Archivarium 2004

[Beesboer]

I am new and would like some help. I have buy a 260L tank and want to know, if a under gravel filter and a sponge filter will be enough for the tank. As I understand, these 2 filters don't do chemical filtration.
Thanks.
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272L Tank, UGF & Internal power filter 2X500L p/h.
8 Neon Tetra's, 3 Guppys, 2 Khuli Loachies, 2 Clown Loachies, 2 Hilstream Loachies, 1 Betta

[PharCyde]

The undergravel filter won't do anything remarkable. The sponge filter would be a better option as it is more accessible and creates a current to get water movement, which is good if the heater and the filter are in the same corner.

[Irons]

Actually both of these do mechanical filtration. All mechanical filtration is a device that pull debris out of the water. A UGF does this by drawing debris under the plate, the sponge traps it in the media. Both of these also provide more surface area to host baterica adding to your biological filter.

As far as using these in your tank you could. However, I wouldn't recommend it. The aquarium hobby technology has moved along quiet a bit in the past 15+ years. Your tank is about 68US gallons. Unless your going to lightly stock the tank I think you may find difficulty in keeping up your water quality. In the US here we can get a Magnum 350 from Big Al's for about $90USD. It is signicantly more effiecent at mechanical filtration than either of your other methods. The magnum does 350g/hr. So, that is filtering your entire volume 5 times an hour. There are hang-on-back (HOB's) that also turn over a great volume of water as well. These gives you the same thing the UGF, but at a higher volume. One of the advanages of the cansiter filter is you can put the output where you want. Giving you the ability of current control and direction. Good luck with your tank.
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"... instead of considering what to say when they write, people now just let thoughts drool out onto the screen," - about e-mail
Irons.

[Beesboer]

I have made a mistake! It's not a sponge filter, but an internal power filter, doing 500L per hour. The person at the pet shop told me, this and the UGF also 500L per hour, would supply enough filtration.

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272L Tank, UGF & Internal power filter 2X500L p/h.
8 Neon Tetra's, 3 Guppys, 2 Khuli Loachies, 2 Clown Loachies, 2 Hilstream Loachies, 1 Betta

[uLtRa]

If I were you I would read up about under gravel filters and the difficulties you could have with them.

http://www.bestfish.com/ug.html

Also were you hoping of putting live plants in the tank?