Help Me Choose A Filter, Please

[soritan]

In about a month, or two (depending), I'll be moving my betta and his subordinate adfs to a 5g tank (not the ghost shrimp, I don't think I'm ever going to catch them, even with 2 months head start to plot and plan it. They're fast fast fast), so as to make my 10g a species dwarf puffer tank.

So far, my 5g is totally empty, not even water is in it. I haven't even washed the dust off of it, yet.

Since its prospective occupants are known for being poor swimmers, I would prefer that the current be kept at a minimum.

I thought that I'd get one of those cheapie penn-plax under gravel filters, and start cycling with that in place.

However, I'm concerned that it's a half-solution at best. I don't think that it'll provide very good mechanical filtration, and I'm dubious about the bacterial filtration. I don't know much about filters, I pretty much started researching them a couple days ago, but I haven't read too much about the issues I'm concerned with.

Effectiveness, stability, and the resulting current it creates when it operates.


So, I was thinking of running the UGF, but with some other form of filter on the side, as well. How much current does a Biowheel filter kick up, as compared to a box style filter?

Sponge filters are ugly, but I've seen a few DIYs out there that involve using aquarium gravel. If I opt for that, would using aquarium gravel from an established tank mean that the filter is, in essence, "instantly cycled"?

Suggestions -? Links -? "plz use search button question has been asked a million times" -?

 

[modernhamlet]

Skip the UGF. It's ineffective, obsolete technology. You can get much better performance and much easier maintenance from a small internal or hang on filter.

I have a Whisper micro running in an even smaller 2.5g and it creates very little current on the low flow setting. There are many other similar filters on the market. They're quieter and no more expensive than a sponge filter and airpump.

 

[rdd1952]

The only time I would consider a UGF is in a betta tank. The reason being is that they don't like a lot of flow and mine seem to tear their fins and tails by swimming behind and under the hang in tank filters I have (Whisper 10). I have had to use tank dividers in my 2.5 gallons to wrap around the filters and heaters so the fish can't get behind them. For filtration purposes though, the Whisper 10s do fine. They are rated for 90 gph which is enough for a 15 gallon tank.

 

[soritan]

Heh. My betta, Furin, is currently in a great state of shock because of the Whisper 10, he got stuck to the intake yesterday and now he refuses to swim. He seems to be dying, but I refuse to let him go just like that.

I'm going to take a look at the smaller filters. I am even debating not cycling the tank and doing 50/100% water changes weekly.

I'm glad I'm the researchy type, but sometimes it makes me feel a little ridiculous.

Can't I just 'insert fish, enjoy?'


*edit: It seems he passed on since I checked on him last.

 

[IMCL85]

small sponge/carbon I think as the tank size limited any other bigger filter.