To filter or not to filter?

[alison]

I've got a great little paddle tail newt. I was wondering, does his tank need a filter? Or is an air stone enough? In an ideal world, what should I make sure I have in his tank? I've got rocks for him to get out of the water on, and places for him to hide... am I missing anything?

Thanks!!!

 

[jennifer]

How big is the tank? And does it have live plants? How long has the tank been set up?

You can certainly get along with just an airstone if you are willing to do careful and regular cleaning. A turkey baster is useful for this. I like corner box filters, but they are basically just glorified airstones.

 

[TJ]

Hi Jen.

Why basically just glorified airstones? Don't beneficial bacteria colonize the filter's cotton? Not in sufficient quantities? Mine also have little stones in the bottom layer. I ask because I long ago switched away from motorized filters to this type of filter...

 

[jennifer]

I do think that a box filter is better than just an airstone. They provide more biofiltration area. But I think that an established tank with rocks and plants probably has enough biofiltration. They filter out some small particles, but with so-so efficiency. And if you put charcoal inside, you get some benefit from that, although I don't know how important that is. All in all, it's an upgrade (and may be just as good as a small submersible filter), but I'm not sure that it's essential for a tank with just one newt.

 

[mark]

I have no filter in my C.o. tank and they are doing just fine, with me doing 20% water changes once a week.

B.T.W. Jennifer, I got a turkey baster, and I don' see how it helps, I don't mean to be rude, but when you try to suck up stuff it just sucks up the gravel or the sand, and the gravel clogs the baster. Write back, thank you!

(Message edited by markmark6464 on December 07, 2004)

 

[alison]

The tank is a smaller one... one of those "hexa fun" tanks... I'm not sure of the actual size. Not the best tank, I know. I do want to get a larger one soon. Am watching for any possibilities. No plants right now. Would love to get some someday. Will do that along with the new tank.

 

[hayden]

Mark, try sucking from farther away...It also helps if you have a water dish in their for feeding that has a bare bottom...You can easily clean food up with the turkey baster in that...

 

[mark]

Nice, thanks!

 

[jennifer]

Mark, I haven't had any trouble with the turkey baster clogging with gravel. Then again, the only thing I use is fine sand or bare bottomed tanks. It does take a few tries to get the knack with it.

 

[joeri]

Alternatively, you could use a firm straw as a baster too. The opening is a bit bigger and the straw is longer.

At least, that's how I do it as I don't have a turkey baster

 

[joseph]

Not to sure how big around a baster is, but I was having trouble with gravel pieces and snails going up my air line tubing for water changes. So me and my Dad went down to the hardware store and bought one of slightly larger diameter(abouy 1/2 inch). He came up with the idea of cutting a portion of the airline tubing off and fitting this inside the airline tubings entrance. this insured that whatever went into the airline tube was small enough to go all the way through.