ISO filter for a 2 gallon minibow

[gale]

My minibow has a whisper micro filter which doesn't have your typical intake tube. I need to put stocking over it to keep it from sucking up my fry but with this one, there is a small gap between the rubberband and the filter body and wouldn't you know one of the fry managed to find his way in there (but not back out of course-he needed my help for that). So I took off the stocking but since I plan to use this tank for fry again I want to get a filter that will fit in the tank and also has a regular intake tube that I can put a stocking over w/ a rubberband. Adjustable would be a big plus. Any ideas? It's a 2.5 gallon minibow.

 

[chkltcow]

Why can't you just double wrap the rubber band on the intake tube?

 

[chkltcow]

Wait, I think I just answered my own question. Did your mini-bow come with one of those crappy filters that hangs inside the tank and takes up more of what little space they already have? I've seen those in the Minibow tanks my mother bought. My minibow came with a normal hang on back power filter, like this:

http/www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/produc...id1=2885;pcid2=

 

[gale]

Did your mini-bow come with one of those crappy filters that hangs inside the tank and takes up more of what little space they already have?

Yes, the entire filter is inside the tank which had me scratching my head for a good 5 minutes because I'd never seen anything like it. Is the whisper 10 a good one or should I get the aquaclear mini instead?

 

[chkltcow]

Having seen those little hang-in-tank Whisper filters, and having seen how little room there is in a Mini-Bow 2.5 to begin with.... I'd say yeah, go get a proper HOB filter like an Aquaclear, or the Whisper I posted up above.

 

[gale]

Do you think the aquaclear mini will fit? Will the filtration be too much (it says 5-20 gallons). I can order either one from petsmart since I'm returning a heater to them soon but I like the idea of being able to use different filter media and I'm not sure the whisper allows that.

 

[lizard]

You can use different filter media with the Whisper, you just have to be "creative" with it. You don't have to use the cartridges they come with. You can take a filter bag (or two) and fill it with your preferred media and put that where the cartridge would go.

I have a Whisper 5-15 (an older one, not one of those newer "TetraTec" things) and really like it.

Pamela
aka Married Lizard

 

[gale]

You can use different filter media with the Whisper, you just have to be "creative" with it. You don't have to use the cartridges they come with. You can take a filter bag (or two) and fill it with your preferred media and put that where the cartridge would go.

I have a Whisper 5-15 (an older one, not one of those newer "TetraTec" things) and really like it.

Pamela
aka Married Lizard

I wasn't sure how that would work because the cartridge is on this hard plastic backing which fits down in between some grooves in the compartment. I guess I could cut the filter and dump the carbon and stuff something else in there or else just leave it carbonless.

 

[Iron Man]

The aquaclear and cheap regent filters like they sell in Wal Mart are excellent little filters.....not sure if they'd be too powerful for a 2.5 though.

Whispers are not good filters compared to the two already mentioned....I have had them all. BUT the whisper might be what you're looking for in a tank that size due to it losing its ability to move much water not long after its cleaned.

 

[gale]

Well I have no choice now, I lost another fry to the filter so I will have to buy an overpriced filter at the pet store today. I don't think they carry whisper so I will just get the AC mini and turn it all the way down plus put a stocking on the end.

Can one fry live alone? Will he get lonely?

 

[MAM]

For a tank that small you could just use a sponge filter or a small box type filter. Then the fry won't get sucked in and you don't have to worry about excessively strong currents.

 

[gale]

For a tank that small you could just use a sponge filter or a small box type filter. Then the fry won't get sucked in and you don't have to worry about excessively strong currents.

The only air pump I can find around here is a whisper and despite the name, it is super loud, even if I set it on a sponge. Others have told me the whisper is quiet so I guess we're just more sensitive to noise (we have 2 whisper air pumps and both are equally loud). Three out of our four tanks (including this minibow) are in the living room where we watch tv and stuff and I don't want the air pump noise in here so that's why I'm getting a power filter. They're a lot quieter. My dh gets headaches and migraines easily and I don't want to contribute to that (or else I might lose my fishtanks. lol)

 

[MAM]

Understood, Whisper air pumps are awful in my experience. I take it your lfs doesn't carry much of a selection. You could find one from an online shop, but that really won't solve your need to have it now...... Well, the AC mini WILL give you the option to control flow/current. And the intake tube is fairly long so attaching a stocking won't be too difficult.

 

[gale]

Got the AC mini. I feel like I'm in the big leagues now. lol. It looks pretty level so I didn't have to do any adjustments. It has the foam and the carbon insert but I will probably just put extra foam in there after a month or so. The tank looks much bigger-that other filter did take up a ton of room in there. The AC barely fit but I had to take off the center collar of my tank lid-I didn't realize the top would fit without it so it's no biggie, just a pita storing it.

 

[Iron Man]

Glad to hear it is working out. Those AQ and Regent mini filters have never failed me. They were always silent, efficient, and trouble free.