Filter opinions....

[enchanted]

I know everyone says Sponge Filters for fry tanks, but what about this one?

Penn Plax Clear Free I

Any opinions please...

 

[Great Lakes]

Well, it seems like a sponge filter type to me, just prettier....

 

[yhbae]

What's in those cartridges? It says replace them frequently - is that a sponge packet with active carbon inside?

 

[lizard]

It depends on how strong the "current" it creates is. You don't want anything too strong, or the little baby fishies will get sucked into it

I made a sponge filter quickly (and cheaply!) by getting a 97-cent sponge at Wal-Mart (check the automotive department - the sponges in the kitchen/cleaning area are all treated with antibacterial stuff), stuck a UGF tube in it and put the airline tubing in the tube, stuck it all in the tank, and turned on the air pump. Viola! You have a sponge filter!

Pamela
aka Married Lizard

 

[Inchworm]

Hi enchanted

I think you are missing the point here. The reason a sponge filter is used with fry is because they cannot get sucked into it. I think that could happen with this one. It seems that this would be better for larger fish.

Using something like this would be OK once they are big enough to avoid that problem, but at that point a plain, old fashioned, box filter will provide better mechanical and biological filtration at a much lower cost.

 

[enchanted]

I'm looking at it because I have a credit at Petsmart and they do not sell sponge or box filters.

 

[lucky62]

As Lizard and Inchworm say/ write , this filter will most likely trap fry .

Use the credit for food or something else .[ They don't sell sponge filters ]

Have you asked if they can get them ?

If not , Find somewhere else to buy a sponge filter .

Some people make them , though for a 10 or 20 gal tank they should be fairly priced .

I've had one in a 15 gal for about 9 years and counting , the occasional rinse is about it [tank water in a bucket].

 

[enchanted]

I can buy sponge filters elsewhere, I'm just trying to use this credit to get more fry tanks going, etc...

That is an Air Driven Filter, BTW, meaning the airflow can be adjusted to adjust the amount of circulation.

 

[yhbae]

Which fries do you plan to keep, and how large are they?

If they are 1cm or larger, sometimes I use AquaClear Mini with a net on the intake. Never had problem this way before. So at least in theory, you can use that filter with a net blocking the intake.

But I agree with others here, sponge filters are probably your best bet for really small frys.

 

[lucky62]

I can buy sponge filters elsewhere, I'm just trying to use this credit to get more fry tanks going, etc... 

That is an Air Driven Filter, BTW, meaning the airflow can be adjusted to adjust the amount of circulation.

buy the other filter , let us know how it works ,

I would use a sponge filter , that's just my opinion .