recommendations for filter cause mine is naff

[loubeardy]

today I noticed that my tank was a murky brown... for a new tank I didn't expect this ? it isn't my bog wood as I soaked them for two weeks and boiled them.too. I cleaned my gravel and my rocks. so in stuck in a second filter (tiny one that came with my quaretine tank) and ran that along side my current filter. the water is clearing... I can see a difference in 30 minutes. I can only think that my main filter is poo! haha so does anyone have a good recommendation for a quiet (it's in my room next to my bed so has to be quiet) and will keep my tank clean? (with a flow not too strong for a betta).

 

[BBradbury]

lou...

Research sponge filters. They're inexpensive, easy to clean, need no filter media and run quietly. All you need in addition to the filter, is an air pump and a length of plastic tubing. The whole set up is roughly $30.00.

B

 

[loubeardy]

lou...

Research sponge filters. They're inexpensive, easy to clean, need no filter media and run quietly. All you need in addition to the filter, is an air pump and a length of plastic tubing. The whole set up is roughly $30.00.

B

sounds.promising will do. how long would it have to run for before it can turn my current.l filter off (to build up the bacteria in the new one)

 

[Anna94]

AquaClear filters are awesome! I have one and I love it and it's completely silent.

 

[klacid]

What's the size of your aquarium? Also, what's your budget? There's a billion fish tank filters out there, many of them are good... Have a look here, hopefully it helps https://fishtankclub.com/best-fish-tank-filter/

I own a crappy knock-off brand canister filter and it's doing the job amazingly now. If you have a larger aquarium, consider investing into a canister. If you want something smaller, my friend is running an Aquaclear HOB and it's keeping the water crystal clean on a 25 gal.

 

[loubeardy]

AquaClear filters are awesome! I have one and I love it and it's completely silent.

I have a 22 litre / 5 gallon. money isn't an issue really. I forked out on a hydra filter which is meant to be the new thing... it isn't bacterial, it uses two metal plates which it send electrodes through to eliminate ammonia and nitrite. I have never had an ammonia or nutrients spike... even in a brand new tank. so on the front it does amazingly... however it does not clean the wayer of debris so my tank just looks horrible I can't understand why though. I do regular water changes, I don't over feed my betta and I only have 3 plants (plus two loss balls) so I haven't got any organic material from those. yet it is still murky :/

 

[Barliman]

...so does anyone have a good recommendation for a quiet (it's in my room next to my bed so has to be quiet) and will keep my tank clean? (with a flow not too strong for a betta).

Aquaclears are great, though they *can* be noisy if the lid vibrates or the impeller is settling in after a cleaning. How big is the tank? You might have to turn down the flow for the betta. (I had an AC 20 on a 10g and had to do that for the betta.)

EDIT: Missed where you already answered my question. For a 5g, I agree with the other poster that a sponge filter might be your best bet.

 

[flchamp89]

There is a small hob called a mignon 60. You should be able to find it for less than 20 bucks on amazon. Good low flow filter suitable for a small betta tank

 

[loubeardy]

I looked at the aquaclear...bit I can't find a store in the UK that sells. bit noticed it was fluval filter so I went for a fluval after reading some reviews. the sponges was a good idea but concerned it would be loud (although haven't ruled it out entirely...).
what I don't get it why are all small filters (for 50 litres/10 gallons or less) don't come with a biological or chemical media... why isn't it needed?

 

[flchamp89]

Ac does. Most do I think.

 

[loubeardy]

Ac does. Most do I think.

the ones I looked at in two different store didn't :/ I was stepped to go for the one up purely for the other media bit it would take up half my tank space!

 

[flchamp89]

Ac probably to big for that cube. Look at the mignon