3 Gallon pico filter?

[Camarowithbass]

I purchased a 3 gallon used pico recently.

Question is the media on the filter to me looks somewhat old and what not. All it appears to be is a simple card looking thing with a bit of carbon and a sponge on it.

IMG_20110706_183228.jpgIMG_20110706_183246.jpgIMG_20110706_183240.jpg

Attached is a picture of the filter and of the filter cartridge. Will this filter be good enough to for 2-3 dwarf puffers?

If the good bacteria build up on the sponge of the filter and I want to replaced the cartridge wont that get rid of all the good bacteria and my fish would die?

Any help will be greatly appreciated !

[electricblue]

2-3 dwarfs is too much for a 3 gallon, and just go ahead and upgrade to a bigger filter. Regardless of the filter i have if it's an hob i just go ahead and put an aqua clear sponge on the bottom, some media on top and another small sponge on the intake

[Bedlamer]

Yes, if you discarded the cartridge, you would be throwing away the bulk of your beneficial bacteria. It would be better to rinse it off occasionally in used aquarium or de-chlorinated water. I'm not familiar with that particular brand, but it is often possible to jimmy or cut open those things and either replace the carbon, or add different types of media--maybe another bit of sponge, filter floss, or some ceramic bio-media or whatever.

[IvanSanchez]

I agree on 2-3 puffers being too much for 3 gallon.

You can just toss that and add your own sponge/media from a tank you already have running. That would be easiest.
I wouldn't add that old carbon back in the water. It could be harmful depending on how long it's been.

[TaTeR ToT]

In my 2.5g fry planted fry tank I'm using an aquaclear 30 hob and it works wonders.
They have the adjustable flow switch, I turned it all the way down.
I have 7 10 spit size geoohagus fry and a couple assassin snails.

[IvanSanchez]

Haha Tater I don't know if a aquaclear 30 would fit on a 3 gallon picotope but that would be some great filtration for that tank! :)

[Camarowithbass]

is there another kind of slightly bigger puffer I can put in a 3 gallon? Like when its fully grown I wont have to get a bigger tank for it or what not.

[TaTeR ToT]

No not really, if you could get a 10g it would open up a couple new possibilities, like maybe a green spot puffer and brackish setup or a 20g with a bronze puffer of Congo puffer.
Hope this helps.

[Camarowithbass]

I already have this 3 gallon, will 1 dwarf puffer be good in here?

[IvanSanchez]

One would be perfect! Don't worry about wanting to have more in there to make it interesting. Dwarf puffers have some of the best personalities and will make you love your 3 gallon tank more than the rest of your tanks. One is enough! You can even try adding an amano shrimp in there if you want more in the tank. Just keep an eye on whoever else you put in the tank. Some pea puffers are friendly but some aren't.

Make sure you have some plants or decor to keep your puffer entertained! :)

[electricblue]

if you want more than one puffer you could always upgrade to just a 5 or 10 gallon, i would just make that 3 gallon a shrimp tank,or just put that one puffer but still get some better filtration since puffers have a high protein diet.