The question of which filter is best to choose: external or internal, stands up both in front of aquarists-beginners, and before the already experienced owners of aquariums. In this article, we will try to consider both options and find out which of them and in what situation will be the optimal solution.
So, let's first figure out why these filters are needed and how they differ.
The aquarium is a closed system, therefore it is very important to maintain its homeostasis. It is necessary to remove from this environment anything that could lead to an imbalance, because it can be fatal to the inhabitants of the aquarium. Therefore, the filtering includes the following components:
- mechanical filtration;
- biological filtration;
- chemical filtration.
All filters operate on the principle of a pump, pumping and running through water. Mechanical filtration removes large debris from the water, such as pieces of plants. For this, water passes through a sintepon, foam rubber or ceramic filler. Biological filtration serves to remove rotting food residues and the like, but since porous ceramics serve as fillers for such filters, water must be pre-driven through a mechanical filter in order for this filtration to be effective. The chemical filter removes harmful substances due to the filler-adsorbents contained therein. All these types of filtration are available for both internal and external filters for the aquarium.
Which filter is best: internal or external?
As a rule, external filters are more productive, and that's why they are great for large aquariums. For an aquarium with a volume of less than 30 liters, it is advisable to purchase an internal filter; For aquariums with a volume of 400 liters, only external hanging filters are suitable. For volumes between these values, you can select any filter.
When choosing a filter, you first need to focus on its allowable volume and performance. Experts advise selecting a filter so that in an hour it pumps 3-4 volumes of your aquarium. That is, with a capacity of 300 liters of aquarium, the optimum performance will be 1200 l / h. For very large aquariums it is recommended to put several filters.
The external filter for a small aquarium does not differ much in performance from the internal one. However, the external filter is still better at least because it is easier to handle: installation of an external filter in the aquarium is easy, cleaning it is much easier, and cleaning does not affect the inhabitants. In addition, the external filter does not take up the volume inside the aquarium. The internal filter is limited in size, and because of this, its power may suffer. The external filter for the aquarium is noiseless.
In addition, when working, the electric motor of any filter is heated, which can be a problem in the summer.
The external filter is suitable for both marine aquarium and freshwater. In addition, it can have extended functions - for example, heating water or the possibility of irradiation with ultraviolet rays.
The following filter manufacturers are represented on the aquarium market: Aquael, AquariumSystems, Tetratec, EHEI, SeraSerafil. If for you the decisive issue when choosing a filter is the price, you should know that the internal filter will be cheaper.