So many filters...

DeCypher

DeCypher

Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Messages
698
Reaction score
8
Points
18
Location
Ohio
Country
United States
Display Name
Austin
I went to the store the other day to look for a filter because i'm tired of buying all this cleaning stuff for the tank, and there had to be a hundred different filters. And of course i picked the one with too harsh of a current. I had my friend, who has an axolotyl, convince me to get an udergravel filter...but what KIND of undergravel filter???? Anybody got any recommendations?
 
Don't get an undergravel filter. Where maintenance is concerned they are a real pain in the long run. Have you read the article on filters?

And you should know that even if you buy the most high tech, cutting edge filter you will still have to do quite a bit of cleaning. Filters filter the water of small debris and some chemicals, but won't clean the bottom or scrape algae.
 
I read the article...a sponge filter looks good. I would get a little box filter but they are very unattractive.
 
Undergravel filter is definately not reccommened as you need to use gravel as the filter media and as you probably have read gravel is a big no no in and axie tank, they dont work with sand! Go for an Eheim Aquaball very good, very reliable, easy to clean/remove/dismantle, excellent airation of the water and easily upgradeable with extra filter baskets and media theyre only about £25 so a bargain i doubt there is a better internal filter out there! Well not for this price!
 
simply under gravel filters don't work with sand, you can't have gravel in a axie tank for it to work with, so it wont work.

Small sponge filters are great, and easily hidden with plants ect.
elite sting rays aren't bad at all depending on the size of your tank. All filters can be hidden by plants, and separated from your axolotls and view with ornaments.
 
Psychopathic963 said:
I went to the store the other day to look for a filter because i'm tired of buying all this cleaning stuff for the tank, and there had to be a hundred different filters. And of course i picked the one with too harsh of a current. I had my friend, who has an axolotyl, convince me to get an udergravel filter...but what KIND of undergravel filter???? Anybody got any recommendations?
Click to expand...


Well first off UGF's are good for nothing. They have no mechanical filtration leaving it all up to you to remove detritus during water changes. In most cases you wont get it all out unless your doing 50% water changes every other day or so unless you have another filter but then you would have no purpose for the UGF anyway. They also suck waste down into the gravel. One bad thiong about gravel is how easy waste gets trapped and can cause anerobic conditions. Now think of it being amplified cause you know have something pulling it down. They do well at Biofiltration but the fact that they pull so much waste down will eventually cause a crash in the Bio as the water column under the UGF plate will become septic.Now die hard under gravel filter users argue this by stating that you must clean under the plate but why break your tank down when you shouldnt in the first place.
A friend of mine broke down his tank after only 6 months. He was talked into a UGF by someone and I have no clue who. Under the plate there was a foul septic odor and lots of black and dark red gunk from anerobic bacteria.

Second I would like to know what your buying to clean the tank.

You really should only need ( other than a filter of some sort ) a bucket and a hose for water changes. Additives are gimmicks and should be avoided especially in the long term.

Oh, and a algae scrubbing pad.

What size is the tank? Thats the most important part.
 
because i'm tired of buying all this cleaning stuff for the tank
Click to expand...
*filter
*airline
*bucket
*algae scraper
*turkey baster/syringe - optional

That's all you need. and everything minus the filter should cost around £20 GBP I'm not sure how much that is in dollars. and you can get everything you NEED in the same place.

I've just been thinking about it, your friend has an axolotl, and has a UGF, does that mean this friend has gravel in their axie tank? because it just doesn't work with sand. and I can't see the point of one if they're using slate ect.
 
My friend has gravel in his tank, and my tank is a 10-gal
 
I have kept newts and axolotl for nearly ten years. I was able to keep they and breed them for a few years without any filtration at all, but regular water change, plants and airpump. Recent years, I have found that sponge filter is real good. I also agree that under gravel is not a good idea.
 
fancy trying to convince your friend to switch his substrate to something a little less potentially lethal?

If your tank is 10G then a small sponge filter is your best bet, should be very cheep too. a 15G tank is a better option however, and would need only the same filteration.
 
Thanks...any specific models sold in pet stores which you would recommend?
 
whatever they have in their starter gold fish kits. there isn't really any GREAT or BAD little sponge filters.

*Bugs you to bother your friend change his substrate, again*
 
Okay. I'll stop by the pet store later.
 
in my old 10 gallon tank I used the Aqua Flow 100 they are great and easy to replace the cartridges :) For my bigger tanks I use the Fluval U3 and in my axies tank a Fluval 205 good luck :happy:
 
Thank you all very much. I don't know what me and my crew would do without you guys!:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    There are no messages in the chat. Be the first one to say Hi!
    Back
    Top