Cartridges: What Is Consumable and What Is Not
Some filters are designed around replaceable cartridges. Knowing which parts are consumable saves both money and a crashed cycle.
The c...
How Often to Clean a Filter, and How Not To
The commonest way to crash a cycled tank is an enthusiastic filter clean.
A sensible interval
Rinse mechanical media when flow noticeab...
The Three Jobs a Filter Does
Mechanical, biological and chemical. Every filter does all three, and most problems come from neglecting the middle one.
Mechanical
Spo...
Canister, Hang-On or Internal: Which Filter Suits Your Tank
All three do the same three jobs. They differ in where the hardware sits and how much of it you can hide.
Canister
Sits below the tank ...
Sizing a Filter to Your Tank, Not to a Flow Rate
Flow rate is the number printed largest on the box and the least useful one in isolation.
Start with the maker rating
Filters are rated...