First Polypterus: need advice!

[elbereth]

Or maybe I'll turn it into an HMF. Would it provide as much filtration as a traditional sponge filter?

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Sorry no experience with an HMF. If the tank is in your bedroom a canister would probably be the most quiet.

 

[elbereth]

I used to worry about him being able to reach the surface. I'm gradually increasing it.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Is this the one that has a lid? I have every bit of possible escape routes covered with duct tape on any of my tanks that have a poly.

 

[elbereth]

I have an Eheim canister I got from a friend but one of the hoses leaked slightly. I know I could fix that but I realized then I prefer internal filters: if anything were to happen, I won't have a flood in my room. I have too much water spilling all over the place when I do water changes as it is. And I have books all over the place!

Do canisters provide enough aeration though? I don't want to use airstones. The air pumps I have are too loud. (All my tanks are in my bedroom - too much disapproval of my new hobby from the family.) And I don't want to buy a new one. If I have to buy anything, I'd rather it be a filter that can provide filtration and aeration.

As for the lid, this tank doesn't have one. Working on that.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

A sponge would provide filtration and aeration, but you need an air pump to run a sponge filter. What kind of air pump do you have? The tetra whisper pumps are pretty quiet.

 

[Rocksor]

I'll consider that, thanks.
The new filter I mentioned is one I put together using a powerhead though it contains both ceramic rings and a sponge. I could make it sponge only. But I have to figure out a way to colonize it without running both filters on the tank. Maybe I'll set up another small tank or a bucket and dose with ammonia...

If you have a DIY filter using a water bottle, ceramic rings, sponge and powerhead, this will be enough.

 

[elbereth]

I don't think my air pump would be strong enough. But I see that sponge filters could be run with a powerhead too. I have the Aquatop 158 gph. Very powerful and practically silent.

 

[Polyaddict86]

Can't take any better photos without getting in the tank, lol. The tank itself is nothing to brag about. I'm waiting to add some wood and more plants.
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Tank and del looks nice, i would get some other polys now while that del is not huge yet, it will be harder to find a big poly, btw i noticed there is no lid, do you have one? Polys are notorious jumpers.

 

[elbereth]

I've been warned by quite a few people on this forum already. I'm planning to make a lid as soon as I have some spare time. I can't imagine him being able to jump out yet with the water level being low. Unless he jumps from where he perches on the filter... hmm... I'll get moving on that soon.

And I'd love to get another poly one but I don't think any of the stores in my city have delhezis right now. I'm very tempted by the ornates at my LFS but I know I won't be able to provide it with a large enough tank once it grows. A teugelsi would be nice but those seem even harder to find where I live than delhezi. So I'll just have to wait.

And it seems that my "he" might actually be "she", lol! I'll post some pictures of the anal fin as soon as I can get some clear ones and hopefully you could all give me your opinion.