New Filter Considerations. Help needed!

[elliotulysses]

Filters are very important because they keep ammonia/nitrite at 0. So long as the filter you are using keeps ammonia/nitrite at 0 your frogs will be happy filtration wise(unless of course the current is too strong, noisy ect). There are many ways to filter a tank, and some people keep tanks without filters, and manage their ammonia/nitrite/nitrate without one.
How you filter your tank is completely up to you. I personally am not a fan of using chemical filtration such as seachem's matrix just because I'm not familiar with it. If best filter = low water flow, maybe a sponge filter is all you need.
What I would do is identify what you want in a filter, pick which filter fits those ideals, and research how those filters work. Canister filters are certainly nice, and there are a lot of options, but they can also be expensive, and there is the drawback of the potential for them to form anaerobic bacteria(low chance, but it has happened to me).
If it were me, I would probably stick with your current filter and add a sponge filter for supplementation. Sponge filters work great, and they are extremely low maintenance. Sponge filters are easy to make and pretty cheap.

Right now the Whisper EX 20 has a fairly low flow. When I test it, it barely sucks up my hand, but I am just worried about my little ACFS getting curious and going up the filter. Is that even a legitimate concern?

I have been looking at sponge filters. Most seem rather inexpensive, but a really good solution! It is just hard to find the correct set up/everything I need for that filtration. I already have an airpump, so I am guessing I just need everything else that goes with the filter!

[carsona246]

I believe someone suggested you stick a sponge on the end of your filter inlet if you are concerned about your frogs getting sucked up. That's what I would do.

all you need for a sponge filter is an aquarium safe sponge, and an air stone/pump. stick the stone into the sponge, and let the air run through the sponge. The air from the air pump will provide oxygen to the sponge, promoting beneficial bacteria growth on the sponge.

[elliotulysses]

I believe someone suggested you stick a sponge on the end of your filter inlet if you are concerned about your frogs getting sucked up. That's what I would do.

all you need for a sponge filter is an aquarium safe sponge, and an air stone/pump. stick the stone into the sponge, and let the air run through the sponge. The air from the air pump will provide oxygen to the sponge, promoting beneficial bacteria growth on the sponge.

Yeah, this seems like a good idea, especially because they are fairly affordable. I plan on sticking two of them in there when I get my new set-up.

[elliotulysses]

I believe someone suggested you stick a sponge on the end of your filter inlet if you are concerned about your frogs getting sucked up. That's what I would do.

all you need for a sponge filter is an aquarium safe sponge, and an air stone/pump. stick the stone into the sponge, and let the air run through the sponge. The air from the air pump will provide oxygen to the sponge, promoting beneficial bacteria growth on the sponge.

An ENTIRE sponge? How would one actually manage to properly block, unless they were saying to stick it in the take up hole?
Who did say that suggestion? I couldn't find it in my thread.

[carsona246]

I can't remember, but it was on another thread. They sell sponges specifically for covering filter inlets, but they are expensive. You can cut holes in a regular sponge so long as the sponge does not have any chemicals on it. Sticking it in the intake might work as well, I've never tried it that way.
Pantyhose works as well, I've used those.