5gallon, filter or no filter?

[fufanu360]

i would like to start up an old 5 gallon tank i have sitting around, i plan to use it for convict fry... since i really cant afford a filter, do i really need one if i so frequent water changes..?? i guess i could save christmas money for a filter, or take the one from my 20g and buy a new one for the 20 hmm wut to do?

 

[littlefishie]

best bet -- get a corner filter! if you already have an air pump, the filter is very cheap -- they're $3.50 here in canada, so you can imagine the price elsewhere. since it's for fry it's the perfect filter, just about everyone uses that type of filter for betta fry.
if you've got $20 or so, why not get an elite stingray 5? they're about $13CAD, and that's what i've got in my 5. go to http/www.petsmart.com and check out their filters. there are actually some pretty cheap ones.

 

[fishdudein]

Fufanu, littlefishie has some good advice there. Depending on what I'm breeding, all of my fry tanks have either air powered corner filters or sponge filters. If the filter on your 20 gal is a power filter, I don't think I would use that on a fry tank. The little fellers just get sucked up into the filter, they're not strong enough yet for that strength filtration.

Actually, to answer your question, you don't technically have to have a filter, but a filter will provide a more "stable" environment for your fry in the long run. If you had no other commitments than to make sure the water was changed on a regular, frequent basis, and could guarantee you would not slip up and forget a few or accidentally overfeed one day, then you could probably get by without a filter. But very few of us can do this, and a filter is just good "insurance".

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I'd always have a filter, especially with fry as they are more delicate and sensitive to amonia.

 

[Bignose]

Fry are especially sensitive to poor water conditions.

That, and everything we said in this thread from a few days ago applies. It is actually worse in a 5 gal, since the water quality will not be nearly as stable b/c of the smaller amount of water.

 

[fufanu360]

ok well, i think i have decided... what about and under gravel filter? i think i have one that fits that little tank... if not i will look into a spong or corner filter


thanks!

 

[Discomafia]

I can personally vouch for the stingray 5, using it in my 5.5 gal with no probs. Also,I know that the Penn Plax cartridge filter is used by breeders, you just need an airpump. Corner or sponge filters are your next best bet.

http/www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/catego...ategory_id=1725

You can find the Penn Plax filters there too, pretty cheap if you already have an airpump as well... UGF's are outdated because they only offer good biol. filtration, but that only means they should be cheaper. Not sure how good a job of mech. filtration they're going to do, and you're going to need that. I'm pretty sure the fry tank isn't going to be planted so you could prolly go for an UGF, but I have not much experience with them so I can't help much in that department I'm afraid.