Is a filter necessary?

[Berzerker]

I have been keeping snakes and monitors and a WTF for several years now but am new to, well, water I guess. I am currently setting up a false bottom for my WTF and was wondering, should I filter the water or just change it every week? I will be planting some live stuff in there and will have a waterfall and pond area. I was just going to buy a 130 gph Sunterra Fountain Pump from Canadian Tire. Has anybody used these?

Thanks everyone.

[Grimm]

Unless you are planning on keeping crtitters permanently in the water, I wouldnt worry about a filter....

.....You could however, hit two birds with one stone and use the filter, as the waterfall pump, and skip buying the pump. Just make sure the head elevation is high enough for you to reach the top of the fall, and look for something with variable flow.

[Berzerker]

What about the Fluval U1 filter? It says something like 130gph, variable speed. I have been doing a fair amount, well, some research but nothing says the truth like experience.
What do you guys use?

[Grimm]

I have only used a pump to pump water. But that is because at the time of purchasing the filter, I didnt think about also using it as the pump aswell.

Is this the filter you are looking at?
Fluval U1 Underwater Filter | Internal Aquarium Filters | Filters | Aquarium - ThatPetPlace.com

I cant really tell you my "experiences" about that filter, but I can tell you what I think of it. First with its stats; the gph rating has no set correlation to the "head hight/maximun lift" that it can pump. Typically the two stats go up relative to each other, but the head hight wont be the same on a filter as to a pump with the same gph. The filter sponge and carbon get in the way of overall water flow, as it should haha. You said the pump you want is 130pgh, but the link says it is only 65 (probably only capable of lifting water 12" or so) Plus it needs to be submerged in 3-6" of water depending which way it is orientated. The cool thing is that the output nozzle can slide across the filter. It may reduce the power, but you can turn up the flow! Fluval is a good brand, so it is probably worth a shot. Depending on how high you need to pump, go with the one that you think will do the job. Then bring it home and test it, then upgrade if it isnt strong enough. Just take into concideration that filter flow will go down as the spong becomes clogged. Mine slows down a lot after 2 weeks or so.

[beckdg]

i think a power head with a prefilter sponge would be a lot better than that fluval.

internal filters will be real hair as waterfall pumps. the muck will collect somewhere and block the flow eventually on most models. most likely sooner than later.

for $34 you could easily surround a fountain pump with filter media and have money left over and a much better design. jmo.

[Berzerker]

Beck,
That is kind of where I was heading with this. My first post talks about a 130 gph Sunterra Fountain Pump from Canadian Tire. Do you think that this pump would be good?

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

How would I filter the water with this pump?

[beckdg]

build a filter box around it. it doesn't have to be anything special... it just has to force the water to go through media before it gets to the pump.

that pump seems expensive for what it is. i'm sure you can get one under $20 if you look around. ebay might be a good place to start.

other than the price it looks like exactly what you need.

[Berzerker]

Ok, again I am what you would call, "new to water". What would the filter box be constructed from? Also, what is the best filter media be? Or at least a good combo of stuff to use?

[beckdg]

we usually build filter boxes from eggcrate around these parts. do a search around the forum and you should get an idea what they are. lining the insides with something of this sort... Foam Block Wet-Dry/Sump Filter Sponge 11.5" Eshopps on eBay! and leaving a small gap between the foam and the pump would be your best bet... so the pump is just sitting there, kinda.

[Berzerker]

Thanks for your help.