Filter? Clean Tank Questions.

[fishtanksmomma]

I have a small tank with a filter for my daughter's betta. It'a an Aqueon Mini Bow 2.5 gallon. I think the flow of the filter is too strong because when "Fishtank" (that's the betta's name) swims to the top of the tank he almost gets pushed away by the current. Is there a better type of filter? And also what is the best way to keep the tank and gravel at the bottom clean?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

What kind of filter is in the tank? I'm not familiar with this type of tank so I'm not sure what type of filter comes with it

As for keeping the tank clean, I reccommend cleaning the inside of the glass once a week with a sponge with a scrubby side on it (the nylon based ones) and use a gravel vac attached to a syphon hose to clean your gravel once a week. With a gravel vac you can actually stick it right down into the gravel to suck all of the muck out. Do a search on youtube to see the best way to do it

 

[fishtanksmomma]

This is the tank. The filter came with it. Let me see if I can find a link to the exact filter. I've been reading up on Betta's but I'm more of a hands on learner and there aren't any good aquarium stores with well knowledged people around here for me to go to.

http/m.petsmart.com/mt/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3611436

 

[fishtanksmomma]

The closet thing I could find to show you the filter is the instruction manual for it.

http/www.petco.com/assets/pdfs/minibowfilter.pdf

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

I don't know much about these types of filters myself however - I did have one many moons ago! If i remember correctly, if the water level is quite high so that there isn't a drop from the filter outlet to the top of the water level; that will reduce the amount of movement on the top of the water but I don't know if it will help with the overall current in the tank - worth a try though!

 

[fishtanksmomma]

Thank you so much for your help. I'm going to try that and the tip for cleaning the gravel.

 

[Hmongol]

weird thing about it is that I use to think that way too when I had a betta in mt 2 gallon. when I switched him to a 5 gallon and stuck the filter all the way in the back courier so it wouldn't bother him, but then he was always in that courner swimming up and down at it. It turns out he loves it I guess, and if he hated it there was certainly more than enough calm swimming room.

 

[OldMan47]

It is a tiny internal filter. I have one much like it on a 2.5 gallon bowl that has just a few shrimp in it. There is almost nothing you can do to reduce flow from that filter but if you keep the water level right up near the return spout it will reduce the force of the water returning to the tank, rather than have it fall into the tank. The betta will not be harmed by having the water push him around a bit. Over time he will learn to swim and either hold his position or come quite close to the return without being moved around much. I keep mine in a large tank with lots of other fish and a canister type filter. He only gets blown around by the filter about as much as the other fish do, and none of them suffer from the exercise.

 

[fishtanksmomma]

Thank you everyone for your replies.