Aquarium Filtration System

  • 5 mins

“The Heart and Kidneys of Your Tank”

Let’s talk filters

Think of the aquarium filter as the heart and kidneys of your setup. It keeps the water clean, oxygenated, and safe for your fish—by filtering out waste and circulating clean water throughout the tank. Simple in theory, but there’s a lot more beneath the surface (literally).

When choosing a filter, keep two key factors in mind:

  1. 🐟 What kind of fish you’re keeping
  2. 📐 Your tank size and stocking level (i.e., how many fish you plan to keep)

The 4 Core Functions of Aquarium Filtration:

💡 Pro Tip: A well-rounded filter should include at least mechanical and biological filtration. Chemical and buffering media are optional but helpful depending on your livestock and water source.

Let’s explore the most common filter types you’ll find in the market.

Common Types of Aquarium Filters:

Filters in Action!

Matching Filters to Your Goals

Let’s make this super relatable:

  • Small community tank?
    → An internal power filter, sponge filter, box filter, or HOB is a great choice for smaller or lightly stocked tanks. These filters are compact, easy to maintain, and provide adequate mechanical and biological filtration—perfect for everyday setups, gentle-flow environments, or beginner aquariums.
  • Keeping large, messy fish like Goldfish, Parrot fish, Oscars or Arowana?
    → You’ll need a more robust filter—like an Overhead Trickle Filter, Canister, or Sump—to handle the high waste output. These filters offer larger media capacity, stronger flow rates, and superior biological filtration, making them ideal for heavily stocked or large fish tanks.
  • Quarantine Fish, Breeding fish or caring for fry?
    → A sponge filter is perfect for quarantine tanks because it provides gentle water circulation, which is important for stressed or sick fish. When fish are stressed, they tend to secrete more mucus as a protective response. Strong currents can strip this mucus layer, making them more vulnerable to disease. Sponge filters offer safe, low-flow filtration while still maintaining good oxygenation and biological support—creating a calm and stable environment for recovery.. It provides gentle flow and won’t suck in tiny fish.

Real Talk from the Store

At our stores, we’ve tested and trusted just about every filter type out there. Whether it’s a simple sponge setup or a multi-tier sump with reactors and UV sterilizers, we always match filtration to the specific needs of your fish, plants, and tank goals—not just the latest gadget.

💡 Pro Tip: A “bigger” filter isn’t always better. Choose one that matches your tank’s load, offers balanced filtration, and fits your maintenance style.

And if you’re not sure where to start? That’s what we’re here for. From custom filtration builds to complete setups, we’ve got your back.

Recap: Key Takeaways

✅ Aquarium filters do more than clean—they support life in the tank.
✅ Understand the 4 types of filtration: mechanical, biological, chemical, and pH buffering.
✅ Match your filter to your fish species, tank size, and stocking level.
✅ Some filters are better for strong currents, others for gentle, stress-free environments.
✅ We offer custom setups, advice, and installation—just speak to our team in-store!

Ready to Build Your System?

Need help selecting or customising your filter? Want to know which media best supports your fish or water source? Talk to our friendly aquarists or head down to any of our stores—we’ll guide you step by step, from filtration to full tank setups.

👉 Next Up: We’ll explore substrate —because it’s the foundation of the entire underwater ecosystem.

🐡 Puffed up with knowledge? Give us a like and keep floating along!

Proudly presented by our That Aquarium Digital Team, where innovation meets aquatic excellence.

Published on 13 June 2025

Author: Kelvin Phua

Illustrator(s): Chai Minyu, Abbie Tan

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At That Aquarium, we believe that exceptional CARE is the foundation of our success. We are committed to treating each customer and every aquatic life with genuine compassion and respect. Our dedication goes beyond providing quality products and services; we strive to create a nurturing environment that delivers a therapeutic experience for our customers, our aquatic life, and our team. Guided by principles of integrity, forward-thinking mindset, and continuous improvement, we aim to foster a harmonious and supportive atmosphere. Our focus is on ensuring that every interaction reflects our dedication to excellence and our care for both our people and our community.

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