Adf filtration?

[deranged chipmunk]

I get sponge filters relatively cheap at kensfish.com alternatively, if your tank is small, a tom's rapids canister filter is awesome and will only set you back about $30 @ thatpetplace.com

[Elliriyanna]

Its only a 5 gallon ... the kit comes with a little in tank filter I can control the flow by putting a sponge over the intake. I don't have an airstone or anything for the sponge filter unfortunately but I may very well get one or a small HOB ...

[deranged chipmunk]

For a 5, i would go zoomed turtle canister or the tom's rapids, like i mentioned above. Easy to use, they are external, so maintenance is a breeze and you aren't forced into buying those stupid filter cartridges

[Elliriyanna]

I dont buy cartridges ... I just rinse them in the water I am changing out ... otherwise you basically re- cycle your tank every time you put in a new cartridge.

I will look at those filters ... I have so much to buy already what's one more thing?

[deranged chipmunk]

I dont buy cartridges ... I just rinse them in the water I am changing out ... otherwise you basically re- cycle your tank every time you put in a new cartridge.

I will look at those filters ... I have so much to buy already what's one more thing?

Actually, that's not true about cycling the tank. But this isn't really the place for that.....lol

[Elliriyanna]

I am a noob lol but in the past I have used this method and its never failed me yet

[deranged chipmunk]

I'm not saying you are doing anything wrong, just saying that your info of changing filter cartridges forces your tank into a re-cycle. In all actuality, your rising them off does the same thing, rinses a majority of the bacteria off of the filter floss that surrounds the cartridge, hence, by your statement, forces a re-cycle. However, in a tank with a fully mature biologocal filter, there is plenty of bacteria living in the substrate and especially in the plants (if you have any live plants) to sustain the cycle.

And in reality, i haven't run cartridges in any of my hob filters for about a decade. Nothing in mine except lava rock. Cheapest bio media you can buy