If you are brand new to the tropical fish hobby, then I would probably suggest not to get way in over your head right at the beginning. You'll probably end up spending a lot more than what you had planned for in your initial setup budget if you purchase the "latest and greatest" equipment. I don't think your fish are going to be able to tell what brand your pump is by the way the water feels to them, or what pet store that floating scuba-diver decoration came from. All your fish want from you is to maintain their living environment as consistently as possible.
Hang-on filters are the most common entry-level filter available. You can find it at most pet stores in various brands and sizes. The advantage to the hang-on filter is that they are very easy to maintain. There is also an integrated water pump within the filter that pumps water up and into the filter, and through the filter media, usually containing activated carbon for the chemical filtration process. Water returns through a return hatch, which hangs over the side of your tank. "It's so easy, a caveman can do it."
The only disadvantages to the hang-on power filter is that they are limited in water flow, and the size of the filter unit doesn't allow for you to customize any filter media on top of the activated carbon it comes with. For my 20 gallon breeding tank, I use a hang-on power filter which is suggested for a 30 gallon tank (which gives me more flow). I can also put a small amount of Ammo-lock or Ammo-chips into the filter media bag. This helps neutralize some of the harmful ammonia in the water.
As a beginner, a hang-on power filter is a very good choice to start if you don't have a huge budget to start with. Check out this article which goes over other types of tropical fish tank filters:
Tropical Fish Tank Filter Choices
2 comments:
Can you help me figure out why my filter isn't working? I purchased an entire setup used and the woman had disassembled everything. Trying to get it up and running before I lose the fish! It's a Whisper for a 20 gal tank. Thanks!
The first consideration you'll have when setting up your tropical fish tank is the size tank you would like to own. If you are a beginner to the world of fish tanks, the best advice to take would be to start small. Small may become a relative term to you, however, in that you'll also need to consider the size and number of fish you purchase to go into your tropical fish tank. Obviously, a tiny round bowl will not cut it if the fish you select takes up the entire space. When choosing your tropical fish tank, you'll also need to consider where it will be placed in your home in order to determine a specific size. If you have a tiny apartment, buying the largest tank will probably not be a smart choice. In a huge home, a tiny tank may never be noticed.
fish tanks
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