Filters come with their pros and cons for various types of tank. If you’re confused between which is better between an under gravel filter, canister, or bio-wheel filter, here’s comprehensive info that will help you decide which to choose and according to your needs. Let’s get started.
UnderGravel Filter
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Mode of operation
Undergravel filters come with a filter plate that stays beneath the gravel of the aquarium. The plates enable free water flow below the gravel.
The gravel draws the water ( which functions as a biological and mechanical filter). You can move the water using either air pumps or powerheads.
Water is pumped out of the top of the lift tube by the powerhead, which goes into the tank, and bubbles will be blown by the air pump, lifting the water and into the tank.
As water leaves the lift tube, the water from below the filter plate replaces it.
Maintenance
Under travel, the filter does not require changing your filter media. However, you must always clean the gravel.
The best way to clean your gravel is to use a gravel vacuum whenever you perform your water change.
Undergravel filters are easy to keep and maintain. Undergravel filter, under proper maintenance, provides a mechanical filtration and biological filtration.
I would suggest having an undergravel filter for your basic tank.
You don’t need to remove all parts of your tank to have your undergravel filter cleaned. Whenever you’re doing your regular water change, Simply siphon off any debris that has accumulated under the gravel.
While many people think that undergravel filters can be harmful, we found these claims irrational and unfounded.
Filtering Capabilities
The gravel performs mechanical filtration by capturing large water particles. The gravel, including the tank bottom, filter plate, and lift tubes, serves as a bed for the natural bacteria of a biological filter.
Undergravel filters basically perform a biological filtration.
Price
Undergravel filter is cheap. You can buy one for as low as $20 or less.
What you should be aware of
There is some undergravel filter that comes with carbon cartridges that stays at the head of the lift tubes. They can be unnecessary and harmful.
These cartridges usually lack enough carbon to provide the right level of chemical filtration, if your filter is run using an air pump, enough water is not moving through the carbon to give the proper chemical filtration, plus the carbon will prevent or even stop the smooth flow of water through the filter.
Furthermore, once the carbon is saturated, it may start to deliver some toxins into the tank. If you eventually choose to use carbon cartridges, make sure they take the precaution of replacing them at least thrice a month. Always have any carbon removed from the filter or the tank before medication (because the carbon may eliminate the medication from your tank, and your fish won’t be treated)
Canister filter
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Canister filters are a type of filter that uses a valve, tube, or sieve to take off water from the tank, running the water through a filter media and delivering back the filtered water into the tank.
Mode of operation
These filters draw the tank water into a lift tube and take it out of the tank into the canister filter where the water undergoes a different kind of filter media for proper cleansing.
The direction of the flow of the canister filter diagram is varied between brands and different models. Some are from top to bottom, bottom to top center out, back to front.
The filter media of the canister provides mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration. This also depends on the type of filter media you selected.
Once the water has undergone the filtration process in the canister, it is delivered back to the aquarium.
Because of the sealed system of canister filters, it uses water pumps to transport the wafer. Most canister filter models come with water pumps, which manufacturers either build into the base or the cover, but certain canister filter models require an extra water pump.
Maintenance
Depending on what filter media you used, the requirements for maintaining a canister filter varies. A typical canister filter will let you use different filter media types. Most canister filters have cartridges, baskets, media bags, and more than your favorite media can be put into to deliver the best situation for your aquarium.
You need to rinse out some media frequently, while for others, it’s a total replacement. Look for your manufacturer’s recommendation for the filter media type you’re using to know more about maintaining the filter media.
Apart from the required maintenance for these filter media, it is also crucial to clean the pump and tubes on the filter periodically. You can do this quickly with the help of aquarium tube cleaning kits, which can be found at pet stores.
Filtering capabilities
Canister filters especially support medium and large tanks, because of their ability to filter a larger amount of water.
You can configure canister filters to provide chemical, mechanical, and biological filtration depending on the brand of filter and your aquarium needs.
Don’t forget to always remove carbon from the tank before medicating.
Price
Most times, the canister filter is more expensive than the undergravel filter, even with the same capacity. That’s because a canister filter performs a more efficient cleaning job.
What you Should Be Aware Of
Canister filters can be very efficient if you use and maintain them properly. An excellent canister filter allows you to select the appropriate type of filtration for your tank through the filter media customization, rather than being limited to the built-in media cartridge.
Canister filters are usually easy to maintain, as water forces through the media, instead of flowing around or over the media.
Also, many canister filters use a spray bar to get backwater to the aquarium, limiting current and evaporation.
Remember, as with most filters, make sure you replace the carbon in the filter regularly, as saturated carbon may contain waste and release toxins.
Bio wheels
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Mode of operation
By now, you already know more about filters and how pressurized water is pumped from the tank through the several media baskets that are inside it to purify your water before delivering it back to the tank.
Well, the bio-wheel is like a regular power filter out there. It’s also hanging on the back of the aquarium, but around the bio-wheel which dips inside and outside of the tank water.
This introduces oxygen into the tank. Any benefit?
Increased biological filtration as aquarium bacteria will be able to use more.
Supposedly, the average biological capacities of the filter outweigh many power filters, and as well as most canister filters, too, because of the restricted volume of oxygen in the filter system.
You cannot totally ignore the canister filter in this aspect. Most savvy users still try to make up for the limited oxygen level by using filter media that has a high amount of surface area.
The more the surface area, the more the number of bacteria to grow, and the more the efficiency of the biological capabilities.
You must consider the fact that, even though bio wheels provide mechanical filtration, it cannot be compared to the efficiency of the canister filter.
Such filters provide a huge space for different kinds of situations, floss, and foams. Bio wheels generally use a small sponge or pad to capture debris. In terms of chemical filtration, Bio wheels usually do a proper job. However, it mainly activates carbon.
On the other hand, a canister filter can mix it up. Aside from the activated carbon, there are different kinds of custom chemical filtration products, and canister filters can use most of them.
Filtration capabilities
When it comes to flow rates and capacities, bio wheels come at a flow rate/capacity of 70G/350GPH, a huge edge over most power filters; however, it still doesn’t compare with the top guys.
Maintenance
You might probably have heard a popular rumor of a self-cleaning nature of bio wheels and that it requires no maintenance. This is total B.S. while we don’t recommend cleaning off the whole wheel (because it is the main source of natural bacteria), it is still important to maintain the filter cartridge. Your filter may also develop some mechanical problems that require attention.
The maintenance process is still less than that of a canister filter, which requires being taken apart and with each part rinsed to maintain maximum functionality.
Price
Most times, the bio wheel filter is less expensive than the canister filter. That’s because a canister filter performs a more efficient cleaning job.
What you Should Be Aware Of
Bio wheels filters can be very efficient if you use them properly.
Bio wheels filters are usually easy to maintain, as water forces through the media, instead of flowing around or over the media.
Remember, as with most filters, make sure you replace the carbon in the filter regularly, as saturated carbon may contain waste and release toxins.
Undergravel filter vs. Canister filter vs Bio-wheel The Verdict
Overall, we recommend Undergravel and Bio wheel filters for smaller to medium aquariums.
Many fish keepers, who own an aquarium, love the quality of the undergravel filters. A hang on a back filter like the Bio wheel also gives your aquarium a good look.
And if you pick the right choices, you will not even know when it’s working because it is designed to be sound dampening.
Furthermore, if you will be using your filters for commercial use, a canister filter would do the job.
Consider your budget as well. Canister filters are a no brainer for store owners. But if you’re looking for a cheap filter to use at home, going for an undergravel filter would be a good option.
Overall, the choice is yours to make. Be sure to consider your personal needs and make a decision based on that.
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