Filter Fun!

[Neomeris]

I am getting a fish tank that needs a bit of fixing-upping, and I want to know if there is a filter that
1) uses less electricity
2) doesn't cost as much

It's for a ten gallon freshwater tank. Should I look for a biological filter that doesn't use activated carbon or something?

-Neomeris

 

[Caprichoso]

I am getting a fish tank that needs a bit of fixing-upping, and I want to know if there is a filter that
1) uses less electricity
2) doesn't cost as much

It's for a ten gallon freshwater tank. Should I look for a biological filter that doesn't use activated carbon or something?

-Neomeris

A sponge filter is your best bet then. All you need is a small air pump for it. It's just a big sponge that you put an air stone in and it creates a suction, drawing debris to the sponge. Rinse and squeeze it out in some tank water to clean it. It's great for shrimp tanks and if you want to breed fish as you don't have to worry about babies getting in the filter.

 

[nurglespuss]

Or an undergravel system if your OK with gravel and no sand, very cheap and its what everyone used before powered filters came round (thems were the days lol).

Or of course, a HOB filter (e.g. Eheim Liberty) is qwfully cheap and will perform the dual function of airation and filtration...

 

[StandbySetting]

For the greenest of setups there's the Walstad method, I suggest you take a read.

 

[Neomeris]

For the greenest of setups there's the Walstad method, I suggest you take a read.

What's that??

Many thanks to all of you.

Neomeris

 

[Randomitity]

Google is your friend but since I was wondering about it I looked it up

 

[OldMan47]

Sorry to need to interject but a Walstad style tank, like this one of mine, is not a "green" tank in terms of energy consumption. That darned thing uses 110 watts of T5-HO light over a mere 40 gallon tank.

It requires rather intense lighting compared to a low tech planted tank and still requires good circulation, which of course means a powerful pumping action. It is a good way to reduce water usage though, since water changes are only needed about once every 6 months.

Back to the original question. A filter, even a rather large external, canister type, filter is not a big energy consumer. Any artificial lighting on a tank will require far more daily power consumption than the filter and the heater will require even more power than the lighting. If you want to go "green" in terms of energy consumption, go with cool water fish like goodeids that require no heater.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I am getting a fish tank that needs a bit of fixing-upping, and I want to know if there is a filter that
1) uses less electricity
2) doesn't cost as much

It's for a ten gallon freshwater tank. Should I look for a biological filter that doesn't use activated carbon or something?

- Neomeris

You really shouldn't be using carbon anyway, unless you're trying to filter out meds. I have HOBs and just use the disposable bio bags. Since I have two filters on each tank, I just change out one bio-bag at a time and only when they disintegrate.