I just have some questions on the best filtration and substrate for Malawi's.
I bought a used tank which came with a non-working HOB filter. I like HOB's; I use an Aquaclear and find they work well and are cheap and quiet, plus this new tank's hood is already cut to fit a HOB.
But I know from experience that HOB filters, sand substrate, and digging fish DO NOT mix... the filter sucks the sand up and it gets caught in the impellor.
I have plenty of spare medium-small gravel and sand available... so I'm trying to decide between options:
1) Gravel substrate, HOB filter (which the fish might not enjoy as much)
2) Sand substate, some other filter (but I can't afford an expensive filter like a canister filter)
3) Sand substate, HOB filter with a spare filter sponge stuck over the filter intake, and hope that works to keep sand out of the filter
I bought a used tank which came with a non-working HOB filter. I like HOB's; I use an Aquaclear and find they work well and are cheap and quiet, plus this new tank's hood is already cut to fit a HOB.
But I know from experience that HOB filters, sand substrate, and digging fish DO NOT mix... the filter sucks the sand up and it gets caught in the impellor.
I have plenty of spare medium-small gravel and sand available... so I'm trying to decide between options:
1) Gravel substrate, HOB filter (which the fish might not enjoy as much)
2) Sand substate, some other filter (but I can't afford an expensive filter like a canister filter)
3) Sand substate, HOB filter with a spare filter sponge stuck over the filter intake, and hope that works to keep sand out of the filter