A fish tank filter is one of the essential pieces of equipment in your aquarium because it filters and cleans your water, and by doing that, all the inhabitants of your fish tank are kept alive and healthy. There are many different types of fish tank filters, and some types will last much longer than others.
A sponge filter will typically last up to 10 years, whereas a good quality hang-on back or canister filter will last 5 years or longer. Internal fish tank filters will not survive as long as external fish tank filters because their electric motors can malfunction.
How long does fish tank sponge filters last?
Sponge filters have been in the aquarium hobby since it has started and are still widely used by many fishkeepers. They are a simple, reliable, and very effective method of filtration that uses an air pump to pump air through a sponge, and in that way, the aquarium water is filtered. They are also available in many different sizes suitable for a variety of tank sizes.
Beneficial bacteria will grow on the surface area of the sponge, providing biological filtration and mechanical filtration. A sponge filter has no moving parts that can wear or break down; all it needs is air from the air pump to function. That is the reason sponge filters can last for 10 + years. A sponge filter will only have to be replaced when the sponge itself begins to deteriorate.
Key Takeaways of Sponge Filters
- It lasts the longest of all fish tank filters – 10 + years
- It only needs an air pump to function.
- It has no mechanical parts that can break.
How Long Do Hang On Back filters last?
Hang-on-back filters consist of a small pump with an intake tube in the fish tank, which pumps water into the filter compartment that “sits” on the rim of the fish tank. The pump uses an impeller that sometimes can get stuck or break. The pump motor can also break sometimes, and the filter will stop working.
A good quality hang-on back filter like the Seachem Tidal range or the Aquaclear range will work for 5 + years without any problem. With hang-on-back filters, you pretty much get what you pay for, and it is worth your while to spend a little bit more on a good quality product that will last you much longer than an inferior product.
Key Takeaways of Hang-on-Back Filters
- Good quality hang-on-back filters will last 5 + years
- It is worthwhile to spend more on a trusted brand.
How Long Do Canister Filters Last?
Canister filters are the most popular type of filters for larger tanks of 55 gallons or more. The reason being they offer the biggest filter capacity besides a sump filter. Canister filters are available in various sizes and consist of a container with filter media with a pump on top. The pump has an inlet and outlet pipe in the aquarium, and water is pumped out of the aquarium through the filter media and back into the aquarium again.
The only mechanical part of a canister filter is the water pump which sometimes can break down and cause problems. After a couple of years, the seal on the canister can also perish and will have to be replaced; otherwise, the canister will leak water.
As with hang-on-back filters, a good quality canister will last for more than 5 years, and it is worthwhile to spend a few dollars more for a quality product.
Trusted brands that manufacture canister filters are Eheim, Oase, Fluval as well as AquaEl.
Key Takeaways of Canister Filters
- Good quality canister filters will last 5 + years.
- It is worthwhile to spend a bit more on a trusted brand.
How often do I need to change my fish tank Filter?
Depending on the type of fish tank filter, as discussed, the filter itself will only have to be replaced once it has stopped functioning and the pump in the hang-on back or canister filter has stopped working due to some mechanical failure. This can range from 1 to more than 5 years.
A sponge filter will only have to be changed once the sponge itself has started to deteriorate, and this can be from a couple of years up to 10 years.
The filter material in a fish tank filter has to be changed or cleaned regularly depending on the type of filter material used. It is preferable to clean and not change the filter material of an aquarium filter because beneficial bacteria populate the surface area of your filter material, and by changing the filter material, you are destroying the bacteria that provide all the biological filtration for the aquarium.
When you discover your filter is clogged and the water flow through it has significantly decreased, it’s time to clean the filter media.
To clean filter media such as a sponge, filter floss, or any other material, squeeze or rinse it in some removed aquarium water. You are preserving the bacteria in your filter and maintaining biological filtration by doing so.
How long does a fish tank filter cartridge last?
Some manufacturers sell fish tank filter cartridges for hang-on-back filters and normally contain filter floss and activated carbon. The design of filter cartridges prevents them from being cleaned, and they need to be replaced when they are clogged.
It is a much better option to replace a filter cartridge with filter material like a sponge or filter floss, which can be cleaned and re-used. This will usually provide much better filtration and save you the money of a new filter cartridge.
