| One important consideration is that African Cichlids and plants typically don't mix well (there exceptions, of course). As to business, filters are as much about functionality as they are about preference. For instance, I only (except in rare cases) use undergravel filters with powerheads, but many people absolutely hate UGFs. As such, you really should consider what your needs are and what it is that you want most. Filter Guide Sponge Filter Description: A small box-shaped container that holds a sponge and sometimes a chemical purifier. It is often powered by an air stone and fits inside the aquarium. Advantages: These filters are typically inexpensive, do not take up much space, and are easy to set up. Disadvantages: Since these filters are so small, they are not practical for aquariums larger than ten gallons. Also, models that require chemical purifiers will need new activated carbon or zeolite every two weeks and the air stones that power the filters will have to be changed at least once a month. Mechanical Fast Filter Description: These filters consist of a canister that can be filled with biological medium or chemical purifiers connected to a water pump. Additionally, the canister is sometimes covered with sponge. This filter fits inside the aquarium. Advantages: Since these filters use water pumps as opposed to air stones, they do not have as many items that need to be replaced. Since a water pump is used, these filters can be used in larger aquariums than sponge filters--up to 30 gallons. As with sponge filters, mechanical fast filters are simple to install and comparatively inexpensive. Disadvantages: Because the surface area of the canister is relatively small, these filters can clog easily and the performance of the filter will diminish proportionately. Types that require chemical purifiers will need replacement purifiers every two weeks. Undergravel Filter (UGF) Description: A grid that is placed under the gravel with one or more uplift tubes that rise out of it. Air stones or powerhead water pumps are used to pull water through the grid and up through the uplift tubes. Models that use air stones often make use of carbon or zeolite cartridges that fit inside the elbow that connects the air line with the uplift tube. UGFs can be made for almost any size of aquarium. Advantages: The undergravel filter usually provides a large surface area of medium and thus does not easily clog. Also, when used with powerheads instead of air stones, the aerobic filtration potential of the filter improves dramatically and the use of chemical purifiers may not be necessary to reach your stocking goal. This cuts down on the cost of maintaining the filter as you will not need cartridges or air stones. Disadvantages: While the initial expense is not too high when powered by air stones, undergravel filters that utilize one or more powerheads can have a high start-up cost. On the other hand, air stone-powered UGFs have a high maintenance cost due to the air stones and cartridges they use. Furthermore, undergravel filters are very much biological filters and thus require a decent amount of maturation time and a good understanding of biological processes on the part of the owner. Power Filter Description: A box with an internal water pump that hangs on the outside of the aquarium and pushes the water through one or more filter inserts and often uses activated carbon. Power filters are available for most common aquarium sizes. Advantages: These filters are relatively simple in design and function. They are also very efficient due to the chemical purification and the water pump they possess. These filters are ideal for beginners because they have virtually no maturation time (with regard to chemical purification, biological maturation can take a few months) and can handle many of the errors a novice might make. Disadvantages: These filters are often both initially expensive (compared to some of the previous filters) and expensive to maintain because of the carbon inserts. Additionally, power filters may clog if the amount of water contaminants is high. Canister Filter Description: A large canister with a water pump connected to the aquarium by a system of hoses. These filters may use biological mediums like ceramic tubes and sponge, chemical purifiers such as activated carbon, or a combination of biological mediums and chemical purifiers. Only practical for medium and large aquariums (50+ gallons). Advantages: Since it is not directly connected to the aquarium, it is easy to hide and disguise. Also, models that do not require chemical purifiers can go more than a month without cleaning. Disadvantages: Canister filters can be cumbersome because of their many hoses, can be difficult to clean, are expensive, and have a comparatively small turnover (do not cyle the water as many times per hour as some of the other filters). In addition, models that use chemical purifiers will need replacement activated carbon or zeolite every couple of weeks. Trickle Filter Description: Basically a canister filter that introduces more oxygen into the system by causing the water to flow through a spillway before entering the canister. As with canister filters, these filters are not practical for small aquariums. Advantages: More efficient than canister filters, trickle filters are typically the only suitable option for very large aquariums and, due to their increased oxygen content, are especially beneficial to brackish water fish as they do not compete as much with the fish for oxygen. Disadvantages: The trickle filter is expensive and complicated. Best left to the experienced, dedicated aquarist. Diatom Filter Description: A large canister with a water pump that hangs on the outside of the aquarium. Uses a circular fiber floss or micro-fiber insert. Advantages: Rids water of contaminants quickly. Disadvantages: As this filter can clog easily, it is not practical as the primary filter. It is also expensive. Plenum Description: A grid that is placed beneath the aquarium substrate. It works by allowing a small amount of water to flow through the substrate in such a way that wastes are broken down into nitrate and a fair amount of nitrate is denitrified. As this filter has no power source of its own, it must be combined with powerful circulation pumps that provide a turnover of at least 10 cycles per hour. The plenum is essentially a device that encourages residual flow. Advantages: A very simple design that is both easy to maintain and comparatively inexpensive. Disadvantages: Since the plenum works by creating residual flow, you typically should not house too many fish in an aquarium that uses one. In addition, the plenum requires an intricate understanding of biological processes and takes a long time to mature. UV Sterilizer Description: A tube containing a UV bulb or bulbs through which aquarium water is forced. It is designed to kill pathogens by exposing them to deadly levels of ultraviolet light. Advantages: Kills a great number of water born diseases and helps the water from becoming clouded due to bacteria or other microbes. Disadvantages: As exposing the fish to specific wavelengths of UV light can kill them, UV sterilizers do not shine directly into the aquarium. This means that disease organisms can still exist in the aquarium, just not in the UV sterilizer. General Filter Guidelines Do not combine filters that operate at different levels of the aquarium as they will compete with each other. Clean filters (not with hot water or chemicals) that become clogged as soon as possible to prevent nitrogen compound build-up. Look for filters that have a high turnover rate as these are often the most efficient ones. Choosing filters that do not use chemical purifiers cuts maintenance costs but also decreases biological load adaptability. As such, if you want a comparable bioload capacity but do not want the extra expense of chemical purifiers, buy a filter that is a size or two larger than what is recommended for your aquarium and does not require chemical purifiers. Look for filters that have at least a one year warranty to avoid replacing the filter too often. Shop around and look at all your possibilities. This way, you have a better chance of finding a filter that fits both your budget and aquarium stocking goals. Purchase filters that have good quality. Such units may be expensive, but they are worth it in the long run.
Check Out the Freshwater Stocking Guide: http://board.fishchannel.com/Topic132702-5-1.aspxMOA's: How Many Fish: http://sites.google.com/site/moashowmanyfish/
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