Best Filter For A 2g Bowl?

[trojannemo]

hi guys. so i still haven't found a filter that satisfies me for my parent's 2G bowl. I added a mini heater and it's doign a great job. I used to have an air stone. i was told to add a filter too.

i currently have 5 different filters in use in 3 different tanks...all HOB and none of them worked well with the shape of the 2G bowl, not to mention the one that came closest created way too much of a current.
an internal filter, such as the tetra whisper 10i or something I fear would take up too much space (there isnt much to start with) and I think the current would still be too strong?

so i tried Eheim's disposable filter, which attaches to the air pump tubing and puts out bubble while doing a 2-stage filtration (according to Eheim anyways).
i found this system to be very poor in quality. I was added Melafix to the water since the betta in question ate most of his caudal fin. apparently that filter couldn't deal with it well and the water 2 days after the water change became cloudy. the second week of use I stopped the melafix treatment and changed the water 100% again. 2 days later the water was super hazy, and I'm sure it was because of the filter, since before and after I got rid of the filter, the water lasts much longer before looking cloudy/hazy.

so now i just changed his water again today. he's currently got the heater and the air stone with few bubbles going. i would like to find a permanent solution to this filtration situation!
what can you recommend?

thanks!

 

[Amerce]

Personally I wouldn't touch a bowl it is hard to clean and as you've found out it is a pain to sort out a filter

The only way to go would be to put a bowl UG filter in, so if you have some gravel from a mature tank you can put this in the middle, please take out the plastic plant though Bowl UG

Not sure if there is another good way to maintain a bowl but if that is what you prefer and as it is a reasonable size unlike some then the UG is an option, someone else may know of a better way

 

[liz2]

None of my bettas have got filters or airstones! In my experience the movement of water worries them. As long as the tank is out of direct sunlight and you perform a small water change every week, and a complete every few weeks there is not a problem

 

[Honeythorn]

That's all very well but a gentle filter on a slightly larger tank with the flow slowed down, deflected or adjusted, will provide a natural biological cycle. Bowls are horrendous things. Chuck the bowl away ( or grow a plant in it! ) and get a cube or rectangular tank. Attatching a filter and heater will be so much easier.

 

[trojannemo]

That's all very well but a gentle filter on a slightly larger tank with the flow slowed down, deflected or adjusted, will provide a natural biological cycle. Bowls are horrendous things. Chuck the bowl away ( or grow a plant in it! ) and get a cube or rectangular tank. Attatching a filter and heater will be so much easier.

unfortunately this bowl was acquired for the sole purpose on going on my stepdad's night table. a square/rectangular tank would not fit very well, and it would probably take up too much space.

i'm thinking i'll just keep it heated but without a filter. i do weekly water changes anyways so it would never get out of hand.

with regards to remove the air bubbles, would the water not become stagnant and get that slimy film on top if there is no water surface movement?

 

[liz2]

my tanks dont get yucky, no film on top honestly!

 

[rachaelsosilly]

Well, I have a 2.5 gallon bowl, and I use an Tetra Whisper In-thank Filter that includes an air pump. It fits very nicely, and works very well, too! As for a current, it's nice a low for my Betta AND Dwarf Frog, since they both fancy that.

 

[metromyers]

In my 2 1/2 gallon tank I have a whisper 3i and in my bowl I have a penplax small world filter. Penplax has a small plastic filter cartrige that fits in a plastic holder. It make alot of current so you need to cut the top off of a water bottle and place it over the top of the filter, it works like a champ

 

[Rugby]

i agree with rachealsosilly, i use the whisper air pump powered filter, i think its called a 3i. it works in my 2.5 gal. tanks.

 

[trojannemo]

thanks for the suggestions!
i'll look up the tetra 3i then