Pond filters, vital for any home or garden pond, can work wonders if you want to keep your fish tank extremely clean. Intake, submersed, in-line, and external filters are just a few of the different pond filter options available. Intake filters are reasonably priced and can be easily removed but they are small and don't effectively clean fish waste. Submersed filters are larger, and they improve water quality while protecting the pump, but they can take up valuable space in the fish tank. In-line filters to not have to be cleaned often, but they can be hard to re-seal. External filters may be too large for your tank, and they are usually located above ground.

Filtration falls into three major categories: biological, mechanical and chemical. Biological filtration works by using bacteria to break down wastes, changing them into harmless elements that can be used as water plant fertilizer. Mechanical fish tank filters work by catching and eliminating waste and sediment, thus cleaning the water. Chemical filters destroy all living organisms they contact, and are best left for pools and spas.

Most tanks come fitted with a light and hood. Lights do not really matter for a fish-only tank, you can manage with pretty much any kind, although experts advise against incandescent since they tend to overheat during the day and promote the growth of algae. If you are planning to grow plants, corals or anemones, however, lighting becomes a BIG deal.

Most fish could not care less what type of light you give them. The little bit of light naturally occurring through the windows is enough for some species. Plants, however, need Photo Active Radiation, and the amount they need varies according to the height of the plant. Lighting for your corals will depend on whether you're growing hard or soft species, the mounting distance for the light, and the depth of the tank.

Algae can develop on any surface in the tank. Types of algae:

Diatoms ? floating brown algae that is among the first to appear in the tank

Brown algae ? a matted covering over the substrate, this variety is also among the first to appear

Green algae ? one of the most common types of algae in fresh and salt water

Hair algae ? these are specialized forms of green algae with green strands that grow anywhere and attach to any surface

Blue-green algae ? starts in one spot and grows progressively

Brown slime algae ? this algae can push itself through the water and then build up on surfaces

Red algae ? this is beneficial in a reef tank, and helps reduce other less desirable forms of algae

You can combat this problem with algae eaters ? small fish such as Ottos, Chinese Algae Eaters, Flying Foxes and Plecos. You can also try snails, but they multiply rapidly and are hard to get rid of. Click on the underlined text for more on maintaining a fish tank.

Adam O'Connor is the owner of www.allfishtanks.com, which provides excellent free information on maintaining a fish tank. Adam O'Connor is an expert in his industry and his website helps people decide on which type of mechanical fish tank filters would work best for their tank.