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A clear aquarium will require
filtration that can remove the toxic chemicals released from fish waste. Filter
has the advantage of 2-way cleaning. First it removes solid waste particles
present in the water & then clean water flows through the biological chamber where
it decomposes the toxic chemicals that are not trapped in the mechanical filtration
chamber, & these toxic components are converted into less toxic components
that can be removed with regular water changes. Biological filtration is the
most important part of filtration & insufficient biological filtration can
cause the death of many fish.

Canister filters are very
important filters that can help in saving the life of the fish in aquariums. Canister
filters are either located inside or outside aquariums. Compartment containing
foam & biological media is called a canister. Such filters can offer better
results than ordinary filters. Internal canister filters use sponges to filter
water. The sponges inside the canister filter can offer both mechanical & biological
filtration. Modern canister filters use multiple sponges for
keeping more beneficial bacteria that can help in better filtration & you
can replace 1 sponge at a time that can avoid heaps of beneficial bacteria. Canister filters also hold heaps of bio media where colonies of good bacteria develop.

Canister Filter:

Canister filters are normally
used in medium to large tanks. They can be located inside or outside aquariums.
If your canister filter is placed outside the tank, then it does not affect the
beauty of your tank. Water is forced through the media located
inside the canister filter. It helps in offering better performance by removing
waste particles from aquariums. You can customize them by altering the type
& volume of biological media which is a better choice for your fish tank.

Canister filter requires a pump
that can push water through the filter & water thus moves through a few
chambers before it is clean. Filtration media can be used for biological / chemical
/ mechanical filtration.

After water is pushed through a
series of filtration media in various chambers, clean water flows back to the
aquarium. Such filters need a water pump for drawing water into the filter. Many
models of the filter use an in-built pump, but some of the canister models need an
additional water pump that can be connected externally to the filter.

How to Build a DIY Canister Filter at Home?

Maintenance of a Canister Filter:

Canister filters have their own
requirements for maintenance which depends on the brand & model, & type
of filtration media you are using in the tank. A variety of filtration media are used
in canister filters. Such filters may have cartridges, baskets, filtration
media bags or even isolated chambers that can be used for keeping your
filtration media & it helps in providing filtration. Over time some types of
filter media need cleaning while others need replacement. It is better to
check out the type of filter media you are using in the canister filter & make
sure you follow the right steps for the maintenance of filter media.

Also it is important to clean the
tubes & the pump that draws water into the filter.

Canister filters offer best
efficiency if you follow guidelines & maintain it accordingly. A better canister
filter offers you the benefit of choosing the type of filter media that is well
suited for your aquarium by customizing the filtration media, instead of being
stuck with the company’s media cartridges. In comparison with a power filter, a canister filter needs lower maintenance, because water is forced through the
filtration media which is different from other filters in which water flows
over or around the filter media. Many canister filters use a spray bar to allow
water to flow back to the aquarium, which lowers evaporation & current.

The main chamber of the canister
filter is a cylindrical container that consists of a filtration media & an
operational pump. External Canister filter is placed outside the tank but is
connected by 2 hoses, the inlet & outlet hose, the former sucks water
from the aquarium while the latter allows water to flow back to the tank.

If you want to force water
through the filter media for efficient cleaning, then you need a pump.

Monitor your filter regularly to
make sure it is working well. A malfunctioning pump is risky for fish as well
as for aquarists.

Do not use soapy stuff for
cleaning your filter. A small ratio of soapy chemicals is risky for aquarium
water & can even cause the death of your fish. Use just hot water &
aquarium water conditioner if you want to clean stuff.

How to build a Canister Filter at Home?

Filters are expensive & they might not fit your tank exact requirements, especially in case of a large tank. Aquarists like making their own filters that can help in meeting tank requirements. If you are interested in making a canister filter at home, then check out our video below: