Before there were aquarium filters, hobbyist have a few measures to maintain their aquarium tanks. Most often they would just replace the water regularly. This is very costly and tedious. Furthermore, it is not a foolproof solution to water pollution. Changing water does not eradicate the aquarium tank of all waste and impurities. Thanks to the introduction of pool supplies like aquarium filters, hobbyists can sigh in relief. These are critical components of aquarium tanks whether it is fresh water or marine set-up. Its importance is illustrated by the fact that without the natural movement of water inside an artificial habitat like the aquarium. As such, there are more debris that accumulate inside the tank
Filters for aquarium differ primarily on the kind of tank set. For marine aquariums, a more complex filtration system is required. On the other hand, freshwater aquariums are less demanding. To be effective against waste and debris, a marine filtration system should be comprised of wet and dry filter and protein skimmers. Wet and dry filters are considered to be very efficient filtering devises as the can easily break down ammonia and nitrate. On the other hand protein skimmers are able to remove organic debris that become pollutant in a salt water aquarium set up way before they turn into nitrates and phosphates. However, there are stand alone filters that have become popular among hobbyists. Among the popular filters are the Canister Filters and Hang on the Tank Power Filters. These filters can be used for freshwater, saltwater and reptile/amphibian tank set ups.