Filter needed? Heater safe?

[Cinnebuns]

I got this cheap 1.5 gallon for newly hatched cory fry. It came with a style of filter I've never seen before. Tbh, I wonder if they even really need a filter. I will only have them in there for the first 1-2 weeks of their life and will be cleaning daily with a turkey baster. Do they need one? 

2nd question I have is regarding this heater and the way is covered the filter. I put panty hoes over the filter to protect the fry but I'm worried that is a fire hazard being close to the heater. Is it?  Eliminating the filter all together would solve that.

The 2nd picture is of the filter instructions so you can kinda see how it is without it covered.

[Odd Duck]

Am I thinking right that it has a pump at the bottom and the outflow is at the top?  And the filter media I’m guessing is in what looks like a compartment at the top?  I’m also guessing that it’s probably a fairly standard small powerhead type pump sitting on what looks like a little slotted guard at the bottom that lifts the pump up so it doesn’t get blocked at the bottom?

This is a first one on me.  I’ve never seen a filter like that before.  I don’t know why it wouldn’t work but you’re smart to put the hose over it for tiny fry.  I would probably gather up the loose bit at the top by rolling it or something, just so it won’t have crevices for fry to get caught.  They’re just like toddlers - no life experience, they’re very nosey, and they do foolish things.

[Cinnebuns]

Another thing I thought, which I should have thought of earlier, is why not get a 2nd or a larger breeder box instead of messing with this. I have the fluval med hang on and found I wanted to move the fry out a couple days after they hatch, when they start to eat. Maybe my solution is another fluval hang on or even the large one. 

On 3/31/2022 at 4:21 PM, Odd Duck said:

Am I thinking right that it has a pump at the bottom and the outflow is at the top?  And the filter media I’m guessing is in what looks like a compartment at the top?  I’m also guessing that it’s probably a fairly standard small powerhead type pump sitting on what looks like a little slotted guard at the bottom that lifts the pump up so it doesn’t get blocked at the bottom?

That's exactly how it works. Kinda a cool idea imo for getting gunk on the bottom which HOB lack at but I've never seen it before. 

[Jenja]

Biggest question I'd say is what's the room temperature where it's located. So long as the ambient temperature is high enough I'd avoid a heater in such a small volume of water. I'd also plan to have a couple gallon jugs prepped in advance so that they are the same temperature for your replacement water from the turkey baster waste removal.

As for the filter, I'd either run it or a small sponge, simply to avoid stagnation.