best filter for a 10g

[Michael88]

yo
pretty soon im buying a 10g but it doent come with a filter soo now im seeing what my options are. all of these are about the same price so thats not an issue. here it is-ac mini-whisper-fluval internal-sponge with a powerhead. what my best bet?notice i did not mention undergravel.

[NjOyRiD]

i use ac 150 for one and a mini for the other..i have no prob at all..the tanks are lways clean

[mseguin]

Well I would say it depends on what u want to keep in there. Generally I like the AC's, the whisper is pretty similar.

[BigDaddy]

Yeah... depends on the fish you plan on keeping.

A betta, I wouldn't use a mini, I'd use an air-driven sponge filter (given the choice).

Overall, though, for smaller tanks, I do like the AC Minis and 150s....

[Michael88]

well the tank comes with plant and guppies. i think that screws the ac idea. ill have loots of my stery snails in there theey always seems to get caught in the filter inbtake on my ac. i end up with empty shells under my filter intake and raw escargot in my filter floss. how would a fluval fare in there ? it would be impossible to get fish stuck in there. by the way i read thar snails hate salt . but i need to put allittle in for the guppies. would the level the gupies need be bad for the snails?cant seem to find what level they can stand. just says they dont like salt. definately willl not be at brackish levels (maybe 1.001-2?)

[NjOyRiD]

you dont need to put your water brakish..in thw wild they are but here now they can live in freshwater! Dont worry about that...

[blueturq]

Guppies don't need salt in their water, they are VERY content in freshwater.

[Michael88]

good. then il just keep hard water to fit the snails. if they can stand brackish water they can definately stand hard water

[squeeker]

No reason why you can't use an aquaclear filter with guppies...

Even my bettas have one on their tank, with no problems, not even torn fins.

[fishycanuck]

you can put an intake cover (purchased or home made with a piece of clean stocking) on the filter intake, just have to rinse it out weekly though...

[Michael88]

wont the current be al little strong for plants?

[squeeker]

nope, I have an ac 150 in a 10 gallon planted, I just adjust the flow and it's fine

[tuvok]

wont the current be al little strong for plants?

Depends on what kind of plants. Most plants that grow in the substrate or water column should be OK. Some floating plants like duckweed will get pushed under water by the flow from the filter return and will very likely get sucked up into the filter. Just something I thought I'd mention just in case.

[Michael88]

k.woud vals,java moss and fern and a small sword do ok?

[NjOyRiD]

yes..i have the following plants you mantioned in my 10g with a ac 150

[dpatte]

i still prefer marineland - id go for a marineland penguin mini. gotta love those biowheels.

[scottb]

i would also suggest that the Aquaclear line would be a good way to go - they're flexible media-wise, have adjustable flow (if current is a problem) and they're fairly inexpensive.

i would definitely go with an AC over the whisper, one of which I also own.  Relatively speaking, the amount of time that the water spends in contact with the media is much greater in the AC, and it is MUCH less prone to clogging.