Undergravel Or Bio-wheel?

[corpse fish]

I suspect my molly is pregnant, which means I need to set up a fry tank soon. I have a heater already, but i was wondering what kind of filter I should use. The undergravel might be safer for the fry, cheeper, and I will be able to put the fish in the tank when I get them. I hear however that a BIO-Wheel creates more beneficial bacteria than an Undergravel Filter, and that it is somehow just all around better for the fish. I won't be able to get one til around christmas though, and im afraid it would suck up some of the fry, and i might not even get it ready in time. One thing I don't know is how much each one airates the water. Which one do you think I should go with?

 

[tidytourniquet]

I say a sponge filter, it has plenty of space for becteria to colonize and wont harm the fry.

Oh and they are very cheap

 

[corpse fish]

I say a sponge filter, it has plenty of space for becteria to colonize and wont harm the fry.

Oh and they are very cheap

do they provide airation? and how easy are they to clean?

 

[LA321]

I say a sponge filter, it has plenty of space for becteria to colonize and wont harm the fry.

Oh and they are very cheap

do they provide airation? and how easy are they to clean?

1. yes

2. just remove foam and rinse, but back, and ur done

 

[Lateral Line]

I use sponge filters in fry tanks as well. Always have done. A well matured sponge is a fine filter, does not generate too much current, (fry do not like strong currents), and it's surface is colonised by microscopic animals, rotifers etc, which the fry can eat. My fry often hand around the sponges.

Very cheap, very easy. To clean, just rinse the sponge and give it a light sueeze in a bucket of old tank water.

 

[LA321]

BTW, I forgot to mention that there is a DIY writeup on how to make a sponge filter