canister/power/undergravel filters

[cherrybarbbaby]

I have a bio wheel filter for my barb and cory tanks.
This morning I was browsing on line for fish supplies and I noticed all the different
filtration systems.
It never occured to me that there were other ways to filter your tank.

I think I understand the undergravel type-I believe this came to me once in a 1.5 gal
hex betta tank.

But the canister thing I don't get at all. Is this just for larger tanks?
And can you use an undergravel filter w/a 10-20 gal?

How do you choose which is best for your tank?

 

[FloridaFishGuy]

I wouldnt recommend undergravel filters for anything. Power filters would be your best bet for smaller tanks.

 

[cherrybarbbaby]

Ok, as long as i'm okay with my BIOWheel!

The Canister type look very big and complicated!

I'll stick w/ what's easy and efficient!

 

[rvm]

Cannisters offer a much bigger surface area for the water to come into contact with the media, they also allow you to use more different types of media. For example in my cannister on my biggest tank, I have ceramic media to remove large particles followed by coarse foam, followed by filter floss to polish the water, followed by ceramic bio media for biological activity, and I still have a spare basket for carbon or other media! They also don't take up much space inside the tank (like internal power filters do) and they have a large volume of water inside them as well.
They are the best type of filter IMO, but are more expensive and like you say can be cumbersome. I have one on all 3 of my tanks from a 20g to 55g.

 

[supershaji]

I wouldnt recommend undergravel filters for anything.

why not? i thot they were one of the best types of filter systems.

 

[cherrybarbbaby]

Thanks, RVM:
It sounds like you know exactly what you want your filter to do!

Me, I've only been in the hobby for a year and I'm still a guppy- if someone asked me if I wanted to "Polish" my water, I would just stare at them

Canisters sound like they are for pos, not a rookie like me. But they, sound great...if you know what your doing

Maybe I'll buy a book on that and study up on it, I want to move up to a 55gal buy the end of the year or Jan '06 and I want to do everything right!


thanks!!!!!

 

[Matty]

UG filters usually suck all of the contaminants to the bottom and hold them there. IMO, canisters are the best filters for the price.

 

[Avaston]

I was at the LFS today and he really knew his stuff. He recommended that an undergravel filter be used with another filter as well; never alone. He did recommend the biowheel as a stand alone filtration unit though, if that is what was desired. I too am going to study up on different filtration methods.

 

[rvm]

My post wasn't meant to make them sound complicated. Simply to make you aware of how flexible they are!!! For a small tank they are unecessary, (although they can still be used!)but for a larger tank, they will be of great benefit.
Oh yeah, polishing the water simply means cleaning it really well!!!! The floss just removes any fine particles!!
Good to see you are doing research thoguh, hope it clears them up for you. I felt the same as you once and was daunted by them. Now I wouldn't use anything else!!!

 

[supershaji]

speanink a bit out of context, how does ome clean the dirt accumulated under the undergravel filter without emptying the tank?