Filter for CO

[dani]

i have my two c.o. in a mostly aquatic setup [a few plant leaves and part of a piece of driftwood extend beyond the surface for basking]. theyve been in there for about three weeks now, without a filter. i have been doing weekly water changes, and remove uneaten food with a turkey baster. i originally had an ancient underwater filter [uses air forced into the filter through a tube from outside the tank and sends up bubbles out the top] that was given to me, but one of the original pair i brought home was sick and died after about 48 hours. while trying to figure out why he was ailing, i had pulled out the filter to remove any form of stress.
so now, i am wondering. when they say not to use a filter that produces a "current" are they referring to the disturbance or movement of the water surface [which this filter does] or a pushing underwater current that will inhibit the newts ability to swim [which this filter does not]?
i have seen that some do not even bother with a filter as it is too stressful for c.o.s, but i would really rather have something more than water changes.
feedback?

 

[paris]

mine live fine with a box filter-it creates current only at one end but also i have lots of floating plants and cork bark so the movement at the water level is baffled by these objects. if you want something easy you might just want to keep the water slightly circulating-so put a bubble stone in one corner and use an adjustable air pump and just set it on low output, that way you will have movement of water creating a higher oxygen exchange but it wont create such a current as you want to avoid-you can also load up the water section with a lot of elodea-that will slow down water movement-in almost every tank that i have a water dish in i keep a bubble stone going-it keeps the water fresher longer and provides some spray for nearby plants.