Recommend A Filter?

[meola]

Another newbie here looking for some advice (hi)

I was just donated a small 3 gallon tank (thinking of keeping just a dwarf puffer in there). It came with a RENA air 50 pump but no filter, so I'm looking to get a small cheap one. Had two questions...

1. is there any difference between an air powered filter (to make use of the air pump i already have) or an internal filter with a motor (more choice). Any recommendations?

2. stupid question, but, in my other tank there is a Rena superclean40 internal filter. It has a sponge at the bottom and a cartridge in the middle (called API Crystal). I presume when people talk about filter media this means the sponge? What's the API Crystal do, then? And do I really need to change that every 3 weeks as per instructions?? Do I even need it at all?

appreciate any help

leo.

 

[Noahs ark6]

The air powered filters are good for fry tanks and arent as effective as internal power filters. I have got a fluval mini (fluval 1) it keeps the water so clean and is realy small. good luck.

 

[meola]

Thanks that's really good to know. fluval mini looks ideal in that case

 

[meola]

what about the elite stingray? any opinions?

 

[BigIan]

I just bought an external from allpondsolutions.co.uk and the price was awesome and the filter is top quality. they seem to have some decent internals aswell.

 

[frogmarch1987]

what about the elite stingray? any opinions?

I've heard only bad things in regards to this. Apparently they have a high failure rate