5 comments to “Do I HAVE to have a filter for my aquarium if I do weekly 1/4 water changes and use a siphon for the bottom?”

1. ? wrote:
   31. January 2010 at 3:56 am :

   it will do for a while. siphoning tends to stir up the gunk at the bottom and that is usually filtered out. in your case it just sinks back to the bottom and rots some more.
   You can get filters for a 10 gal for as little as $7 new. id stay away from used ones just incase of diseases.

   Get a bottle of Cycle to help you break down the fish waste. It is good bacteria in a bottle.

   Filters do more than filter. They agitate the waters surface wich gives the fish oxygen.

   But it also depends on what types of fish, and how many you have. some are ok with little to no filtration. some (like goldfish) need contant, strong filtration because they are messy, and some need a very high water quality.

2. Da Ben Dan wrote:
   2. February 2010 at 8:49 pm :

   It will probably work as long as you don’t have too many fish in it..and are really careful about dechlorinating the water and making sure the temperature is correct.–and don’t overfeed your fish….but also be careful about the gravel on the bottom…you don’t want to disturb it too much because all of your beneficial bacteria will be there and you won’t have any in a filter to back you up.

3. Sporadic wrote:
   5. February 2010 at 3:43 am :

   buy an air driven filter. They cost less than 10$ and an airpump another 10$ is that really too much?

4. danielle Z wrote:
   7. February 2010 at 2:48 pm :

   Yes you have to have a filter. Dissolved Oxygen DO2 (the oxygen fish need to survive) can only be attained when the moving water comes in contact with air. Air stones and air pumps do nothing to add DO2 to your tank so you will be waisting money. (Gold fish bowls usuallyhouse only one fish and are changed quite frequently)

   Depending on how many fish you have in your tank and what kind. Gold fish need more DO2 than most since they are pond fish.

   Keeping it clean is a good idea. To add DO2 to your tank to ensure they have enough DO2 is the same method you use when the power goes out for long periods of time. Using a large cup or pitcher, evey time you walk by the tank, scoop up a cup or pitcher of tank water. Hold it about a foot or two above the tank and slowly pour the water into the tank. This will allow DO2 to enter the tank.

   Also, if you are housing gold fish, Be sure the temperature is set around 55-60. This will allow the fish to be in a more suspended state, requireing less DO2 until you can get a filter.

   Your fish will thank you for the added DO2.

   You should be fine for now, however if your fish become lethargic or gasping for air, be sure to aireate the water with your cup….often!

5. taiyeddreamland wrote:
   8. February 2010 at 11:19 am :

   Filters do a lot more than you do with a weekly 1/4 water change. Besides that, you should be doing a weekly 1/4 water change even WITH a filter, so without you need a lot more.

   Stagnant water can be dangerous, algae and things grow more and pockets of “dead” water (no oxygen) can build up, which can kill your fish. Filters will help circulate your water, which helps provide an even temperature and keep oxygen flowing into your tank (especially if there is surface agitation). Air stones, pumps,. bubbles, etc. don’t actually ADD oxygen to your tank, they just provide more surface area when the bubbles burst for oxygen to enter your tank. With a cheap filter, you can get thish same effect, so a filter really kills 2 birds with one stone in that sense!

   Also, if you have activated charcoal in your filter (also called activated carbon) it will help somewhat to keep your water clear (which is good if you want to see your fish). The filter also usually has a mechanical part that will remove solids from the tank, and a biological part that allows bacteria (helpful) to grow on it, which will keep you from poisoning your fish with ammonia, at least it will help. Not having a filter is a very very very bad idea. You can get one for 13 dollars on an online website that will work fine.

   With a 10 gallon tank, you really do need a filter. If you need help picking out a cheap one online, I can help you. I just helped a friend out who is in the same situation who needed a filter for a 20 gallon tank I gave to him. We found one that is more than sufficient for his 20 gallon for like 12 dollars online. My email is if you want/need more help.

   Good luck!

   Also, keep up the water changes and siphoning even WITH the filter. And, as a final note, products such as Cycle usually have mixed reviews. If you’re on a budget, you’d be better off putting your money towards a filter than towards that (which will run you probably close to 10 dollars for the cycle), and you have to keep using it whilel your tank is setting up. It is NOT a replacement for a filter.