aquariums with high bioloads – and unlike sponge filters, the hard plastic is too hard for turtles to chomp through!

Cons: This filter is relatively tall at 11 inches, so it’s only suitable for taller tanks (not a 10 gallon or 20 gallon long aquarium). Like the sponge filter, it’s not as customizable for adding chemical filtration or more mechanical filtration. And I’d say the noise level is also comparable to a sponge filter (mostly coming from the bubbles and air pump itself).

Bottom Line: If you’re looking to boost your biological filtration, consider a fluidized bed filter. One Ziss Bubble Bio filter handles about 20 to 40 gallons of water and can be used either by itself or in conjunction with another filter.

Live Aquarium Plants

 

I bet you thought this entire blog post was going to be about equipment, right? Surprise! Live aquarium plants provide excellent biological filtration that’s even more effective than beneficial bacteria, according to microbiologist Diana Walstad. If you think about how plants work, they absorb ammonia and nitrogen compounds from the soil to grow – and these are the very same compounds produced by fish and organic waste in your aquarium.

Pros: If you’re familiar with the aquarium nitrogen cycle, beneficial bacteria consume ammonia to make nitrates, which is still toxic in large amounts and must be manually removed from an aquarium via water changes. However, plants use both ammonia and nitrates to make more leaves, which in turn allows you to go longer between water changes. In addition, live plants provide shelter for shy or small fish, produce oxygen for your fish (during the daytime), and help reduce algae by using up nutrients in the water. Finally, have you ever seen a jaw-dropping aquascape with lush foliage and driftwood? Recreating a small slice of nature in my home is definitely one of the main reasons I got into the hobby.

Cons: Just as there’s a lot to learn about keeping fish, expect a learning curve when growing plants as well. Plants won’t provide any mechanical or chemical filtration, so you can add equipment for extra filtration or water circulation. Also, you’ll need to remove algae, prune dead leaves, and possibly fertilize as part of your regular tank maintenance.

Bottom Line: Start with easy beginner plants like java fern and anubias that don’t require any special lighting or substrate. Your aquarium will look amazing and your fish will thank you for it! 

Which Filter Should I Get?

Ah, the golden question every aquarist always wants to know. First off, there are plenty of other filters that I didn’t cover (e.g., internal filters, sumps, and undergravel filters). Secondly, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all “best” filter, but rather a wide variety of different tools that can best accomplish different tasks. Consider the needs of your aquarium – such as your stocking levels, water circulation, ease of use, and budget – and pick the solution that works for you. Good luck and happy filter shopping!

What Are The Factors I Should Consider When Buying An Air Filter?

You need clean air to breathe, and so does your engine. Air filters are the critical components of the vehicle as it prevents dust, debris, and other particles from entering your engine. If inside, these particles can disturb the performance of the vehicle and may cause hefty repairs. Cleaning your air filter is a vital part of the vehicle maintenance process. Finding the perfect air filter can be a daunting task because of the wide variety of options available. In this car air filter buying guide, you will see how to choose the air filter that fits your vehicle, its benefits, pros and cons, and much more.

1. Which Type Of Air Filter Should I Choose?

2. What Are The Factors I Should Consider When Buying An Air Filter?

3. Which Top Brand Air Filter Should I Choose?

4. Why Do I Need An Air Filter?

5. When Should I Replace My Air Filter?

6. What Are The Warning Signs Of A Bad Air Filter?

7. What Is The Cost Of Air Filters?

1

Which Type Of Air Filter Should I Choose?

The air filters installed in your vehicle can make a huge difference in its performance. The job of keeping dirt and other unwanted material out of the engine falls to the humble engine air filter. A vehicle that has a clean and exact fit air filter enhances fuel economy, improvises engine health, boosts acceleration, and lowers emissions. Below are the different air filters used in vehicles 

Paper Air Filters

The most common type of air filter used today are the paper air filter. This air filter is affordable and provides functional filtration. Manufacturers recommend replacing these filters after every 5-10 thousand miles as they collect an extensive amount of micro and macro particles. The cost of replacing paper air filters may increase over time though they are affordable in comparison with other designs. The cabin air filter is also a paper air filter designed specifically for the passenger’s compartment.

Gauze Air Filters

Foam air filters are very rare and you can usually find them on small engines such as lawnmowers and also on off-road, dirt, and rally-racing vehicles. However, some manufacturers offer foam wraps around other air filters which creates an extra barrier between the dirt and the debris and the combustion system. Pollutants must pass through the foam before it hits the air filter. Foam pre-cleaner wrap can be a great upgrade if your vehicle has to endure dusty conditions as it protects the engine in the long run.

Foam Air Filters

Foam air filters are very rare and you can usually find them on small engines such as lawnmowers and also on off-road, dirt, and rally-racing vehicles. However, some manufacturers offer foam wraps around other air filters which creates an extra barrier between the dirt and the debris and the combustion system. Pollutants must pass through the foam before it hits the air filter. Foam pre-cleaner wrap can be a great upgrade if your vehicle has to endure dusty conditions as it protects the engine in the long run.

Top Picks For Air Filters

K & N Performance Air Filter

FRAM Air Filter

MANN Filter Air Filter

K & N Performance Air Filter

2

What Are The Factors I Should Consider When Buying An Air Filter?

A. Where You Drive

• Dusty Environments – If you are an off-road enthusiast looking for some extra protection from dusty environments, then foam air filters are an ideal choice. The only thing you will have to take care of is replacing the oil on a regular basis so it lasts the lifetime of the vehicle. 

• Daily Commuters – If you are the one who takes your vehicle for regular servicing and drives back and forth from the office daily, then paper air filters are a good and affordable choice. You don’t have to worry much as the servicing takes care of the air filter replacement. But if you want to save bucks in the long run and want to forget about replacing air filters on a regular basis then opt for cotton gauze air filters that last a very long time and provide enhanced engine performance as well but for a premium initial price. 

B. Price

Paper air filters are an affordable and cost-effective solution to air filters but the low cost comes at the expense of poorer performance and shorter lifespan compared to the other types. Foam and cotton air filters are quite expensive but their long-lasting nature means you will require much fewer replacements which can become more economical in the long run. Some foam air filters can even last the lifetime of the vehicle. Cotton air filters are washable and some performance cotton filters can significantly boost engine efficiency and horsepower by allowing a larger volume of air through to the engine. 

So the price difference between expensive alternatives can be justified by their benefits but affordable filters provide a good bang for their buck. 

Buy Best Priced Air Filter Now

C. Performance Filters Vs Standard Filters

Performance cotton gauze air filters are a great choice for spirited drivers who wish to get the best for their vehicles. These filters can increase engine horsepower by as much as 10hp – that is enough to make your drive to the office way more enjoyable. Apart from the performance advantages, cotton filters are washable and reusable which makes them last much longer than standard paper filters. If you are in need of more performance from the vehicle or need hassle-free service from your air filter, then performance cotton air filters are an ideal option.

So the price difference between expensive alternatives can be justified by their benefits but affordable filters provide a good bang for their buck. 

Buy Performance Air Filter Now

4

Why Do I Need An Air Filter?

For maximum vehicle power and better fuel economy, the vehicle owner has to keep a close eye on the conditions of the air filter and replace them as needed. Here are a few benefits of air filters:

A. Better Fuel Efficiency

A dirty or damaged air filter limits the amount of air flowing into your car’s engine, making it work harder and, therefore, using more fuel. The amount of air that flows through the engine will eventually increase when you replace the old air filter. You can also save money at the pump if there is more airflow into the engine as the fuel will combust more efficiently. 

B. Longevity Of The Engine

To keep the engine air cleaner, you need an air filter that is functioning properly. A particle as small as a grain of salt can get through a damaged air filter and do a lot of damage to internal engine parts, such as cylinders and pistons, which can be very expensive to repair. That’s why regularly replacing your air filter is very important as it considerably increases the life of the engine. 

C. Fewer Emissions

Dirty or damaged air filters reduce the airflow to the engine, changing your car’s air-fuel balance. This imbalance can pollute spark plugs, causing the engine to miss or rough idle; increase engine depositions, and cause the ‘Service Engine’ light to turn on.  If the airflow into the engine is clean, then the dust, dirt, mud, and other particles will not get caught in the combustion process resulting in the cleaner exhaust.

5

When Should I Replace My Air Filter?

To achieve maximum performance and optimal gas mileage, air filters have to be cleaned and changed annually. Most auto-manufacturers will recommend changing the air filters after every 19,000kms (approximately) or 1 year depending on the vehicle make, model, and how you drive. But if you are driving in dusty areas, or if your car faces a lot of stress, then get them checked with a professional mechanic more often.

How to Know What Air Filter to Buy?

To choose the right air filter, you should consider the size of your HVAC system, the type of filter, and the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). The MERV rating ranges from 1 to 20, with higher numbers indicating better filtration. You should also replace your filter every three to 12 months of use, depending on the size of the filter.

Consumer Reports provides a comprehensive guide on how to choose the right air filter for your home. They suggest that you should select the right size, know the different types of home air filters, check the MERV rating, and know how often you should change your filter. When buying new air filters, disregard any that you can easily see through. Pleated filters have larger surface areas to trap more dirt.

6

What Are The Warning Signs Of A Bad Air Filter?

As the air filters have a massive impact on the proper functioning of the vehicle, it is highly essential that you replace them in a timely manner. A dirty or clogged air filter can even lead to driveability issues. Following are some symptoms that you may notice if you don’t replace your air filter at the suggested intervals.

A. Reduced Fuel Economy A very clear sign of a dirty or damaged air filter is the decrease in fuel economy. If the air filter is damaged or clogged, it will restrict the airflow which lowers the oxygen in the mixture. Your engine makes up for this by using more fuel to generate enough power to drive the same distance or speed as you do with a clean filter.

B. Misfiring Of The Engine An insufficient flow of oxygen from a clogged air filter allows unburnt fuel to leave the engine in the form of soot. This soot covers the spark plugs which makes it impossible to deliver the necessary spark to combust the air-fuel mixture. The engine will find it hard to start, resulting in misfiring or rough jerks.

C. Strange Engine Noise Are you hearing unusual noises than smooth vibrations of the engine? Then your engine may not be getting sufficient airflow which means the air filter needs replacement. The engine air filter might have been dirty or clogged reducing the airflow and altering the air-fuel mixture. This air-fuel mixture creates black soot over the spark plugs. This strange noise usually arises as the soot covers the spark plugs and it does not fire properly.

D. Check Engine Light Comes On Carbon deposits accumulate in the engine if the supply of air is inadequate which triggers the check engine light. If the light comes on, check the air filter if they need replacement before you run any other diagnostics. And this is one reason, most manufacturers recommend changing the air filter after every 15,000 km to 25,000 km.

E. Dirty Air Filter A brand new air filter will be in white or off-white color. But as days go by, because of the accumulation of dust, dirt, and other particles, they will appear darker. The dust particles on the inner layer of the air filter will not be visible even in bright light. So every time you take your car in for maintenance, make sure your mechanic visually inspects the air filter as it is highly essential.

F. Decreased Performance Is your car sluggish? Does it respond normally or jerks as you press the accelerator button? If these are the reasons, then there are good chances that the air filter is dirty and is preventing your engine from receiving clean air to function properly. To eliminate this issue, all you have to do is replace the dirty air filter.

G. Black Smoke/Flames From The Exhaust Some fuel may not burn completely in the combustion cycle if the air supply is insufficient. This fuel exits through the exhaust pipe. If you see black smoke from your exhaust pipe, get your air filter replaced by the mechanic. You may also see a flame at the end of the tailpipe or hear a popping sound. This condition is hazardous and needs to be diagnosed immediately.

H. Gasoline Smell In The Exhaust Do you smell petrol as you start your car? This can happen if there is insufficient oxygen in your fuel injection system and the excess unburnt fuel leaves your car through the exhaust pipe. Instead of black smoke in the exhaust pipe, you will smell gasoline. This is a clear sign that your air filter needs replacement.

I. Reduced Horsepower If your car does not respond adequately or if you notice jerking movements when you press the accelerator, this could indicate that your engine is not receiving all the air it needs to perform. Since it improves airflow, replacing your air filter can improve acceleration or horsepower by up to 11%.