I need suggestions for filtration

MinaMinaMina

AbbeysDad, could you explain the water bottle baffle and how to make it? Or, if you used someone else's plan, could you provide a link? I've been thinking I'd like something for my surface current, but have no idea how to go about it. Its a great idea! Many thanks!

Nubster

Is there a point that one can actually go filterless? Just a powerhead for water movement and to disturb the surface for oxygen exchange?

Byron

With sufficient live plants, an aquarium does not "require" a filter. Minimal water circulation is advantageous (not everyone agrees on this) but a powerhead might be too much in smaller tanks. The optimal word is "minimal" water movement, so valuable CO2 is not needlessly driven off.

I had a 10g tank well planted, no filter, no light (sat in a bright west-facing window), just the heater. This ran for several months with fish and snails and did very well. It was an experiment. I found that the fish and plants were fine, but the water was not crystal clear, so in the end I added a small sponge filter just to circulate the water and provide removal of suspended particulate matter.

Which brings me to the issue of filter-less planted tanks. The filter in a planted tank only serves two purposes, those mentioned in the preceeding paragraph. It is not there to do any cleaning of the water, that is the job of the plants; nor for biological filtration, as that too is better handled by plants.

Byron.

DKRST

Here's my two cents:
1) HOB's can be noisy and I don't like the cost of the cartridges.
2) I have used an Eheim Ecco. Totally silent, 9 watts to operate, not too much flow. Problem is, the darn thing is over-priced, in my opinion!
3) A sponge filter and a really small power head is totally quite. I have an aquaclear 20 and a "double" hydrosponge 20 on my 40 gallon tank. I love it and it's silent. I thought the water flow was a llittle high, so I put a piece of clear plastic tubing (from Lowes) on the outflow after drilling holes to make an underwater spraybar. I attached the "spraybar" using suction cups and clips from Big Als. Aimed it slightly up and that gave me a little surface disturbance, a very light current, with zero noise. Not too expensive ($35 for entire setup). Downside=takes a lot of internal tank space...
4) I do use some air pumps,but I hate the noise!

Nubster

I might check in to a sponge filter. I'd like something that will clear the water but cut down on the current. With a powerhead it will also serve double duty to send water through my CO2 reactor.

DKRST

The sponge filter idea/credit belongs to Byron, I got the idea from him, I never thought about a sponge filter on a larger tank. It's been working great so far.