Salt water aquarium filter systems can seem a bit overwhelming at first. There are so many choices and some of the equipment looks like it might go on the space shuttle instead of a marine aquarium.

Choosing Your Salt Water Aquarium Filter Setup

The first part of choosing your saltwater aquarium filter is to determine the fish you are going to keep and the size of the aquarium you are going to keep them in.

This is extremely important because some fish like larger predators produce much more waste then smaller fish like clown fins. A larger tank also needs larger filtration because of the extra water volume.

Types Of Salt Water Aquarium Filter Systems

Canister-This filter is a pressurized canister that takes in water, scrubs it of dirt and debris and returns it to the aquarium. Many canister filters also allow you to use some sort of biological filter media and other medias like activated carbon to keep your tank in great shape.

There are now canister filters that can support tanks over 200 gallons and have a high gallons per hour ratting (GPH). Many filters can go about a month between cleanings and still flow well.

However their intakes and outlets of this salt water aquarium filter setup  will protrude into your tank and not look natural. Plus if they ever develop a leak the potential is there for a large flood.

Hang On Tank Filters- These are very basic filters and the function like miniature canister filters. They use much smaller pumps and have less filtration area. You should limit these to tanks no more then 40 gallons. However you can go slightly bigger if you use multiple units.

There main drawback is the filter pads get clogged fast reducing their water flow. They also are easy to see because they hang  on the tank and can detract from the look of your system

Sump Filter- The most popular salt water aquarium filter setup with advanced hobbyists is the sump system. These are often referred to as wet dry filters. Although they can be set up a variety of ways.

These filters use an overflow box to take water from the aquarium and take it to the filter below.The water is then returned by a pump. These filters almost resemble another small aquarium.

They can be filled with anything from bio balls, live rock or various filter pads. They are nice because they give you extra water capacity and give you a place to put all your other equipment like heaters and other equipment that can take away from the appearance of a tank.

For additional information on filters for your saltwater aquarium grab a copy of our Saltwater Aquarium Guide This illustrated guide will show you step by step how to properly set up and stock your aquarium. It’s crammed with tips and secrets that the pros use to create stunning marine displays! Learn more at www.saltwatermethods.com

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Filed under: Saltwater Aquariums

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