Looking For Filter For Hospital Tank (10 Gallon)

[Saver]

I'm looking for a cheap filter for my 10 gallon hospital tank. Any recommendations? I've looked at the boxes at the store but wasn't sure which one to buy. I want one that will hold some of my bio media from my canister filter that I'll be using on my main tank.

I have an external canister on my main tank. (It's not set up yet.) I have 3 sponges (which I understand is the mechanical media). I also have some of these hard little round ceramic like things that's suppose to be for beneficial bacteria. I know not to use the carbon unless I have to remove medicine from the tank. My main tank will be heavily planted (75%). What else do I put in the canister? I have one empty basket. I read somewhere to use the poly fill that you put in pillows. Is that ok?

Which media do I take out to use in the filter for my hospital tank when I need one?

Thanks!

 

[Iron Man]

The pillow stuffing is great stuff. I've been using it for years in my Eheim now.....it polishes the water well. You will want to put the ceramic stuff bio media that is in the canister, in the filter of the 10 gallon when/if you get ready to stock it.

Also, whatever filter you use for your 10 gallon tank depends on what you'll be housing. Is it something that will like a lot of water flow, or a larger fish that will require more bio media? The same can be said for putting a lot of little fish in there at one time.

That being said....I can give you advice on what I know about HOB filters, namely Aqua Clear. You can put ANY size of this filter on a 10 gallon tank and be fine (dont know that the smallest would be adequate though). I'm not kidding. I had an AC500 on my 10 gallon tank. I had to put a prefilter sponge on the intake tube to keep it from sucking up the snails and ghost shrimp, but other than that it was a wonderful filter for it.

Just my .02. I'm sure you'll get even more help shortly.

 

[Tolak]

AquaClears are good filters, a box filter is the cheapest way to go if you have an air pump. You can fill these with the ceramic media from the canister, or a combination of bio media and the poly fiber. Box filters are real old school, but dirt cheap and really flexable. Give them enough air & they do just as good a job as a power filter.

If you use the poly fiber in the canister, make sure it is in a closed basket. Those fibers can get wound around the impeller & shaft of the filter, slowing or stopping it. Other than that it's good cheap mechanical media. I use it in all my tanks.

 

[Invader Xan]

I use an internal Rena Mini Filter in my 10g, loaded with purigen. More than good enough.