External Filter??? So many decisions!

[cruentusanima]

Hello all,

I would like to know from experience what are some options as far as an external filter with adjustable flow go. I'm starting with a 18x18x18 terrarium and initially thought about a fluval filter to filter roughly about 6-8 gallons but now that I'm getting closer to building a new home for my frogs I would like to know if there is any other options out there. I looked at the Zoo Med 501 and I'm not sure but I believe it doesn't have the option to adjust the flow and I also looked at the Zoo Med 511 which does but if there are other options I would like to know. Thanks in advance.

[eric048]

its easy make a sump like for a fish tank, have two h2o pumps one that pushes water into the sump and one that pushes it out, most pumps have flow adjustments you just have to make sure it has enough gph to pump the water the correct height, as for the filter use a bio bag and some sponge fish filter material that's what I would do, you can use a 10g as a sump or even a 5.5g

[cruentusanima]

its easy make a sump like for a fish tank, have two h2o pumps one that pushes water into the sump and one that pushes it out, most pumps have flow adjustments you just have to make sure it has enough gph to pump the water the correct height, as for the filter use a bio bag and some sponge fish filter material that's what I would do, you can use a 10g as a sump or even a 5.5g

Thanks for the reply but I'm unfamiliar with a Sump. It sounds interesting and I'm guessing that it's a type of pump. Would you mind explaining what this is?

[eric048]

Basically u can do it with a 10g fish tank, separate it but leave a the divider lower than the top of the tank about halfway, add aquarium sponge material it's blue or white and looks like a synthetic steel wool, put that on one side with activated carbon on the very bottom under the foam and then have some kind of very fine mesh under the waterfall in the middle to filter any gunk out then have a pump capable of pushing the water back into your tank. So you need : 10g fish tank, activated carbon, aquarium sponge, fine mesh, 2 water pumps, pipe or plastic tubes to get the water from the two tanks up and down

[cruentusanima]

Basically u can do it with a 10g fish tank, separate it but leave a the divider lower than the top of the tank about halfway, add aquarium sponge material it's blue or white and looks like a synthetic steel wool, put that on one side with activated carbon on the very bottom under the foam and then have some kind of very fine mesh under the waterfall in the middle to filter any gunk out then have a pump capable of pushing the water back into your tank. So you need : 10g fish tank, activated carbon, aquarium sponge, fine mesh, 2 water pumps, pipe or plastic tubes to get the water from the two tanks up and down

Interesting I was wondering what to do with my left over 10g tank this sounds very intriguing. Is this pretty expensive to create and do you know of any how to's.

[eric048]

It would cost maybe $30-45 depending on the pumps those wil cost you the most, I also like the tetra fauna brand reptile filters they go in your tank and work great

[J Teezy]

I think that a sump for only 6-8 gallons of water may be a little overboard. You'd probably be better off with going with a small canister filter. If you've never dealt with a sump before they take some tinkering with to get the right speed of water leaving the tank to water returning. I wouldn't really deal with a sump unless you were dealing with alot of water

[cruentusanima]

I think that a sump for only 6-8 gallons of water may be a little overboard. You'd probably be better off with going with a small canister filter. If you've never dealt with a sump before they take some tinkering with to get the right speed of water leaving the tank to water returning. I wouldn't really deal with a sump unless you were dealing with alot of water

Ok good to know. Any small canister container filters you recommend? I was seriously looking at the Zoo Med 501 Filter but I have read some really mixed reviews. I'm not against spending some money but I'd rather pay for something that is inexpensive and good if at all possible to find.

[J Teezy]

i have no experience with canister filters on small amounts of water. When i had a 55 gallon cichlid fish tank i ran an eheim 2028 on it. Kicked butt was awesome. But I'd say that for that amount of water you're not going to need something extravagant

[J Teezy]

i saw some smaller canister filters on bigalsonline for like 20 gallon tanks. One of those would probably be good for what you're wanting to do if you still want to do a canister filter