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On 2006-04-26, Mister Gardener wrote:
On Wed, 26 Apr 2006 18:17:09 -0000, "Frederick B. Henry Jr."
wrote:

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I also have a Whisper filter with a biobag and no foam insert. I assume
the bacteria will colonize the filter mesh, but I could be wrong. The
precise model is: Whisper Power Filter for 5-15 Gallon Aquariums,
Product #25798. I believe it was noted that there are a variety of
whisper models, so possibly yours and mine just lack the foam insert
filter.

I've finally found the filter you are using. I was only able to locate
it at the Tetra web site, not at any of the major online fish supply
retailers or Petco. It's part of an unusual line of Whispers, a line I
have never seen before. The designation "5-15 Gallons" threw me off,
because all of the whispers on store shelves are designated in steps
of 10 gallons, not 5, ie 10-20, up to 30, 40, no 5's." Perhaps it is
being marketed specifically for bundling with aquarium kits or
something? I've discovered that the smallest of this line of Whisper
filters do not include the sponge, but rely on the "deeply etched
frame" of the biobag to grow the colony of bacteria, along with, of
course the other surfaces of your aquarium, the gravel, ornaments,
etc. This is an extremely old Whisper design, that I thought they
buried when they brought in the sponges. Whisper filters off the
shelf, I can't vouch for those that are part of a kit, beginning at
the 20 (up to 20 gallons) include the bio foam insert. And you are
going to love this - Missus Gardener just called up the steps asking
why I just screamed - you can purchase a Whisper bio-foam for the 5-15
filter for $2.79 at this link.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

Add postage and handling and you could buy a whole new filter!

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That said . . . I used Whisper filters of nearly all sizes for at
least 10 or 15 years before they added the foam inserts, and I never
had a problem with biological filtration. The sponge was a landmark
improvement for Tetra at the time it was introduced, it probably put
them back in the running against the AquaClear foam blocks and the
Marineland biowheels. I run 10 gallon tanks for fry which usually get
a sponge filter only and hospital which has a whisper 20. I am sorry
if I caused or added to any confusion for people using these 5-15
Whispers - I recently read a list of the top ten hip phrases of 2005
that need to be forgotten by the end of 2006 and near the top of the
list was "my bad". So I will do my part in eliminating that bit of
silliness from our language. "My apology" works better for me.

-- Mister Gardener
-- Pull the WEED to email me


Thanks for all the info! I think I will let the current cycle happen
and keep the whisper I have sans bio-sponge. I'm sure I will add more
tanks as I become more knowledgeable and experienced, and then try less
basic filters---mine came in a "kit" probably alot like the one David
McDermott posted about.

Cheers,

Fred
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--
"Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after."
--Alphonse Allais