Type of filter	How they work	Maintenance	When would you use it
Top fitted power filters	Pump sucks water up and through the pressurised filter box.	Simple to maintain, turn off pump, remove top cover and open the box.	Normally come with the tank.
Hang On Filter	Hang off the back with cartridges polishing the water.	Easy access by removing the top of filter and replacing the cartridge.	Purchased for smaller glass tanks.
Canister Filters	Filter sits under the tank with hoses to the top, large box for filter medias.	Slightly more difficult to maintain, taps make it easier, but they are strong filters.	Ideal for bigger fish and large glass tanks.
Internal Filters	Sponge filters with power heads sucking water through.	Regular maintenance is needed but great for clearing a tank fast.	In a small tank or as a supplement filter to help clear water.
Under gravel Filter	Sits below the gravel in the tank, runs off an air pump.	Must use gravel siphons and be maintained regular.	For a cost effective setup, generally more maintenance later though.

How your aquarium filter works

The aquarium filter is a necessary part of owning an aquarium as it helps you reduce the amount of time needed to clean your fish tank.
The main purpose of having filtration is;

• To maintain a flow of water through the aquarium.
• To develop bacteria that will convert harmful waste elements to less harmful items which are later removed through partial water changes.
• Helps to remove smell and discoloration.
• Removes dirt particles floating in the water.

Your aquarium filter will have 3 stages to it. These include:

1. Mechanical filtration

In your aquarium filter, you may find wool, which acts as a mechanical filter to remove dirt. This helps keep the water clear.
Cleaning and changing this media is generally more regular, so check monthly, rinse (in aquarium water) and change as needed.

2. Chemical filtration

In your aquarium filter you will find activated charcoal, which will act as a chemical filter. It removes most chemicals and helps clear cloudy or smelly water.
Important note: Always remove this item when you are treating your fish with any medication as it removes the medicine.

3. Biological filtration

This maintains water quality and is where bacteria develop over time, slowly as waste builds up, creating an eco-system within your aquarium.
The Nitrogen cycle will help explain further. The bio-balls and bio-noodles are where the bacteria will settle.
Rules for cleaning the filter are;

• Never use tap water.
• Use aquarium water to maintain bacteria.
• A filter should always be a little dirty, remove excess dirt which may clog the media.

Filter system	Parts	Replacement
Mechanical filtration	Wool Sponge	1-2months 6-9months
Chemical filtration	Charcoal	2months
Biological filtration	Bio balls (plastic) Bio noodles	Rinse, replace if damaged 12months

Aquarium plants and most marine corals need light.

Proper aquarium lighting is essential for fish tanks containing live aquarium plants, or marine corals that are dependent on light to live.

Lights can make fish look fantastic.

Good lighting will also make the aquarium and the pet fish within look more attractive. Since pet fish are no longer exposed to natural sunlight, providing the proper spectrum and intensity is vital for their overall good health.

The amount of time you leave the aquarium light on will also lead to possible growth of algae or slime on the aquarium glass and rocks. Recommended time of 6-8 hours is dependant on whether the tank receives sunlight. The more sunlight the less you may need.

Aquarium water temperature of between 23c and 27c for most fish.

No matter what kind of aquarium fish you choose, they will have fairly specific temperature requirements. Fish can become stressed, when temperatures fluctuate too much, which can lead to illness. Most pet fish need a water temperature between 23c and 27c.

If you have one species in your aquarium, you can set the temperature specifically to reflect their needs. If, however, you have multiple types, 25c is a safe temperature.

Marine aquariums may require more attention to keep a consistent temperature, as they tend to need more light, which can warm the water, plus certain corals may be harmed if the temperature increases too much.

Good water quality means healthy aquarium fish.

The welfare of your new aquarium is dependent on its water quality. You will find that you need to purchase various chemicals and additives to help it achieve and maintain the proper balance for good water quality.

Depending on the aquarium fish that you choose, you may need special pH adjusters and buffers, or salt and trace element additives. Water conditioners, or agers are a must for removing chlorine and harmful chemicals from tap water, and test kits are necessary to ensure that your water quality begins and remains at suitable levels.

Healthy fish need a healthy diet.

Diet is an important element to ensure healthy fish, there are different options when it comes to your fish's diet, but the key thing to remember is “you can always add more, it’s very hard to remove if to much is added”.

Overfeeding is a big issue when it comes to water quality, tank maintenance and cloudy water. Remember food is added daily and this means you can alter the water chemistry quickly if feeding incorrectly.

• Feed a small portion first.
• Allow 30 seconds, see what is left.
• Feed a little bit more, if needed.
• Repeat process 3–4 times total.
• 1 minute after the last feed no food should be seen.
• The feeding process takes a few minutes.

This helps to eliminate overfeeding, which ultimately ensures better water quality and better fish health and at the same time reduces the need to do partial water changes. If your tank is less then 1 month old, fish should only be fed every second day. This helps keep the nitrogen cycle in check.

What to feed

There are many types of foods available, from live, frozen and various dry types. When talking about food Blue Planet recommends foods, for quality of water and fish health. You can either go to their website for more details on the variety of foods available, otherwise we give some additional information regarding foods here....