Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I decided I am going to set up a half water section in my tank but I can't figure out how to filter it...I cant do a sump so I need a self contained filter. but the regular ones are designed to hang on the back of a tank...I have heard of submersible filters but the only ones I found where fluval ones and they where huge.
any suggestions?
-Matt

There are several good submersible pumps. I use Little Giant mostly. I get them at my local pet store for about $15-20 and have never had a problem with them. Also you can use a powerhead the same way. As far as the filtering just place some activated carbon such as chemipure over the inlet side of the pump and bury everything in the gravel. This will not remove the particulant matter but works still great. The water will be crystal clear. Hope this helps a little bit.

TonyT
1.1 Azureus
1.2 Imitators
0.1 Mint Terribillis
1.0 Citronella
3.2 G&B Auratus C/R
2.2 Luecs
0.0.4 Oyapoks
0.0.4 Alanis
0.0.3 Yellow backs
0.0.4 Red Vitattus

I kind of wanted to do a biological filtration set up
so I can have a few live plants in there and maybe a fish.
but thank you-I will do that if I cant find anything else
-Matt

I'd use a small sponge filter. I use these in my fry growout tanks. You can run them with an air pump, but a small powerhead is more efficient. Dont use carbon if you want plants in there. Its really only useful for a few hours anyway. The only time I ever use carbon is to remove meds.

The ones I use are made by aquarium technologies.

These are them. hehehe
Link

"I kind of wanted to do a biological filtration set up"

If you do a water feature, for example water running down a piece of driftwood into the pool of water at the bottom, it would provide all the biological filtration you need. A little area of running water will hold a ton of good aerobic bacteria!

Leif

Your right in theory, however bacteria cant survive on wood, regardless of how old it is. A sponge will provide a huge surface area that is more hospitable to the bacterial cultures needed to maintain water quality.

yes, that is why I siliconed the area where the water runs down the wood and added gravel, and another piece of slate at the bottom of the water feature for the water to deflect off. And the bottom of the pool is gravel which the water has to flow through, similar to an undergravel filter. Not quite as efficient for growing bacteria, but it will work.

Also you could rough up the pvc pipes that hold up the false bottom to provide yet another area for the benificial bacteria to live. For the two gallons of water that is in my tank and a light bio-load that should provide enough surface area to grow bacteria...in theory as you said

Leif

I Have Penn Plax sand sharks they are only about one inch high and have a built in multistage filter And 60 gph they are available at Meijer In Michigan and I have seen them in other pet stores too price $23-28

Darryl
Dart-Frogs.com

Why not use an external canister filter, like an Eheim? That way you can draw the water out and filter it in a closed system. You could also use the return water to run a water feature.

With a canister filter you can get mechanical, chemical and biological filtration. Your main problem will be maintaining a constant water level in the tank.

Tim

Have you looked at Duettos? n/p