8g tank- can 'good' bacteria grow in an underwater filter?
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 6:13 am
Hi y'all, short background, then a Q. I've been a member a few years, mostly lurk. I've had my clownmob of clown loaches for about 5 years now. Aside from the very unfortunate/strange death of my Big Boy, the other 4 have been doing great, although it took awhile to figure out who was the new sheriff in town.
Just so you know I've had tanks for years, understand the fundamentals.
Which brings me closer to my question, non-loach related. It's about filtering a little 8g 'wall/picture' tank, had been in storage, I found an interesting spot for it so I've had it running a few days. Basically insta-cycled it, filled with water from the established 75g tank, rubbed good filter gunk on the filter, no problems with the water.
So we've come to the filter. This tank is only 4 inches wide, the smallest 10g filter is just too tight, could easily overflow when it backs up a bit. So, I bought a little fluval underwater filter, turns enough water for 15g, but it's basically a powerhead with a cover over the sponge filter.
Drum roll: THE QUESTION(s) : ) Will a small, 'one stage' (sponge only) underwater filter create enough good bacteria work for the long run? I mean there is no oxygen transfer, or bio-wheel or anything above the surface to interact with air. Do you think that is sufficient? Do those nasty 'undergravel' filters work on the same process, no oxygen transfer at all?
My first thought for a fix is running an air bubble line where the bubbles suck into the filter and thru the sponge, but I'm curious if anyone has other insight on this type of underwater, one-stage type filtering for a small tank. And it's only very small fish involved, neon-sized, nothing over 2 inches max.
If you made it this far, thanks for any input.
Just so you know I've had tanks for years, understand the fundamentals.
Which brings me closer to my question, non-loach related. It's about filtering a little 8g 'wall/picture' tank, had been in storage, I found an interesting spot for it so I've had it running a few days. Basically insta-cycled it, filled with water from the established 75g tank, rubbed good filter gunk on the filter, no problems with the water.
So we've come to the filter. This tank is only 4 inches wide, the smallest 10g filter is just too tight, could easily overflow when it backs up a bit. So, I bought a little fluval underwater filter, turns enough water for 15g, but it's basically a powerhead with a cover over the sponge filter.
Drum roll: THE QUESTION(s) : ) Will a small, 'one stage' (sponge only) underwater filter create enough good bacteria work for the long run? I mean there is no oxygen transfer, or bio-wheel or anything above the surface to interact with air. Do you think that is sufficient? Do those nasty 'undergravel' filters work on the same process, no oxygen transfer at all?
My first thought for a fix is running an air bubble line where the bubbles suck into the filter and thru the sponge, but I'm curious if anyone has other insight on this type of underwater, one-stage type filtering for a small tank. And it's only very small fish involved, neon-sized, nothing over 2 inches max.
If you made it this far, thanks for any input.