Keeping fishes happy and helping them to survive is not an easy task. Like humans, fish need a clean environment to thrive on so that they will less likely catch diseases that may be fatal to them. As a pet owner or keeper, it is important that you keep your aquarium clean. But how do you do this if you’re always on a busy schedule?
Aquariums can be cleaned manually by temporarily taking the water out and the fishes on one side. However, this may not be the case for people who live busy lives. The solution: have a powerful aquarium filter that can help keep the water clean, or at least reduce the waste and pollution that the fish emit as they swim.
There can be many dirt and debris that may not be easily picked up when you manually clean the aquarium. In addition, the water can get dirty easily if you don’t have a filter yet. Filters are essential if you have a large aquarium at home and if you have a lot of fish inside.
Most people may not like using disposable aquarium filters because they may be a bit cheaper but can add up to costs in the long run. This is why you may need the best canister filter for aquarium to help speed up the cleaning process, especially for a large-sized tank.
Our Product Reviews
We handpicked ten of the best canister filter for aquarium in the market for you:
Rated for use in 200-gallon fish tanks or less, this one would be great for medium to large aquariums. Its best benefit is that it allows you to install up to 4 filter media at once with its different trays. The spray bar is also adjustable if you want to direct it somewhere that will not disturb the fishes. In addition to that, this would be a great canister filter for goldfish due to its just-right size for both the filter and the spray bar.
The pump has a self-priming feature so there is no need to manually siphon it, which can be a hassle for some pet owners. In addition to that, if you live in a place that’s prone to humidity, causing algae and mold spores to appear more often, you can use the 9-watt UV sterilizer to kill off such contaminants that can make your water murky and polluted.
It is also a good canister filter for planted tank due to its variation in filter media choices, such as ceramic rings, activated carbon, bio-balls, and the like. Its built-in pump has a max flow rate of 525 GPH, which can be sufficient for 200-gallon tank sizes.
Things We Liked
- Runs quietly
- Not very expensive
- Durable motor
- 4 media trays available
- UV sterilizer for algae spores
Things We Didn’t Like
- Needs an inlet cover to avoid sucking small fish
With a flow rate of 264 GPH, this one is intended for smaller aquariums with a tank size or capacity of 30 to 75 gallons. If you are new to canister filters, this may be a starter kit for you, since it is not too expensive and can be quite easy to install. Its 3/4-inch hose size that can reach up to 4.6 feet is good for most fish tank setups in terms of installation.
If you need to aim the spray bars differently, you can do so by using its 360-swivel components to make sure that the water flow doesn’t get disturbed inside the aquarium. There is also an O-ring on the filter cap to make sure it is locked in place so that the filtered dirt and debris don’t go leaking out of the unit.
When you order this filter, it also comes with free filter media as well as a UV lamp, much like the 4-stage unit that we mentioned above. If you are having trouble with the plastic clamps, you can easily replace them with any makeshift or store-bought clamp.
Things We Liked
- 3 media trays available
- Not very expensive
- Self-priming pump
- O-ring prevents leaks
Things We Didn’t Like
- May not work well with 20-gallon tanks
- Not as quiet as the 4-stage unit
Do you want a canister filter for turtles? This one can do the trick, especially if you have a 55-gallon tank. This is because filters need to be thrice as powerful in rating as its actual tank placement if you want to use it for turtles. Rated with a pumping capacity of 700 gallons per hour, this one is easy and a no-brainer to beginners at canister filters with its self-starting and smart pump feature.
The tall design with a size of 16.5 inches is not very intrusive and can fit under most tanks. You also get free filter media when you purchase this kit. Its smart pump also allows you to make quick water changes without having to sweat – just use the hose output and it will do the rest.
It also has an automatic evacuation of trapped air that releases every 12 hours so that you don’t have to manually release it, unlike with other canister filters.
Things We Liked
- Self-priming feature
- Easy hose connections
- The spray bar is very flexible
- Has a water change port
Things We Didn’t Like
- Some filter media may not fit well due to limited space
- The hose clamps may not work on thick tanks
If you are looking for a canister filter for saltwater, this may be a good choice for you. In fact, it is good for both freshwater and saltwater tanks with a capacity of up to 150 gallons. With a flow rate of 315 GPH, this one also allows you to pick different filter media (included in the kit) to adjust accordingly depending on your intended filter needs for your aquarium.
The kit also comes with all hardware needed, such as the hose and plumbing parts. Its water return method has two configurations: spray bar or directional spout, so that you can set up the filter depending on the fishes that you have in your tank so that they don’t get disturbed with too much water flow or current.
Setup time is roughly about 30 minutes so it is less of a hassle. You can also prime it easily with its push-button mechanism – great for those who are beginners on canister filters. The filter media included are carbon, coarse sponge, and floss pads.
Things We Liked
- Adjustable flow control valves
- Multi-stage filter
- Easy to install
- Quick push-button primer
- Works for both saltwater and freshwater tanks
Things We Didn’t Like
- Not ideal for tanks with low height
This canister filter for freshwater, as well as for marine aquariums, can work well for up to 400-gallon tanks, making it ideal for large aquariums and fish. It has a head height of 10.8 feet so it may be ideal for taller tanks in its design. Using its smart pump technology, you don’t have to work hard in maintaining the filter media.
You also don’t have to worry about forgetting to clean the components – it has its own maintenance reminder. It also has an automatic release function for trapped air every 12 hours to minimize maintenance for you. With a height of 21 inches, up to 5.9 liters of filter media can be put inside the filter basket.
Things We Liked
- Optimized pre-filter foam insert
- Multi-stage filter
- Instant release basket handles
- Fits well on most aquariums
- Durable and powerful motor
Things We Didn’t Like
- May not be ideal for small fish due to pressure
- Can be quite expensive
Great for small aquariums such as those with a 10-gallon capacity (up to 30 gallons), this one can be used for both freshwater and marine aquariums and is easy to set up with its hose-connecting device. Its spray bar is also adjustable while the priming system is also a breeze to do.
It has a flow rate of 160 gallons per hour so it may fit most tanks. Being a multi-stage filter, you can also choose the order of the filter sponge, carbon, and bio-ceramic filters included when you install the filter. The profile of this canister filter is not very intrusive for most aquariums.
Things We Liked
- Easy priming
- Adjustable flow control
- Minimized noise due to anti-vibration bushings
- Media filter included
- Not very expensive
Things We Didn’t Like
- The canister lid can be hard to open sometimes
Preloaded with different filters, it accepts up to 4 filter media at once on its multi-stage filtration. It is okay for tanks up to 155 gallons in capacity and comes with various connections to adjust to your preferred setup for your aquarium.
Since it is easy to assemble, it will be fine for those who are new to installing aquariums or let alone canister filters. You can also order additional parts from the manufacturer or get replacement parts from them due to its great customer service.
Things We Liked
- Easy to assemble
- Good customer service
- Multi-stage filtration fits 4 filter media
- Connections and outputs for manual water filter returns
Things We Didn’t Like
- Some spray diffusers may arrive broken (just call their customer service for this one)
- No self-priming feature
Yet another filter with a UV stabilizer to kill off bad bacteria and algae spores, this one works well for aquariums up to 150 gallons in tank size. It already comes with filter media to fit the 4 media baskets in the unit and its self-priming pump allows you to easily set it up on first use.
Because of the high power rating of 55 watts, its motor is great for medium to larger tanks that need more filtering power. Since it is a sealed unit, even when there is a power outage, it will not leak as much (make sure you apply petroleum jelly). Also, if you are looking for a canister filter with a lot of media capacity, this may be for you.
Things We Liked
- 4 media baskets available
- Pre-loaded with filter media
- Has a UV sterilizer
- Self-priming feature
- Can be used on both freshwater and saltwater aquariums
Things We Didn’t Like
- Intake and discharge plumbing could be better
With its 4-stage filtration, this one can be used for aquariums up to 90 gallons in size. The unit is lightweight, easy to install, and not very intrusive when you place it under your aquarium. Since it doesn’t make a lot of noise, you’ll find yourself relaxed with the fishes. The unit is backed by a 3-year warranty.
Things We Liked
- 4 media trays available
- Self-priming feature
- Compact design fits most aquariums
- Runs quietly
- Good for both saltwater and marine aquariums
Things We Didn’t Like
If you are looking for a small unit, this may be an ideal canister filter for 20-gallon tank, since it is rated for up to 55 gallons of fish tank capacity. It also has the option for traditional water return methods due to its included connections and outputs. It is backed by a 1-year warranty.
Things We Liked
- Pre-loaded with filter media
- Multi-stage filtration
- Easy to install and take apart
Things We Didn’t Like
- The filter basket is smaller than those from other units
Frequently Asked Questions
After reading a canister filter review, you may start to wonder, how do I use this product? What are its benefits? We answer them below.
How do I pick the best canister filter for an aquarium?
As a pet owner or keeper, you should choose the appropriate canister filter that best fits your aquarium, or else you’ll probably waste money in something that might not work well for it. Here are some of our criteria for choosing the ideal canister filter for your aquarium:
1. What type of aquarium do you have?
A higher flow rate for an aquarium filter may be advisable if you have a large aquarium at home (or in your pet shop). This helps the filter and the motor to save a lot of time in filtering the water in your aquarium. Flow rates differ between brands and models, so you should make note of this if you want a more powerful filter.
Depending on the type of aquarium you have, you can pick a specific canister filter that’s fit for the job. For instance, a canister filter for marine aquarium can work differently from regular filters.
2. How do you install it?
Different canister filters can be installed differently. For instance, there are tall filters and there are ones you can easily hide in one of the cabinets. Tall filters are okay if you have some space around your aquarium, but you can also choose a smaller one to hide it discreetly from sight. These filters are usually easy to install if you look it up in the user’s manual – just make sure it’s not obtrusive to anything.
3. What about the motor?
A quiet motor not only helps fishes relax but it also helps other people around you to relax as well with less noise. On the contrary, your motor should also be powerful enough and durable so that it will be up for the challenge and not break easily. Pick a filter motor that does the job well but doesn’t get too noisy (and doesn’t heat up easily as well).
4. How big is your aquarium?
Different aquarium canister filters are rated according to the capacity of your aquarium. For instance, the smaller ones are for 10 gallons while big ones are rated 55 gallons or more. If you pick a canister filter that is too weak for your large aquarium, it can suffer and eventually malfunction. On the other hand, a higher-rated aquarium filter for a small tank may be dangerous if you have small fish because of its intense power.
5. Is it a well-known brand?
There are certain times that well-known brands of a product can make a difference over ones that are cheaply priced. This is because they have been tried and tested by many fish keepers for years. You may ask a friend or your local shop on which brand is more popular for canister filters for aquariums.
6. What is your budget?
We all know that pet keeping requires some serious budget and not just time and dedication. Don’t go for filters that are too expensive when you are still starting out – just buy one with the right power that you actually need for your aquarium to keep it clean.
7. How do you maintain the canister filter?
Ask the manufacturer if there are canister filter media available for purchase or if they are included in the product kit. You should also ask how much the canister filter media costs. The installation of the media should be easy, quick, and hassle-free.
8. How does the spray bar work?
The spray bar is that part of the filter that sprays back clean and filtered water onto your fish tank. One important thing to know about the spray bar is that it should have the right pressure for your tank. Higher pressure is okay for larger tanks, but for smaller tanks and small fishes, it may be a problem. You should choose a spray bar that is not going to be disturbing to the fish or anything else in the aquarium.
What are the benefits of a canister filter for an aquarium?
Some people may not like a canister filter because of its maintenance. But what exactly are the benefits to having this kind of filter as opposed to disposable aquarium filters? Here are some of them:
1. They’re good for large tanks.
If you are maintaining a large aquarium, it is important to have a canister filter to help lessen the water pollution caused by its inhabitants inside.
2. They can reduce nitrates and ammonia.
The filter media of canister filters are said to reduce nitrate levels, which can help your fish to stay healthier. Many pet experts say that too many nitrates can be poisonous to fish as it is to humans.
3. It allows you to choose your preferred filter media.
Unlike disposable filters, a canister filter can help you to personalize the type of filter media that you can use for your aquarium. After all, different aquariums have different needs depending on their inhabitants. For instance, there can be a canister filter for goldfish, a canister filter for saltwater, for freshwater, and much more. You can also reorder the filter media to suit the fish (or turtle) environment.
4. Tanks near the wall work well with a canister filter.
Because of its design, the canister filter works best for tanks that are set near the wall of your room, as compared to other filter types.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, our clear winner would be the Polar Aurora 4-Stage External Canister Filter as the best canister filter for aquarium due to its quiet operation, UV sterilizer, 4-stage filtration and filter media, durable motor, and inexpensive price. While its power may be enough to suck small fish, you can just remedy this by putting a cover on the inlet, which is likely the case on most powerful canister filters, anyway.
Other filters are also worthy, but each of them is designed for specific purposes. For instance, some are best for saltwater while some are ideal for smaller tanks. Remember to choose depending on your tank size and whatever criteria we mentioned above in our FAQ section before you buy a canister filter for your aquarium!
Keeping an aquarium at home is more than just taking care of your fish. After all, your fish need to live in a safe environment that will make them feel like they are at home under the sea. For that, you may want to look for the best plants for freshwater aquarium.
There are many benefits to having live plants on aquariums (not just plastic plants). They help add more oxygen to the water for fish to breathe better and they also help in cleaning the water from various contaminants, which can lessen the work of your aquarium filter.
Choosing an ideal plant (or plant bundle) for your freshwater aquarium can be tricky, and so we’ve prepared this comprehensive guide for you!
Our Product Reviews
If you are looking for plants for freshwater aquarium review, we’ve got you covered with our picks below:
If you are looking for floating plants for your aquarium, this could be a good choice, especially if you are new to setting up a freshwater aquarium. Floating plants make an aquarium look more realistic and fish-friendly. This set contains 12 each of dwarf water lettuce, Amazon frogbit, and water spangles.
The manufacturer/supplier is quite friendly in terms of shipping – they cancel your order if the temperature in your area or where the plants will go through will be above 85 or below 35 degrees for 1 week. This is to avoid the plants unexpectedly dying while on delivery.
Things We Liked
- Smart shipping to improve survival rate upon delivery
- Great for beginners
- No substrate is required
- No CO2 is required
Things We Didn’t Like
- May be prone to snail infestation
This may be considered one of the best freshwater aquarium plants for goldfish because
of its just-right rating of 10 gallons and above, which would not smother your goldfish or any similar species of fish. If you are new to live aquarium plants, this may also be a good choice due to its easy care instructions. It has sufficient size for most small fish, such as goldfish, as well as other invertebrates.
Included in the plant bundle are Java Fern, Kleiner Sword, Lobelia Cardinalis, Hornwort, Anubias, and Hygrophila. Aside from the Hornwort, all of the plants don’t need to be pruned as much, making them easy to care for.
Things We Liked
- No pruning needed for most of the plants
- Works well for goldfish and other small fish
- Ships pest-free
- Works on most small to medium-sized fish tanks
Things We Didn’t Like
- No directions for plant care
As a bundle of live aquarium plants, they are ideal for 20 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in terms of temperature survivability. Including 10 plant species, most of them span 6 to 12 inches while the height of the Lobelia Cardinalis is 3 inches. This makes them fit well on most fish tanks from 10 gallons and above.
Most of the plants are colorful and big enough for creating private spaces for small fish as well. Live plants included in this pack, other than the Lobelia Cardinalis, include the Hygrophila Araguaya, Anubias Barteri, Marble Queen, Altlandsberg Sword, Hygrophila Pinnatifida, Telanthera, Java Fern, Vallisneria, and Red Melon Sword.
Things We Liked
- Plant set is quite colorful
- Includes detailed care instructions for plants
- High survivability with proper care
- Good height for most fish tanks
Things We Didn’t Like
- Might be prone to some snails
Also ideal for most fish tanks at 10 gallons and above, the plants vary in height and in color so they can add more depth and design to your tank and for your fish environment. They all survive well on temperatures from 20 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. They also work well with tanks that don’t use a heater.
Included in the package are Moneywort, Hornwort, Red Flame Sword, Amazon Sword, Red Ludwigia, Cryptocoryne Wendtii Bronze, Anacharis, Vallisneria, Cambomba, and Rotala Indica. Each of them has multiple stems that you can strategically plant on your aquarium as you wish.
Things We Liked
- Great height distribution of plants
- Less likelihood of snails
- Smartly packaged and shipped in a sealed polybag
- Works well with most pleco species
Things We Didn’t Like
- Some plants may not arrive as vibrant as in the picture
For those who are beginners to set up an aquarium, this may be a choice for you. It contains most plants that are easy to maintain, and there are also a lot of stemmed plants to choose from. The supplier even offers a 3-day live guarantee so that if ever your plants die when it arrives, they’ll send a replacement right away.
Among the plants included in the bundle are Micro Swords, Echinodorus Parviflorus, bundles of Elodea Densa, Cryptocoryne Wendtii Brown, Java Fern, and Anubias barteri broad Leaf.
Things We Liked
- 3-day live guarantee from the manufacturer
- Ideal for beginners
- Compatible with most Betta tanks
- Also works well for turtle tanks
Things We Didn’t Like
- Plants may be a bit too small
For those who want a live aquarium plant that is already potted, this may be a choice for you. It fits well in most aquarium tanks due to its size and shape – with a height of only 14 inches tall, making it perfect for most aquarium tanks as a background or middle plant.
When the plant arrives, it is about 4 to 6 inches but you can grow it to the aforementioned height of 14 inches depending on its environment and care. It is also a USDA-approved potted plant so it will be safe for aquariums. All you need to do is to tie it up to any driftwood or ornament.
Things We Liked
- The quality-designed pot protects the roots during shipping
- Just the right height for most fish tanks
- Easy to attach on either aquarium rocks or driftwood
- Packaged with insulation to protect the plant
Things We Didn’t Like
- Planting instructions may be a bit difficult for beginners
If you want to add some layer of seagrass onto your aquarium, this may be a nice choice for you. Taxiphyllum sp., also known as Flame Moss, is a great aquarium plant to consider, and this one comes in a 3 x 3-inch sized bundle tied to a mesh made of stainless steel for it to be corrosion-free.
The good thing about this live plant is that it’s not only for fish – it can also work well for shrimp.
Things We Liked
- Shipped in a double ziploc bagged package for protection
- Easy to put onto most fish tanks
- Ideal for both fish and shrimp tanks
- The green color is thick, very natural and healthy-looking
Things We Didn’t Like
- May be prone to snails and snail eggs
- Can be slow to grow
Yet another moss bundle, this one may be a great carpet plant for your aquarium aside from the Flame Moss we mentioned earlier. It arrives in a 2.5-inch cup and can be used for both fish and shrimp tanks, or when you’re going for some serious aquascaping.
The moss bundle can be divided into 8 parts or more and with the use of tweezers (so that the plants don’t get destroyed in the process), they can be planted onto any substrate.
Things We Liked
- Safe for both fish and shrimp tanks
- Has a healthy green color and dense look
- Well-packaged shipping method
- Can be split into smaller bunches for aquascaping
Things We Didn’t Like
- The gel from the packaging can be hard to remove
If you just want a Red Flame Sword plant instead of a live plant bundle for your aquarium, this may be a choice for you. It survives well on temperatures from 20 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit and has a vibrant reddish color.
You can use this plant for both medium and large aquariums due to its height and color. It arrives with a 4 to 6-inch height and only requires a moderate light level of 5,000 to 7,000K for its lighting in the aquarium.
Things We Liked
- Ideal for aquarium owners who only want the Red Flame Sword plant
- Can be ideal for medium to large aquariums
- Ideal for Betta tanks
- Easy to keep for beginners
- Has a vibrant red color
Things We Didn’t Like
- Redness may vary depending on the batch that arrives
If you only want the Amazon Sword Paniculatus, also known as the Echinodorus Bleheri, this is probably for you. It is USDA-approved in its packaging and has been thoroughly inspected before it’s packaged to your doorstep. The Amazon Sword is best placed as a background plant in the rear section of your aquarium.
Great for beginners, this plant can possibly grow up to 10 inches in height or more, making it ideal for medium-sized tanks.
Things We Liked
- Ideal for beginners
- Fits well for medium and large tanks
- Less prone to snails
- Well-packaged shipping method
Things We Didn’t Like
- May not fit well for small fish tanks
Things to Consider Before You Buy
In our FAQ section, we’ll give you some pointers on how you can choose the best live plants for freshwater aquarium.
How do you choose the best plants for a freshwater aquarium?
Aquariums come in different sizes and plants also require different ways of caring. There are also plants that may not go well with certain fish (or shrimp) so be careful. For you to know how to pick the best plants for your aquarium, you should consider the following:
1. What aquarium plants are you looking for?
Generally, there are 3 types of aquarium plants: foreground, mid, and background plants:
- Foreground ones are usually slow to grow and are quite short. They allow more space for your fish or aquatic animal to be seen by viewers from the outside of the tank. An example of this would be a carpet plant, such as thick moss.
- Mid plants, also known as mid-ground plants, are usually placed on the side. They can be green and some are also colorful. They are usually taller than the foreground plants.
- Background plants are the tallest of them all, usually almost as tall as your tank size. They create the impression of a natural underwater backdrop so you should consider tall plants if you have a large fish or aquatic tank at home.
2. Do you have a substrate or a planted tank?
Most aquarium plants require a substrate while others are planted tanks and may require a different set of plants. Some plants don’t do well on the substrate while others actually don’t require the substrate to be planted. Others may need to be tied to driftwood or ornament rocks in order to set them up in your aquarium.
3. How is your lighting setup?
The lighting in your aquarium can sometimes be crucial in terms of plant growth. Some fish keepers who are beginners can get frustrated if their plants are not growing well. You can ask the manufacturer the ideal lighting temperature for the said plant so that it will grow well underwater.
4. Are you having fish, shrimp, or any other aquatic animal?
There are specific plants that are okay for both fish and shrimp, while there are also those that are not applicable for shrimp tanks, so you should ask the manufacturer for this.
5. Is it prone to snail infestation?
The usual problem of ordering plants online is the infestation of snails. Be careful and always read the instructions for plant care to avoid getting them. Or, you can read reviews online and find out which plants are less prone to having snails with them.
6. How is the shipping/packaging method?
Plants that are ordered online need to be shipped smartly or else they will die upon arrival. You should consider picking a plant supplier with guarantees when the plant dies or has more positive feedback in terms of plant shipping and packaging methods.
What are the benefits of plants for a freshwater aquarium?
There are a lot of benefits of buying and decorating live plants onto your aquarium, such as the following:
- Help your fish breathe better. Because plants easily convert carbon dioxide into oxygen underwater, your fish will thank you since they will get more breathability.
- Keep your small fish safe. Some fish can be prone to attacks from bigger fish. You can keep the bullying to a minimum by providing them with more privacy using the live plants that are on the aquarium.
- Achieve a more natural-looking environment. Like most animals, fish need a more natural environment for them to stay happy. If they feel like they are in an unnatural place, they may not feel good. By planting live plants in your aquarium, you are replicating their underwater home to make them feel less anxious.
- Lessens tank pollution. Because your tank is filled with more oxygen, it will move water easily for your tank filter so that it will get murky less often. This will also help your tank filter to last longer.
- A natural way of removing nitrates. Because underwater plants help to remove nitrates and other contaminants in water, it will also act as a secondary filter, albeit a smaller and slower one, but will surely help your water to be a cleaner place for your fish to thrive on.
- Improves the design of your aquarium. Keeping fish in an aquarium (or other aquatic animals, for that matter) is not always just about keeping them. Sometimes, making them look impressive for guests is also kind of a good thing. By adding more colorful plants there, your aquarium will be the awe of your family members and other people who look at your fish, as compared to an empty aquarium.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, our winner for the best plants for freshwater aquarium would be the Mainam 30+ Stems Package Live Aquarium Plants because of the 3-day live guarantee from the manufacturer, beginner-friendly setup, and inclusion of most easy-care aquarium plants. Although they can be a bit small for some, they may be your best choice if you just want to order plants online for your aquarium and are afraid of them dying upon shipping.
The other plants are also okay, but most of them have complaints about snail infestations. The Mainam Live Aquarium Plants don’t really have a lot of issues about that, as stated by most reviewers, so they will probably a nice set if you are totally new to aquarium plants.
For many people, it may be hard to grow live plants in their freshwater aquarium. They don’t know how to do this right. It’s important to provide your live plants with plenty of light as well as space. At the same time, make sure you provide them adequate nutrients to thrive. Otherwise, you may have to face experiencing problems when keeping your plants alive. In this post, we will provide you an overview of some of the most common problems with aquarium plants. Also, we share to you tips for remedying them.
Plant Leaves Turning Yellow
Most of the live aquarium has green color although there are a variety of colors. Once they start to turn yellow, the condition in your tank may get a problem. As you know, plants need light as an energy source for the photosynthetic. If you keep them without adequate lighting, they can’t thrive. Moreover, they also can begin turning yellow. If your aquarium plants don’t get enough nutrients to facilitate healthy growth, this can also make them turning yellow. If you want to keep more than one or two live plants in the fish tank, it’s essential to definitely consider using fertilizer under your substrate. By this way, you can provide your plants with nutrients they need. If you want, you can also use root fertilizer plants in order to stimulate healthy growth. We recommend you to use planted tanks is Eco-Complete. This is one of the most common substrates. It contains live beneficial bacteria that are great for turning fish waste into usable food for plants.
Problems with Growth Rate
For growth rate, your plants can be growing too slowly or too quickly. However, the most common problem is slow growth rate because of a lack of nutrients, adequate lighting, or carbon dioxide (CO2). So, you need to determine the exact issue in these three factors. In fact, your lighting system needs to offer about 3 to 5 watts per gallon of full-spectrum light. In addition, consider whether there is a layer of fertilizer in place under your aquarium substrate. Also, you have to know the CO2 level in your tank. It may be very easy to install extra lighting, but it’s not easy to increase the CO2level in your tank. Indeed, it can be related to the use of a CO2 injector
For aquarium plants that are growing too quickly, they can limit your fish free-swimming space. In order to control the growth of your aquarium plants, you need to trim them back once in a while. Sometimes, you even have to replace fast-growing species with other species that grow slowly. Also, it’s essential to check your tank setup. This step purposes to know if your lighting is more intense than necessary or not.
Brown or Black Leaves
Once your plants begin to turn brown or black, it may be the result of excess phosphate levels in the tank. In order to handle it, you need to perform a large water change. This can help to improve water quality in your tank. Keep in mind it’s important to change water weekly in order to prevent the problem from happening again. This also is essential for controlling your phosphate levels.
Holes in the Leaves
If you see there are small holes in the leaves and end up with the total disintegration of the plant, you may have to solve a case of Crypt rot. It can be the result of the quick change of water parameters in the tank. These plants cannot be able to do well with sudden changes in lighting, temperature, and water chemistry. In order to encourage this, you need to change the water in the tank regularly. This helps to maintain high water quality in your tank. In addition, it’s important to keep the water parameters. Then, your plants can grow back eventually. You also should vacuum your gravel in order to remove excess wastes.
Brittle Leaves
If your plants have a sign of beginning to yellow and turning brittle, the reason may be an iron deficiency. It also is caused by a potassium deficiency. Even, a too high PH level can also lead to this issue. To deal with this problem, it’s best to use an iron-rich fertilizer to fertilizing your substrate. At the same time, reduce the carbonate hardness of the water in your tank.
Growth Stoppage
If your plants stop growing and end up with a death, it may because of the too low water temperature in your tank. The only way to deal with this problem is to replace your heater. Also, you can add another one to suit the size of your tank.
Nutritional and trace element imbalances
Carbon Dioxide Deficiency
If your plants are lack of carbon dioxide, they may grow more slowly than other plants that are provided with CO2. In order to remedy this problem, you need to fertilize with CO2 regularly. Besides, you need to also limit the amount of aeration in your tank.
Manganese deficiency
Your plants begin to turn yellow while the Veins stay Green because of the unbalanced Iron Fertilization. In order to remedy this issue, it’s essential to use a fertilizer with all compounds needed by plants.
Iron Deficiency
Your plants fall off or rot away after turning yellow. The cause of this problem is a lack of Potassium. So, you should use of an Iron rich fertilizer compound regularly. Sometimes, you also need to consider reducing the Carbonate hardness of the water.
Incorrect care
Problems in the substrate
For this problem, you can notice gas bubbles on the surface anytime because of the disturbed substrate. As a result, the plants grow slowly. The cause may be too fine bottom material. To remedy this problem, consider adding some heavier grade material. Also, you should add a substrate fertilizer like Laterite.
Wrong water temperature
Your plants can stop to grow because of the too cold water temperature. That the aquarium heater is broken may be a cause of this problem. So, it’s time to buy a new aquarium heater that suits the size of your tank.
Insufficient light
Your plants will become weak and spindly. There are only a few leaves with long spaces between them. It’s the result of not using enough wattage for your aquarium. So, consider adding more lighting. If necessary, you replace your tubes. It’s best to shop for the right full spectrum bulbs instead of the so-called plant bulbs.
For many people, it’s hard to maintain the right water temperature in your aquarium. Thus, it’s essential to measure its temperature properly. In order to track and adjust your tank’s temperature, you need a good thermometer. In this post, we will give you essential information for choosing the best aquarium thermometers. Also, we’ll share to you the best options on the market today.
Things to Consider When Choosing an Aquarium Thermometer
Thermometer types
They are available in many different types. You need to determine which thermometers do best for your aquarium. There are 3 main types of thermometers.
- Stick on LCD Thermometer: They are commonly used in freshwater aquariums.
- Floating/standing thermometer: These thermometers are common thermometers inside the aquarium. They offer users a direct measurement of water temperature.
- Digital thermometer: this type comes with a probe placed in the tank. These products operate on batteries. Some of them can be plugged into the wall.
Easy to Use and Install
You need to purchase an aquarium thermometer that’s easy to set up. You have to place it in your tank. But, some electronic thermometers require a few extra steps.
Accuracy and Range
The most important things you concern is the accuracy. The product you choose needs to be accurate to within +/- degree Celsius. One of the important things is the range of temperature on the thermometers. It’s best to choose a range from 50-104 degree F.
Durability
Most of the thermometers are inexpensive. However, you should choose ones that can last and stay accurate. So, seek for ones that are made with long-lasting durable materials. When choosing a classic mercury thermometer, look for ones that don’t tend to crack or break. For electronic thermometers, look for ones with a probe attached to an LCD display.
Temperature Readability
You should prioritize to choose products that are easy to read for checking the temperature quickly. We recommend you to choose thermometers with LCD temperature display as well as a probe. In addition, you can consider buying mercury or color changing crystal thermometers. They can be able to work well.
Versatility
Once you are choosing an aquarium thermometer, you should consider ones that offer the performance for all types of tanks. If you look for a thermometer for a small tank, you need ones that offer the best performance in various tanks.
The Benefits of an Aquarium Thermometer
The fact is that most fish require a specific water temperature so that they can stay alive as well as avoid diseases. That’s why you need to monitor the temperature in your tank. In fact, the temperature is not always 100% accurate. A thermometer will offer you a more accurate readout. Thanks to a thermometer, you can know when you need to heat or cool down the water for your inhabitant’s needs.
Best Aquarium Thermometers
If you are looking for a reliable and durable thermometer, let’s take a look at the following list.
Zacro LCD Digital Aquarium Thermometer
This thermometer is easy to read because of its large LCD display. It offers a suction cup, so you can easily monitor. This product is a good choice for those who are looking for an accurate readout. It comes with a temperature range from -50 to 70 degree C. In addition, this product is powered by one LR44 battery. Plus, it’s easy to replace and set up.
RISEPRO Digital Water Thermometer
This is also a great thermometer. It has an LCD display. So, you can easily read at a glance. Besides, the thermometer offers a submergible sensor probe for accurate temperature. It allows you to switch between degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit. Its temperature range is from -50 to 70 degrees Celsius. Moreover, it offers 2 suctions cups for a stronger hold. Plus, it’s easy to set up. You only need to do this in minutes.
HDE Digital Aquarium Thermometer
This unit also gives you a nice large LCD display with a probe. It’s easy to read and monitor the temperature in your tank. It has a wide temperature range from -50 to 70 degrees Celsius. It’s easy to switch from C to F. However, this product is not the most durable.
American Thermal Aquarium Thermometer
This product is a simple no fuss thermometer. It comes with no fancy LCD displays. It has sensitive color changing liquid crystals. They immediately show your tank’s temperature. In fact, it’s easy to read. Also, this thermometer is very easy to install. It allows you to remove as well as reposition without losing strength. This is an ideal choice for a small tank. However, it’s less accurate than the digital thermometers. And, it’s not perfect to use it for large tanks because it can be less accurate.
LCR Hallcrest A-1005 Liquid Crystal Aquarium Thermometer
This is a good choice for those who want a simple and basic thermometer. It has an easy tick peel and sticks design. Also, it has color changing liquid crystals. It’s easy to read thanks to the numerical display. It allows you to remove and reposition it. You should consider buying this product for small tanks. Furthermore, you won’t worry about any problems with algae list item. However, it’s not suitable to use on large tanks, since it can be less accurate.
CNZ Digital LCD Thermometer for Aquarium
It helps to maintain a stable temperature for your fish. This product doesn’t cost much. It allows you to monitor the temperature levels in your aquarium. This is a great choice for any tank. It’s easy to read. You can read it both in Celsius and Fahrenheit. It’s a durable product for a long-lasting performance. It has a replaceable battery. It’s made of high-quality materials. However, we can’t be sure about the durability of the screen.
KollerCraft TOM Temp Alert Digital Thermometer
If you are looking for a thermometer you can use in both freshwater and saltwater, you should consider buying the KolleCraft TOM Temp Alert Digital Thermometer. It offers a temperature range from 75-82 degrees F. It has suction cups, so you can stick it on the outside of the tank. In addition, it comes with a long 3-foot cord, so you easily place it. It provides you with accurate readings. Especially, the product comes with audible and LED notifications. It’s one of the most durable thermometers on the market today.
CoZroom LCD Digital Aquarium Thermometer
With this product, you can keep your fish in their best state. It features a clear LCD display, so you can read with ease. This thermometer is a compact and small product. Also, it’s easy to install. All you need to do is just attaching the display outside the tank. It’s made from a sturdy plastic material. So, it can last longer. Its temperature range is from -50 to 70 degrees. It can be able to work great in different environments. But, this option is not good for precision.
TOOGOO Digital LCD Fish Aquarium Thermometer
This is another great choice you can choose for your aquarium. It’s easy to use. It offers a wide temperature range from -50 to +70 degrees Celsius. It comes with a long sensor cable. So it’s not essential to have the device directly beside your tank. It offers an included battery. It has an LCD screen for reading with ease. However, there are some complaints about the quality.
Fluval Nano Thermometer
The fact is that most fish will love to be in temperature ranging below 76 degrees. So, getting the right thermometer is essential to keep your fish stay in the proper environment. This brand is one of the affordable units on the market today. This product is a slim and compact product. It offers an accurate result. It has a temperature range from 35 to 125 degrees F. It’s easy to read thanks to well-marked temperature markings. It also comes with suction cups, so you can easily install it. If you are looking got an affordable price thermometer, you should consider it.
Leegoal Digital Aquarium Terrarium Thermometer
This is the next thermometer you can choose for your aquarium. It’s designed with an external thermistor. It comes with a simple user interface. Therefore, you needn’t worry about any problems. It has an easy to read LCD display. So, you can easily read the temperature. In addition, it comes with a suction cup for placing it on a smooth surface. You only need to submerge the thermistor inside your fish tank. It allows you to switch from Celsius to Fahrenheit.
Marina Floating Thermometer with Suction Cup
If you are looking for a reliable and high-quality thermometer, consider choosing the Marina Floating Thermometer. It promises to give you the accurate temperature reading. You can easily read it in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. It comes with a suction up for people who want to attach it to the walls. There is no LCD display. Instead, it has a time-tested method to measure the temperature. This brand is considered to be one of the most accurate thermometers available on the market today. Plus, it comes with safety zone indicators that allow you to determine when the water is too hot or too cold for your fish.
Final Words
For every aquarium owner, it’s essential to get an aquarium thermometer. It helps to ensure the temperature in your tank. Also, you can adjust the temperature to suit your fish. Consult these above options. They’ve been tested for accuracy as well as durability. They promise to give you very accurate temperature readings.
According to the research, it’s essential to add live plants to your aquarium because of many reasons. There’s no doubt, they play an important role in creating a natural or close to the natural environment for your fish. They provide smaller fish hiding places to avoid larger or aggressive tank mates. In addition, these plants can be able to create essential surfaces for the deposit as well as fertilization of eggs. Now, let’s take a look at this post to learn how to put live plants in your new aquarium.
How to add live plants for beginners
Which plants you should choose
For this question, you need to ask at your local reputable dealer. If you choose the proper live plants, you needn’t add additional CO2 to the water. Instead, you will have a great looking tank. It’s best to examine the plants in the pet store first. Avoid picking up old looking plants with rotting sections or yellow. It’s better to choose healthy green sturdy leaves. We recommend you to look for some great beginner aquarium plants such as amazon sword plant, java fern, and anacharis.
Add substrate and gravel
First, you need to place your tank in the right place. Then, choose a planted tank substrate. In fact, most aquarium plants need this. Just allow the plant growth substrate to be half-an-inch thick across the bottom of the tank. It’s essential to use plant growth substrate because they can absorb nutrients from the water so that your plant’s roots can grow for a long time. In addition, don’t forget to add 1.5 inch of aquarium gravel that helps to hold the plants in place for a good look. It’s best to use a medium or fine gravel. Otherwise, uneaten food to slip can make the water dirtier.
Add some water
You should add 4 inches high water line. It’s essential to make everything easier to keep the plants sturdy. However, avoid disturbing the gravel and substrate. Therefore, consider a lid for a Tupperware to combat this. You can break the water ‘s power when putting this flat onto the gravel. It can also help to reduce the disturbance of the gravel and substrate.
Add your ornaments
The next step you need to do is adding the features of the tank. This will help to plant around them. Also, you can plan the final design.
Prepare the plants
In fact, you will get live plants in a pot and the roots kept in the rock wool or fiber wool whenever you purchase. Then, you need to remove them. But, be very careful when removing them because they are attached to the roots of the plants.
Time to plant
Once you want to add the live plants, remember to make a gap in the gravel with your finger. It should be close. Then, put the roots of plants into this gap. Next, use the gravel to cover around them. This way is essential to keep your plant roots stable. We advise you to add larger plants towards the back and smaller to the front of the tank. It promises to give you a better viewing experience.
Attach some live plants to the hardscape
For some live plants, you needn’t plant into the gravel/substrate because they are easy to take care of. You can add a java fern plant to a piece of driftwood for the best look.
Fill the aquarium up with water
Once you finish your planting, you only need to fill the fish tank up with water. Then, turn on the filter and heater. You need a net to help collect debris of plants. The fact is that your fish may be killed by the tap water because of its Chlorine. So, it’s important to ensure it’s always conditioned. And now, you have a new aquarium with live plants.
Care for Live Plants Aquarium
If you want to easily care for your live plants, you need to make sure the natural fish waste, substrate, and the standard aquarium light are enough to keep your plants alive. Also, it’s a good idea to add a drop of aquarium plant fertilizer when you change water.
Choose the right plants
It’s important to choose suitable plants for your aquarium. Make sure they can be able to survive completely submerged in water. You can consider choosing some easy-to-care-for plants as Anarchies, Echinoderms or Lilaeposis, and Anubis. Actually, most of the plants can do best at a pH level of 7 to 7.2.
Supply the right substrate
The substrate is essential for covering the bottom of an aquarium. It’s great to cover your plants with an inch of gravel. Thanks to planting your plants in the substrate, you will get a more natural look. Plus, the right substrate can help the root develop effectively.
Provide the right light
Your plants only can survive with proper lighting that is important for photosynthesis. In addition, the photosynthesis produces oxygen for the aquatic life. You need to light your plants 10 – 12 hours per day. For fluorescent lighting, don’t forget to change your bulbs every 12 months.
Use the proper algae-reducing techniques
Algae can compete with aquarium plants for nutrients. So, you need to remove them. You can apply Algaecide to kill the algae. However, this formula can affect your aquarium. There is a lot of herbivorous aquatic life that can eat your algae as a source of foods. In addition, you can also use an algae scraper in order to remove the algae. The best method is scrub algae weekly.
Use the right fertilizer
You should add a fish-safe fertilizer in order to enhance plant growth. It’s best to choose special slow-release fertilizers. They are made to aid in freshwater aquarium plant growth. Avoid using a phosphate fertilizer because it can help algae thrive fast.
Enjoy the right balance
Although you have to take care of your plants, they will give valuable benefits in return. Indeed, they help to improve the quality of the water in your tank. They offer also a more natural environment for your fish.
Many people wrongly think that it’s easier to maintain a 10-gallon tank than a bigger tank. The fact is that it’s much harder to maintain a smaller tank because of the need to do the more regular water change. Once you want to set up a 10-gallon tank, you need to know the best fish for your tank first.
A 10 Gallon Aquarium
In fact, this tank is among the smallest. So, it’s not suitable for beginner aquarists. Indeed, it’s hard to maintain in term of the right water change, filtration, as well as keeping everything in a good shape.
Do Your Research
For a 10 gallon tank, many people make a big mistake when choosing the right fish to keep. So, it’s important to do some research on your favorite fish. You can easily do this with the global internet.
Things to Pay Attention to
There are three important things you need to consider when it comes to choosing the right fish for your tank. They include fish care requirements, fish temperament, and space for fish. Actually, we can’t keep species with different water conditions with an aggressive one. Also, we cannot keep too big fish in a 10-gallon tank such as Gourami, Angelfish, Bela Shark, and African Cichlid.
Core Principles for Your Tank
First, make sure all fish can be capable of living in the same types of environment (same temperature, light, aquascape, water chemistry, and diet). Avoid choosing fish that can eat your other fish. Instead, choose ones with a similar peaceful demeanor. It’s great to choose fish with different swimming and different feeding preferences.
Dangers of Overcrowding a Tank
Overcrowding a tank can decline more rapidly. This issue can also make your fish more stressful. It also causes your fish to be more vulnerable to diseases as well as premature death. Thus, if you don’t know surely the number of fish you can keep in your tank, it’s best to err on the side of less fish instead of more.
How many fish to keep in A 10 gallon Tank
Keep in mind, it’s ideal to keep fish according to the principle one inch of fish per gallon. Therefore, you only should keep no more than 10 inches of fish for your 10-gallon tank. This rule is essential for everyone. If you want, you can add a single species a week in your tank.
Best fish for a 10 gallon aquarium
Tetra Fish
It’s a good idea to start with some Tetra fish in your tanks such as Glowlight, Cardinal tetra, or Neon tetra. These fish are good choices for a 10-gallon tank because of their sizes and space requirement. These fish are inactive fish, so they don’t need much space. Also, they are small and peaceful fish. It’s best to keep Neon fish at a temperature of 68-78F.
Dwarf Corydoras
You should also think about the Dwarf Corydoras. They are interesting bottom-feeding fish. They are peaceful. You can keep them in schools of six or more. They can also help to clean your tank because they collect everything falling down to the bottom of the tank. In addition, it’s important to offer them some sinking pellets for the essential nutrients.
Sparkling Gourami
The next option you should consider for your 10-gallon tank is the Sparkling Gourami. This small fish only can grow up to 1.5 inches in length. It makes them suitable for small planted tanks. Because of their colorful look, these fish can be a perfect addition to your aquarium. These fish sometimes may be shy.
Guppy
This fish is another small fish from the rank of livebearers. There is a wide range of color alternatives when it comes to the Guppy. These fish are active fish in the top third of the aquarium.
Betta
The Betta is one of the best choices for a 10-gallon tank. However, you only should keep these fish with peaceful species such as Ember tetra, White Cloud Mountain Minnows, Harlequin Rasboras.
Zebra Danio
This is a peaceful fish. They can be able to grow up to 3 inches in length. They are highly active fish. It’s best to keep them in a small school of 5-6 fish. They come with a torpedo-shaped body. You should feed them with a varied diet of frozen foods.
Glofish
This fish is one of the new species on the tropical fish. It can be able to produce fluorescent coloured scales. There are some of the colors as green, blue, bright red, purple, and orange-yellow.
Platies
The fish has a variety of colors as well as patterns. It’s a peaceful fish. It’s a good choice for beginners. It’s best to keep two females for every male. In fact, males normally can chase females. This fish can be able to grow up to 2 inches in length. You need to feed them with a varied diet of frozen, flakes, freeze dried food, as well as live foods.
Red Cherry Shrimp
Many people choose the Red Cherry Shrimp because of their cool looks. Also, they are good choices for cleaning up any excess debris as well as food left from the tank-mates. They prefer to be kept in a heavily planted aquarium. The fish can do best in a small group of 3-5 shrimp. It can be able to grow up to 1.5 inches in length.
Nerite Snails
This snail is seen in three colours, including green, black, and tan. They can be able to help to clean the algae from the sides of the fish tank. However, you even have to give them algae as a food source if there are no algae in your fish tank. It’s best to keep these snails in a populated tank with plenty of live plants as well as hiding places. They can be capable of growing up to 1 inch.
Kuhli loach
Consider keeping Kuhli loach in a small group of 3-6 fish. They are peaceful fish. For this option, we recommend you to keep them in aquariums with a fine sand. In addition, provide them with plenty of dense vegetation like Cryptocoryne species. You need to feed them at night with a wide variety of freeze-dried foods.
Butterfly fish
For this fish, you can keep only them in your aquarium because they’re known as a carnivorous hunter. In fact, they can swallow any other smaller species in your tank with a large mouth. Once again, it’s best to keep them alone in the tank.
Red Claw Crab
They are brackish water. They are also better off alone. Actually, keeping your fish with other crabs can lead to territorial disputes. They even can eat your fish as a food source.
Oscar
They are actually one of the most intelligent fish. You can train them to do tricks. If you choose this fish, you only should keep them in a species only tank. In fact, these fish can be able to grow very quickly. For these fish, you need to give them more maintenance than others because of their carnivorous nature. They do best in a group of 5 individuals.
Mollies
This is a small and peaceful fish. They can be able to grow up to 3-4 inches in length. They also can be able to thrive in a lot of water conditions. You need to give them a diet of both plant and animal food. It’s easy to take care of these fish.
Cherry Barb
You can see these fish in silver and black color with a golden lateral line. Like the fish above, they are also peaceful. They can grow around 2 inches in length. They require most types of foods to eat such as fresh, live, flake, and frozen foods. They are also easy to take care of. It’s a good idea to keep them in a tank with planted areas for hiding spaces.
Swordtails
Its shape is similar to guppy and platy fish. They come in many different color variations. They are great choices for beginner aquarist. These fish are peaceful. It’s best to keep them in loosely grouped schools. Keep in mind you need to keep them away from their parents when breeding them.
Killifish
There is a wide range of bright color when it comes to Killifish. They are available in more than 700 species. So, it’s easy to choose this fish for almost every tank condition. You can keep them with other small fish. It’s easy to breed these fish. You should give them a diet of insect larvae, crustaceans, and worms.
Plecostomus
They come with heavy armored plates on their bodies. They are keen on eating wafers, algae, and flakes. Some of them require meaty foods like frozen brine shrimp. It’s not easy to breed them. These fish can be able to live for 20 years or even longer as long as you care for them properly.
Rainbowfish
They are from Australia and Southeast Asia. These fish are peaceful. They can be able to grow up to 6 inches in length. Moreover, they can get along well with others such as bards, danios, and larger tetras.
Conclusion
There is a lot of freshwater fish available. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Most of them are easy to care for. The thing you need to do is doing some research on the species you want to purchase. This article gave you some of the examples of the best freshwater fish you can choose. Hopefully, you can choose fish that suit your 10-gallon tank easily.
It’s not easy to maintain fish tanks. In fact, there are a lot of different fish as well as other sea creatures in your small space. You can deal with your problem with a filter. It can help. It can be able to help to get the risk of all problems related to your aquarium. But, it may be a difficult task to choose a good filter because of many options available to choose from.
Keep reading this post to get essential information about choosing a filter for your aquarium.
Functions of Aquarium Filters
We can divide into three major classifications of the functions. They can help you to choose the best one.
Biological Function
The fact is that your fishes will produce ammonia when breathing. Also, their bodies release a part of the waste. So, you need to remove the ammonia from the tank because it’s toxic to your fish. Consider using a filter system. It can help to eliminate your fish’s waste from the tank.
Mechanical Function
You can see commonly debris in your fish tank because of excess food fed to your fish as well as other dust participles. You can remove this debris as well as any other visible waste thanks to the filter system. It can help to promote your fish a good health due to a clean tank.
Chemical Function
The water we use for drinking as well as cooking can be from different sources. Some of them may include hard metals or others harmful material to your fish. So, you need an aquarium filter to remove these materials from the water. In fact, we can get many different methods from different types of filters. They can clean up the impurities.
Types of Fish Tank Filters
There are some different types of fish tank filters you can see on the market today.
Air-driven internal fish tank filter
This type is a small filter. So, it’s ideal for compact aquariums used in a hospital or home. However, these filters are still very sturdy as well as constructed. They ensure to keep your fish healthy. At the same time, they help to prevent your small aquarium inhabitants from any harm in the water.
Undergravel filters
They are put in the bottom of the tank. Though these models are designed for biological filtration, some of them have also replaceable cartridges. They can help with chemical filtration.
Power filters
This type is commonly used in many aquariums. It’s easy to set up these filters. They can be able to last for a long time. Coming to these filters, you can get the best performance for mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration. You can choose these models for many different types of fish tanks. It’s easier to maintain when compared to others.
Canister filters
They ensure to give you all the functions you want in a fish tank filter as mechanical, biological, and chemical functions. Their bodies are larger than other types. You can easily set up and maintain them without more effort.
Wet/Dry filters
These filters are actually the best in biological filtration. They are great for the saltwater aquarium. These filters can be capable of increasing the beneficial bacterial for effective processing of waste materials.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Filter
3 Way Filtering
You can see there is a lot of mess in your aquarium. So, it’s time to get a help from a filter. It can help to clean everything. That’s why you need to choose ones that work 3-way filtering: chemically, biologically, and mechanically.
Cost
It’s important to look for a filter that suits your budget. Indeed, there are many expensive options on the market today. However, it’s not difficult to choose an affordable filter as long as you choose smartly.
Easy to Maintain and Powerful
We recommend you to choose a product that allows you to easily set up and replace the cartridges. You can get pain if you choose one that is hard to maintain. In addition, the filter you choose also should be powerful to do the job well. Also, it has to operate silently.
Recommended aquarium tank size
The fact is that not all filters can work well with all the tanks. That’s why you need to look at the tank size. Then, you can easily make a decision to buy the filter system.
Water-Flow Rate for the filter
This factor is measured in gallons per hour. In order to get ones that can fill the tank faster, you need to research for this rating before buying any filters. It’s best to compare different brands to determine the best water flow rate.
Fish tank filters brand
There is a lot of filter brands when choosing the best fish tank filter for your aquarium. Some of them provide more sustainability than others. Thus, it’s essential to choose ones that work effectively. There are some famous brands you can consult such as Penn Pax, Fluval, and many others. You can easily know the best brands if you sort the products by rating.
The fish tank filter reviews
You can identify a good fish tank filter for your aquarium through reading any filter review. At the same time, you can know more about the product you tend to buy. So, it’s important to read the reviews from top rated stores.
List of 10 Best Aquarium Filters
When choosing a fish tank filter, there is a wide range of models on the market. They come from different manufacturers. That’s why it’s not easy to choose the best filter. Now, look at the list of best aquarium filters below:
Penn Plax Cascade Canister Aquarium Filter
This is a good choice for both freshwater and saltwater aquarium tanks. Many owners choose this product because it can be able to deal with different types of aquarium. You can even choose it for ones with sizes up to 200 gallons. In addition, it can be able to offer an impressive 350-gph water flow. The thing you need to do is just keeping it maintained well. Just by this way, the filter can work efficiently and effectively. There is a button to press for use. It allows you to use for a long time before you need to replace. Plus, it’s built with strong materials. You can combine it with other media as bio-floss, bio-sponges, as well as activated carbon for various needs. However, you can feel bothered by its noise.
Fluval External Fish Tank Filter
It provides superior filtering capability. So, you can use it for all sizes of aquariums from different manufacturers. This choice is also ideal for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums like the above product. It comes with the powerful motor technology that’s great for speeding the filtration process. It comes with an instant start-up choice. It’s easy to lock due to clamps for better operation. If you are looking for a product without disruptive mechanical sounds, it’s made for you. It includes independent modules for removing dirt from the filter easily. However, this option is expensive a bit when compared to other products.
Marineland Magniflow Canister
This model offers a feature that provides a watertight seal. There is s polishing filter pad that can help to remove the fine debris from the water. You need clean water for your fish to avoid any problems. This product comes with the bio-filter balls as well as ceramic rings. They are beneficial for offering a multifaceted surface area. It also provides you the black diamond carbon in order to eliminate the discoloration, odors, and other water impurities. It ensures to give your fish clean water in the aquarium. However, this product is not sturdy.
EHEIM Classic External Canister Fish Tank Filter Media
This filter comes with a permo-elastic silicon sealing ring. Also, it has filter sponges as well as different types of loose filter media. In addition, the model comes with several accessories as inlet hose, a hose, a spray bar, and more. However, it has some parts that require to be checked for the durability.
Penn Plax Cascade Canister Aquarium Filter Cascade
If you are looking for a heavy-duty fish tank filter, we recommend you to choose this product. It promises to give you a good quality and durability. It can be able to pump 265 gallons one hour. It’s normally used for 100-gallon aquariums. Moreover, it offers powerful performance. It can last for a long time. It’s ideal for both marine and freshwater aquariums. It can help to remove the waste as well as excess food in the tank due to its coarse sponge.
AquaClear Power Filter- 110v
AquaClear Power Filter is one of the best freshwater aquarium filters you can buy today. It’s a versatile model. So, it can meet the needs of most hobbyists. There are a lot of models with different variations in flow rates. It ensures to provide you an impressive filtration capacity. It can be able to work well for the multistage filtration process. However, it’s not easy to clean this filter.
Fluval Fx6 Aquarium Canister Filter
The product comes with a purge valve drain at the base. It helps to empty the canister. Thus, you can easily maintain it. Moreover, it has an adjustable spout to send multiple streams of water. The product offers quiet operation in use. It can be able to spray cleaner as well as purified water to all parts of the tank thanks to the multidirectional nozzle.
Ehm Fltr 2217 Classic Wm 264g
This product is the pump unit like a highly reliable module. This option is great for those who are seeking for a product without a lot of attention. It promises to give all the qualities you need for your aquarium filter, including improved performance, better technology, and a high level of efficiency. It’s easy to install thanks to a one-chamber design. Also, it’s easy to perform maintenance. However, the product can lose the capability to spray after a while.
SunSun Hw304B 525GPH Pro Canister Filter Kit
This unit is a good choice for those who need a filter for large sized aquariums. It can work with many different aquariums up to 150 gallons. It offers the capability of 525gallons per hour. The fact is that it’s faster than most models listed above. There is a three-stage filtration process that helps to clean the water effectively. They include chemical, mechanical, and biological filtration. Besides, it has the 9W UV sterilizer that can kill the harmful algae as well as bacteria. You will get the low noise operation from this unit. Many people choose this product because it’s easy to use. However, there are a few problems with filter motors.
200 gallon Filter Aquarium Tank Fish Canister 9W Sterilizer
This product gives the capability of 525gph. It can give the power for better performance at all times. It can help to handle the dirty water from the aquarium in a shorter time than other models. You can use it for large aquariums up to 200 gallons. It comes with the five stages of filtration for removing more dirt as well as other impurities from the water.
In addition, it also offers a 9W sterilizer to kill the algae in the water. Furthermore, it’s easy to set up and install this model. The product doesn’t require you to buy anything extra. It can still be adjusted to suit the larger tanks because of the mounting options. With this model, you won’t worry about viruses and bacteria in your tank. However, this product may be harmful because of its long UV exposure.
Conclusion
As mentioned above, there are several things you need to consider when choosing a good aquarium filter. Also, there are a lot of choices when it comes to the best aquarium filter models on the market today. Make sure you choose the best one that can work well for your fish. Now, you have more knowledge about the best fish tank filter system. Hope they can help you choose the right one easily.
Betta fish are attractive fish due to their vibrant colours as well as their long fins and tails. In order to keep them healthy and enhance the natural beauty, you need to plan your tank with plants. They are important to put together your perfect tank. Keep reading this article to find out the best plants for betta tanks. They are the most popular live plants for your betta aquarium.
Some of the Best Plants for Betta Tanks
Amazon Sword
This plant is one of the most popular choices for betta tanks and aquarium. It’s easy to take care of them. So, they are also a good choice for beginners. Its name is from the shape of the leaves. In fact, these plants come from the Amazon basin. There is a wide range of varieties of this plant. It’s best to choose this plant for 3-4 inches of substrate.
Anacharis
If you are looking for a terrific choice for beginner aquarists, you should consider Anacharis. This plant is a wispy, long, and ferny plant. Moreover, they have long arms that are ideal for covering a wall in your tank. In addition, this plant is easy to care for. Thus, you needn’t get such a green thumb in order to keep it in your tank. This plant can be able to be kept in a range of water quality and temperatures. There is no root. Because this plant can grow fairly large, sometimes you need to trim it. Because of its absorption ammonia from water, it can be able to help clean your tank. At the same time, it can help to keep your fish healthy. Plus, it can prevent blue-green algae. These plants can be able to be kept from 40-77 F.
Anubias
This type is available in many different pieces. And, Anubias is one of the most popular ones. They are bright green in colour. They include large leaves with a flowing look. It allows you to choose some varieties of floating Anubias for your betta tank. They promise to give your fish lots of places to hide or sleep. They can be able to grow well in low lighting. You should keep them in temperatures between 71-81F.
Bamboo
A bamboo is also a great option for many betta owners. It’s ideal for a small bowl or tank. However, you need to avoid letting any of their leaves enter the water. Otherwise, it can pollute the water.
Duckweed
It can be able to thrive in a range of temperatures as well as water conditions. That’s why we list this plant here. It’s a spreading plant floating on the surface of the water. It’s important to maintain it regularly to avoid blocking the betta from bumping. Its shape can also give your fish great hiding places. Furthermore, your fish can get nutrients from the water that it sucked out. These plants can be capable of thriving in temperature between 56-85F.
Hornwort
These plants are known for a light and airy look. They are also popular for their ability to provide oxygen into aquarium water. It’s great to consider hornwort for your betta tank. These plants require you to maintain regularly. The fact is that this plant can grow very quickly. The plant can thrive best in a wide temperature range from 40-95F.
Java Fern
Java Fern is a great option for a betta tank. It can be able to thrive in the same conditions as your betta’s condition. They have rough and wrinkled leaves. In addition, it has long arms. This plant can grow fast, so it’s essential to pull some leaves off the plant if needed. It’s not essential to bury the plant’s rhizome. Otherwise, it can rot. This plant is considered as a great additional filter for the water. You can keep it in temperatures from 65-85F.
Java Moss
It’s a furry plant. It’s mentioned one of the easiest live plants you can keep in your tank. This plant is ideal for beginners or those who are finding one for low-maintenance plants. It can be grown into a kind of carpet on the tank floor. It doesn’t require you to plant with its rhizome in the substrate. The plant can grow fast in cooler water. Therefore, you have to trim it once it gets too big. On the contrary, it will grow slowly in the warmer water. It can handle most typical tank conditions. That’s why it’s recommended highly for many aquariums. It does best in between 65-80F.
Peace Lily
This kind of plan has become popular for many recent years. But, many specialists advise not to choose this plant if you don’t have enough room. It’s best to choose it for a large tank. We recommend you to create a structure in order to support it at the surface. At the same time, it helps to leave the plant’s roots dangling.
Water Sprite
The Water Sprite can absorb ammonia easily. So, it’s perfect to keep your aquarium water clean as well as healthy. Also, this plant can be able to grow quickly. It can give your fish hiding spots thanks to its roots and leaves. It can do best in temperatures from 64-82F. However, you shouldn’t change the temperature, PH, heat, or others suddenly.
Live or Synthetic Plants
Synthetic Plants
If you are looking for ones that don’t require any maintenance, you should choose synthetic plants. It’s not essential to worry about the health of the plants. These plants promise to give your fish plenty of hiding spot options. There is a variety of choices for both plastic plants and silk. Also, there is a lot of choices in shape and colour. But, your fish won’t get a natural environment to live in. In addition, you also need to clean the plants carefully if you change the water.
Live Plants
These plants produce oxygen that helps your fish to breathe. Also, it provides your fish with a natural environment. They are various with a wide range of options in many different shades and shapes. They are easy to maintain. But, it’s important to pay attention to their size. If you let these plants grow too big, your fish cannot get enough space to swim and breathe. In addition, these plants require the proper environment to survive. Once they are starting to die, it’s essential to remove them right now. Furthermore, some of them may be toxic. That’s why you should do some research before you decide to put them in your tank.
Various Plants
The fact is that your betta can get benefit from a little fibre in their diet. So, give them natural plants for extra fibre while you needn’t add fresh peas and other kinds of vegetables to their diet. Thus, it’s a good idea to add live plants to your tank in order to maintain the optimum health.
Plastic Plants
These plants are made safely for most pet fish. However, they can catch their tail of fin on a rough edge of these plants because of their long tails and fins. So, these plants can hurt your betta. So, it’s best to choose soft and pliable plastic plants instead of hard or rough ones.
Silk Plants
These choices are a good alternative to plastic ones. Indeed, they are softer than plastic plants. So, your fish won’t hurt themselves. But, these plants won’t give the same benefits as the live plants like filtration, oxygenation, and others.
Things to Consider When Choosing Plants for Betta
There are some essential things you need to consider when choosing plants for your betta. First, you should choose one that’s suitable for your budget. Then, you can easily look for the suitable one for your preferences. Ensure to give live plants a great source of light. Only by this, they can thrive in your aquarium. In addition, live plants also need fertilizer. It’s easy to get hold of liquid, plug, and tablet fertilizers at any good shops. Another factor you need to consider is determining whether you need to heat your tank or not. In fact, some plants can do better in heated water while some others will thrive better in unheated water. In conclusion, you need to create the proper environment to take care of live plants.
Conclusion
As discussed above, there are a lot of excellent planting choices to choose from when it comes to choosing plants for betta tanks. So, it’s easy to choose from plants that offer many different features such as rooted, floating, flat-leaved, long-leafed, hardy or delicate. With a wide range of options to choose from, you need to determine the best one for your betta tank you own. Don’t forget to consider lighting level, oxygenation, water movement, as well as ammonia saturation. Next, choose the live plants that can work best in your aquarium.
Every betta has their own favour. Some of them like to hide in the shade of plan leaf, while some others like to nestle up against floating roots. So, it’s best to try out a few different plants. Then, choose ones that can do best.
It’s really an exciting experience with a new fish tank. And, you need to add your new fish. So, what’s the best fish choice for a 2.5-gallon tank? In order to answer this question, let’s take a look at this writing to learn about the best fish for 2.5-gallon tanks these days. All of them are suitable to keep in a small tank.
Choose the Economical Fish Tanks
Many customers choose to buy small fish tanks due to many positive reasons. First, these tanks are more affordable than others. In addition, it’s also easier to care as well as maintain. If you want to keep your fish healthy and happy, you need to clean the tank regularly. Like people, your fish also don’t want to live in a dirty. You will feel more tired when cleaning your fish tank if you choose bigger and heavy tanks. Furthermore, you can get the adjustability and flexibility from smaller tanks. A small tank allows you to place it anywhere you like such as in your home office, in the kids’ playroom, in the living room, and more.
Things to Consider for Your Fish Bowl
Fish Size
As an owner, you should give your fish enough room to be comfortable in. So, it’s time to think about the fish size in relation to the fishbowl. In fact, if you have a small tank, consider choosing the smaller fish. In addition to the fish size, there are also some different factors you need to consider.
Temperature
Many people want to add tropical fish to their bowl or tank. These fish can do best in between 70 and 78 F. But, some of them can require higher temperatures, while some require lower ones. It’s important to keep the temperature consistent. If the temperature changes suddenly, your fish can be more susceptible to disease and parasites.
Ammonia and Waste
It’s not a good idea to feed your fish extra food for the weekend. It can lead to excessive waste as well as any leftover food in the tank. By cycling your tank properly, you can prevent your fish from the death in the future.
Lighting
This factor is also important when you use a fish tank. In fact, improper lighting can lead to high water temperatures. Avoid using incandescent bulbs because they can prevent you from controlling the water temperature. Don’t put your tank directly in front of a window. We recommend you to look for a bowl with a lid that comes with a light. LED is considered the best light.
The Best Fish for Small Gallon Tanks
Zebra Snails
They are in 1 inch. They are very popular in freshwater aquariums. The fact is that it’s not easy to feed them in a freshwater tank. These snails can be able to remove debris and algae from your fish tank. As a result, you can keep the tank clean. It’s easy to identify these snails through their vivid black as well as their gold stripes. The Zebra snails are also easy to take care of.
Betta Fish
This kind of fish is one of the best suitable fish you can keep in a bowl or a small tank. They are clean fish. Especially, these fish don’t grow to be large sized-fish. Moreover, these fish can be able to live in a tank without filtration. Also, you needn’t change their water frequently if you want to prevent toxins from building up. However, you only should keep one male in each tank, if more they will fight.
Small Tetras
They are various, so they are good choices for a small aquarium. Actually, these fish are peaceful. They are keen on hiding places. There are some of Tetras fish you can keep in a small tank such as Cardinal tetra, Neon tetra, Ruby tetra, Lemon tetra, and Black tetra.
Bloodfin Tetras
These fish are small, so they are good for keeping in a small tank. They are known for their unique characteristics of the silver body. One highlighted point of this type is that they can be able to live up to 10 years if you give them the right care and treatments. They are active fish. For your small tank, we recommend you to keep five fish at maximum. It’s easy to keep them in groups because they’re peaceful. They are easy to become shy if you only keep one fish.
Small Live Bearers
This is also a great choice for a small aquarium. Normally, these fish will generate more waste than Tetras. That’s why you should consider reducing the number of fish. In fact, you will have to get some baby fish soon to take care of. It’s essential to leave some room for the fish’s offspring. Plus, these fish are available in various colors.
Cory Catfish
You can add these fish to any size tank you want. Because most of their adults are small size, they are ideal for small aquariums. It’s best to keep them in groups of at least three. Avoid keep them singly because these fish cannot be able to thrive alone. These fish are peaceful fish. The fish is an indispensable choice for a small aquarium because of the combination of personality and utility. That’s why we advise you to add this fish type to your tank.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow
They are small and hardy fish, so they are also great for a small tank. These fish are tolerant of many temperatures as well as water conditions. Moreover, these fish are peaceful as well. So, you can keep them with other small fish like tetras. They can be able to live in cold temperature very well. They can be able to live up to 5 years if they get the proper care.
Small Barbs
Small Bards are another choice for your small tank. Prime examples include the Checkerboard Bard or the Cherry Barb. It’s best to keep these fish in a group of at least 5 or more. You shouldn’t keep a small number of these fish. It can result in aggressiveness between barbs.
Danois
These fish allow you to adjust them to any condition as well as temperature. These fish are small and active fish. You can feed them almost anything. Especially, these fish are seen with unique bright horizontal stripes. That’s why they are noticeable. It’s a good idea to keep them in groups at the top of water surface.
Black Molly
This type of fish is known for their high flexibility and adaptability. They can be able to live in freshwater, saltwater, as well as brackish water. This fish is ideal for your small tank. They allow you to get a community fish with many different types. If you keep both male and female fish in a tank, it can result in Black Molly babies. But, the kids require enough vegetation to hide. Otherwise, their parents can eat them. If you have a small tank, you shouldn’t have a couple in the tank.
Black Skirt Tetra
For this type of fish, it’s important to buy a couple at least. Even, you can buy a group of them as long as your tank’s big enough to keep them. This type is one of the best tetra fish for beginners. These fish are peaceful fish. You should consider adding plants and rocks for their hiding spots.
Kuhli Loach
These fish actually live on the bottom of the tank. In fact, they tend to hide when it’s daytime. If you plan to keep these fish in your tank, it’s essential to make a cave or tunnel for their hiding spots. More importantly, you need to choose the food carefully. It’s best to choose ones that can sink to the bottom.
Platies
These fish are popular choices for beginners because of their wide array of varieties. You can keep them in a community fish. It’s important to keep the babies away from other fish. Otherwise, they can be eaten by other members of the tank. You should feed them freeze-fired or flake food. In addition, you can also feed them the algae if you want to keep the tank clean.
Swordtails
These fish can be able to live for a long time with proper care. Also, these fish are passive. If you are looking for a type that can help to add colors into your tank, choose these fish due to their bright colors.
Wild-type Guppies
If you are seeking for a bit more exotic fish, this is your choice. The wild-type guppies just live a few quarts of water. The fish is extremely diverse in looking. You only have to pay about ten cents per fish. Normally, these fish are kept in cramped conditions. It’s important to quarantine as well as remove any sickly ones from the group. You may need a help from an antibacterial medicine for the treatment.
Salt and Pepper Corydoras
These fish are well known for their ability to clean up after themselves. These scavenger catfish actually grow to be about ¾ to 1 inch. It’s best to keep them in groups with plant life in your bowls or tanks. These fish are also peaceful fish. They eat small fish flakes. They are also suitable to keep in between 77-88F. These fish can do better in a small bowl or tank.
Blind Cave Tetras
This is a good choice for your tank with the cold water. With these fish, you needn’t add supplemental heat as well as bright lighting. However, it’s a good idea to give them a small cave to hide in. The fact is that these fish can jump when they get stressed. That’s why you need to set up a screen for the top of the bowl.
