Best filter?

[girl_interrupted]

Hi, as some of my mfker buddies know I'm starting out. I want to know what is the best brand for filters. My conditions are:
-something not that huge, for a 5 gallon tank and a fantail goldie (not that it makes a difference) super newbie i know.
-not like 70 dollars lol as ive seen on petcos site.

Any advice welcome =)

please and thankyou

 

[Youngbuck5009]

aquaclear

 

[Savior19]

Wallmart brand ?..........Naaaaa

 

[sp33dstix]

aquaclear

Agreed..get an aquaclear 500 just to be safe
Kidding, that would be over kill. If you do get an aquaclear, keep the sponges, buy some biomax and some filter floss. Have the sponge at the bottom, filter floss in the middle and biomax on top. You might have to replace the floss periodically but the sponge and biomax should last you for ages.

 

[Texs]

Aquaclear 20 with 2 sponges and biomax should be good.

 

[Addikted2Cichlids]

AC 20 or higher if u plan on upgrading you might as well get a bigger filter for the future.. Dr foster and smith usually have good prices on filters..

 

[aquaculture]

diy a small one and get a small pump shouln't cost much more than getting a brand new one, either way you go you have a goldfish and it needs great filtration , can be messy fish.

 

[swede]

just get a sponge filter. they have great BB and its easy enough to do a WC weekly on a 5 gallon tank

 

[girl_interrupted]

pardon my ignoránce but can someone explain a bit more about sponges and biomax and filter floss? Just a bit.

from all the responses, I see Aquaclear is the way to go. And from what I gather.... 20?

 

[Addikted2Cichlids]

pardon my ignoránce but can someone explain a bit more about sponges and biomax and filter floss? Just a bit.

from all the responses, I see Aquaclear is the way to go. And from what I gather.... 20?

AC is good HOB(Hang on back)Filter, the #20 is the max size of tank it is desinged to filter, although most people go higher because alot of filter brands think there filter does more then we think it does .. As for the sponges it functions mechanically to remove suspended dirt particles and other debris from your aquarium. It also encourages some settlement of beneficial bacteria to aid biological filtration. The Bio Max balls are made to support a huge colony of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria are vital to your aquarium's water quality as they help de-toxify highly poisonous substances suck as ammonia which is broken down into nitrites and even more bacteria that breaks that down into nitrates which is the least harmful but still can be in large amounts.. AS for the filter floss it does the same thing a sponge or foam insert does, it basically takes the larger particles of debris out of your water and prevents the bigger particles from reaching the small pores of yor biomax which will slow and eventually clog your filter..