Filtration is a mandatory feature in todays Aquria, ranging from Sponge filters to Sump units. Whether you're a expert or a beginner, your filtration can always be improved, with noticable effects.
There's a little thing called the Nitrogen Cycle. Fundamentally Fish food/waste -> Ammonia -> Nitrite -> Nitrate (->Nitrogen). This cycle will keep your fish tank healthy, and your fish unharmed. If you're missing a link, you will have a high value of said amount. Usually with new Aquariums you will start your cycle. You will have high ammonia, bacteria will populate and convert that to Nitrite. Once again, a different type of bacteria will populate and convert nitrite to nitrate. Ammonia and Nitrite will harm your fish when it gets high. In a perfect aquarium you will be aiming for 0 of each. Nitrate on the other hand, has a lesser effect on fish.
How does this relate to filtration? Well, filters help keeping your tank healthy by 'filtering' the water through different Media. The main three are Biological, Chemical and Mechanical.
Biological filtration is the most important area, and most crucial. You will generally have some sort of Bio Noodle, which is very porous. The more porous, the larger the surface area and the more Bacteria you may have. From reading the synopsis on the Nitrogen cycle, bacteria is good. We want lots. The more bactera we have, the more fish waste our aquarium can handle, which means more fish. We all like to have more fish.
There are several different types of Biological media, Bioballs, Noodles and 'mech'. Certain brands have a larger surface area, for example. Cheapo noodles will be $10 for 150g. Good ones will be upwards to $30. Sounds like a major difference, yes, but one thing you have to think about is changing it...It's very hard to change biological media. Removing it will remove your bacteria colonies, which will in turn harm your fish. So in terms of purchasing, go for the best one. It will do far better and keep your tank far healthier.
Chemical isn't exactly what it sounds like. Chemical filters will absorb organics and liquids in your water. Ranging from fish urine to medication. Pretty much anything that you might not want in there. There are a couple of different varieties, Carbon, Purigen and others. Carbon inexpensive, should be replaced every 6-8 weeks. Purigen is pricier, but if looked after well can last virutally forever if you recharge it. It lasts alot longer and will make water clear as clear can be. Other checmical ones may have the ability to absorb Ammonia, Nitrite or nitrate. Good!
Mechanical filtration traps particles. Small or large. These are your filter wools, flosses and spongers. Assuming you have biological filtration, you want to wash these monthly (or replace eg filter wool), just to prevent them from blocking up, because they will. If you don't have biological media, wash them in Aquraium water that you would of taken out via water change.
That's the basics, the most important thing to keep in mind is your filter is infintely customizable. Later on I will be covering more indepth versions of each of these, naming a few more brands and perhaps getting into comparrisons. This enlighten you on the wonderful world of Filtration.
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