As we all know every aquarium must have good filtration for clean water, remove the toxic build-up of ammonia and nitrate, and inflate the water so that your fish can breathe easily. Best Filter For Flowerhorn: Which One To Choose?
There are different types of filters for different types of fish. You should keep a specific kind of filter according to the fish you are keeping. Talking about Flowerhorn Cichlid, they can tolerate moderate to high flow current as they are strong fish.
Flowerhorn fish is known as one of the aggressive fish, they won’t just bite you when you clean tanks or feed them, they can make a big mess inside the tank. So keeping live plants or any weak or destroyable decoration in the Flowerhorn tank is not recommended. Likewise, Internal filters are not recommended.
In this article, I have elaborated on the different types of filters that are suitable for Flowerhorn.
Things To Remember While Choosing Filters For Flowerhorn
There are many things to remember while you choose a filter for your fish so that the filter will give you a satisfying outcome.
Tank Size
Flowerhorn is a big fish so you will need a big tank. Fish experts will suggest you keep Flowerhorn to a 55-gallon minimum. They grow from 12 inches to 16 inches in length.
SeaClear Acrylic Combo Aquarium is a good option for your flowerhorn to live peacefully.
Some of the best tanks for flowerhorn cichlids are here in our next article. Give it a read if you are looking for options.
So for the bigger tank, you should wisely choose a good filter that could handle a big amount of water.
Greater Cycling From FIlter
Flowerhorn cichlid makes the tank dirty super fast, so the greater cycle will help you to clean the tank. For flowerhorn aquarium tank filtration, must be between four to five times the size of your tank each hour.
By having a flowerhorn, you will want to make sure your filter is up to the task; otherwise, you’ll be cleaning your tank more frequently than you’d like. The filter is an important part of keeping your flowerhorn healthy and your water quality high, so don’t skimp on this important piece of equipment!
Flowerhorn is known for being messy eaters and producers, so a good filter will go a long way in helping you keep your tank clean and your flowerhorn happy.
Water Flow Rate
As Flowerhorn fish is strong and aggressive fish they can completely tolerate moderate to high flow. If your Flowerhorn is being blown all over the tank then the water flow rate is too high.
The water flow rate is necessary for the Flowerhorn tank to push the wastes made by your fish towards the filter. So many Flowerhorn keepers add additional powerheads to maintain their tanks.
External Filtration System
The external filtration system is a process of passing liquid outside the tank through a pipe and filtering the water with the help of an external chamber containing various filter media.
The water is pushed through the external chamber with the help of gravity and a rotor. The filtered water then returns to the tank through the pipe.
There are different types of filtration, including biological, chemical, and mechanical filtration. External filtration systems can be used for all three types of filtration. Biological filtration uses bacteria to break down ammonia and nitrites.
Chemical filtration removes dissolved organic compounds, heavy metals, and other toxins from the water. Mechanical filtration removes particles such as dirt, debris, and uneaten food from the water.
External filtration systems are typically more efficient than internal filters and can be used on a variety of aquarium sizes. They are also easy to maintain and can be concealed easily if desired. If you are looking for an effective way to filter your aquarium water, an external filtration system may be the right choice for you.
FIlters To Avoid
If you’re thinking about setting up a freshwater aquarium at home, you’ll need to choose the right type of filter for your fish. Some flowerhorn owners make the mistake of using small internal filters, such as Hang-on-back or sponge filters.
However, these aren’t suitable for flowerhorns as they are aggressive fish that will quickly destroy the sponge filters and make a big mess. It’s much better to use an external filter for your flowerhorn aquarium. External filters are less likely to be damaged by the fish and they also provide better filtration overall.
Plus, they’re much easier to clean and maintain than internal filters. So when it comes to choosing a filter for your flowerhorn aquarium, be sure to go with an external option.
Types of Filters
Filters are an important part of every flowerhorn’s tank setup. Not only do they help to keep the water clean and clear, but they also provide a place for beneficial bacteria to grow.
There are a variety of different types of filters available on the market, and it’s important to choose one that will suit your particular flowerhorn’s needs.
Canister Filters
Canister filters are a good choice for flowerhorns because they provide a high level of filtration while still being relatively quiet. This type of filter is very effective at filtering out harmful toxins and waste from the water. It is also very easy to maintain and keep clean.
Hang-On Back Filters
Hang-on back (HOB) filters are another popular option, and they’re often less expensive than canister filters. Regardless of which type of filter you choose, be sure to keep an eye on it and perform regular maintenance to ensure that it’s working properly. This type of filter is very easy to install and use. It is also very effective at filtering out toxins and waste from the water.
Gravel Filter
The last type of filter that we will discuss is the under gravel filter. This type of filter is very effective at filtering out toxins and waste from the water, but it can be difficult to clean and maintain.
Best Filter For Flowerhorn
There are varieties of filters you can find in the market which are suitable for Flowerhorn Cichlid. You can go through the article below to know about it.
Hydro Professional External Canister Filter
The Hydro Professional External Canister Filter is known as one of the best filters in the market. Most fish experts recommend this filter for your tank. The advantages of these filters are as follows:
- Spray bar return system- While buying this filter it comes with Spray Bar. It helps in the circulation of water and helps in oxygenation. As it dissolves oxygen in the water which will help fish for respiration, further growth, and reduce algae.
- Doesn’t make a sound– Hydro Professional External Canister Filter doesn’t make much sound. If you are keeping an aquarium in the bedroom then this filter might help you because it doesn’t make noise.
- Controllable Flow– This filter is very easy to use. You can easily ramp up or dial back the flow by adjusting the valve. Comparing any other Canister filter every second the pump is running, the more water is being circulated.
The only disadvantage of this filer is this filter is large and takes more space underneath your tank.
Eheim Classic External Canister Filter
Eheim Classic External Canister Filter is made by simple design with fewer components in the build, which refers to fewer parts breaking on it. This filter stands a bit taller than some other filters you have seen, it allows the filter to hold a sufficient amount of media within its thin frame.
You will find O-rings at the top of the filter which will help in sealing during operations.
The advantages of this filter are:
- Easy to use–It is made in simple design so it is very easy to operate.
- Low power consumption– It has no extra features which will not consume more electricity. Hence it will consume less amount of electricity.
- Tubing and Spray Bar– It comes with tubing and a spray bar which will help to agitate the surface of the aquarium.
The disadvantages are:
- It only cycles 164 gallons per hour.
- It is an older design filter that does not offer many features.
Aqua Clear Power Filter IIO
Aqua Clear Power Filter IIO is made up of durable plastic and high-grade metal parts which will last for a long. Those who are keeping sand as their substrate in their tanks may find it decreasing the effectiveness of this unit.
The advantages of Aqua Clear Power Filter IIO are:
- It can cycle 500 gallons of water each hour
- It can hold a lot of filter media
- It has both biological and mechanical filtration
The disadvantage of this filter is:
- It is noisier than other filters.
- Sometimes it can overflow which requires monitoring and adjustment
Fluval FX6 Canister Filter
This filter is bigger than other canister filters so it can give you more room for different media. It has a multiple basket system which will allow you to stack media in any order you want. In this filter, the motor is designed in a way that will not make bog noise and uses 10% less electricity than other filters.
Fluval FX6 Canister Filter allows you to adjust the water pattern.
The advantages of this filter are as follows:
- The aqua-vales make maintenance and cleaning less messy
- It is super strong and durable
- It has adjustable intake tubing
The disadvantages are as follows:
- Comparing other filters it is larger with similar powers
- It is expensive
Polar Aurora 3-Stage External Canister Filter
This filter is designed to be an all-in-one filter that can offer benefits when first setting up a tank. It also has UV light which will clean/filter water to the next level. But UV light may be unnecessary at some point in your Flowerhorn tank.
The advantages of this filter are:
- It has UV light which will help you to remove bacteria and algae from the water.
- It contains three media baskets so you can keep the filter stacked separately.
- The spray bar is adjustable in this filter
The disadvantage of this filter is:
- The filter baskets feel light
- It can only filter for 55-75 gallon tanks
Conclusion
The product mentioned above is great for filtration for your FLowerhorn tank. But overall from my experience Fluval FX6 Canister Filter is the best of all as it has a flow rate of 563 gallons per hour. And it is very easy to operate.
Yes, this filter is quite expensive but it is very durable and reliable comparing other filters. It has multiple baskets that will allow you to keep this material separate so that you can layer it as you want.
Hence, I recommend Fluval FX6 Canister Filter for your Flowerhorn tank, If you are not willing to keep this filter then you may use other filters mentioned above.
