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Choosing the Best Aquarium Filter

We have aquarium filtration advice and information here that starts at a basic level and advances to a more technical level.

The best and quickest thirty second beginner advice we can give you is to:

Check Manufacturers Specifications.
1) To find the best aquarium filter first read the specifications found on the website selling the filters, or on the boxes containing the filters and consider the size of tank the filter is rated for. Buy an aquarium filter that is rated for the size tank you have or even a bit bigger.

Consider Filter Capacity or Turnover Rate
2) A good sized filter for your aquarium should be able to filter all the water in your tank at least 4 times per hour. So if you have a 100 gallon aquarium get a filter rated for at least 400 gallons per an hour (400 GPH ).
The old saying more is better often applies quite well here. For many types of tanks, you would do well with a filter that can process all the water in your tank more than the minimum. The best aquarium filter should pump you water through its system anywhere from 4 to 10 times an hour. However, if you over do it and get a filter that is far too powerful for your tanks size you will create serious problems. Small fish will be sucked into the filter, and the water returning from the filter will cause too much turbulence that will fatigue and stress out your animals and move decorations and substrate around.

Don’t Skimp on Filter Quality
3) Also get the most expensive best quality aquarium filter you can afford, because you get what you pay for. If you are going to invest more in one item, consider investing in a good quality aquarium filter. A filter can mean the difference between a tank with healthy inhabitants and crystal-clear water, and a dirty unattractive tank with high ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels, and algae problems.
Ready to see some reviews, additional information, and filters to buy?
Then check out these links to our other aquarium filter related pages.