advice on fish filters please

[Tigi]

Hi, I have 2 goldfish. i have just read lots of different reviews about filters. Most warn you away! Do I need one that is a grid under the gravel or a box on the side? One with a sponge to wash?
I have 2 very big fish in a big tank with an air bubble device. They have com to no harm so far - they are 10, but i do think i should get a filter, as i seem to be cleaning them out a lot. thanks

hi, am relatively new to fish, but have a tank with tropical . There are some really good sites for this www.thinkfish.com, you can ask all kinds of questions and they will reply to you. From what I gather the under gravel filters are not that good, you would be better with one on the side with the removeable sponge.

Used to have fish but got so naffed off with cleaning the tank! The now reside in a large outside pond.

I used the filter with the sponge and raised it a little just on the surface of the water to create more bubbles/air IYSWIM.

It was vile cleaning the sponge out, full of poo and old food but nice knowing the fish were well looked after.

Worked well for me.

I have one in a box - think its a fluval. Works fine, I rinse the sponges (in tank water) rather than replace them. As long as you get the poo out its fine and saves money, plus you don't get rid of all the good bacteria that you need. I wear disposable gloves - job I hate doing.

When you have one and realise that without the filter your poor fish would have been swimming in poo and waste food for ages, you don't mind cleaning the filter.
You can get filters that stand inside the tank, or ones that reside outside. The external ones are better at filtering and easier to maintain.

fluvals are the best i have a tropical tank 96 litres with a fluval 4 plus internal filter and a fluval 205 external one u don't really need a external one tho not for goldfish

then in my 6o litre tank which i did have goldfish in i have gto 2 fluval 2 plus and they are great but the water does get dirty quick in a goldfish tank any how

the fluval filters are reasonable priced to a fluval 2 plus is £20 i think