Canister-filter.com
How-to and information about the best type of filter for your aquarium
Canister filters vs internal filters
Compared to internal filters, canister filters have some substantial advantages.
- Volume
- Filter material
- Space
The overall volume of the filter is bigger and there is a wide variety of filter material available. The canister filter is located outside the aquarium itself which results in more space inside the aquarium. When the canister filter needs to be cleaned, one doesn't need to go in the aquarium and disturb it's occupants. Besides, canister filters usually don't have to be cleaned as frequent as internal filters.
Canister filters can handle mechanical, biological and chemical filter functions which were mentioned before, internal filters however have their limits.
The only drawbacks of a canister filter over an internal filter that I can think of is the price (canister filters can be quite expensive compared to internal filters) and placement of the canister filter. You will need some sort of cabinet to hide your filter. You can buy one especially produced for an aquarium set up.
In my case I modified one of my cabinets in the living room to house the aquarium and all of it's components.