Filter Or No?

[natalie265]

I have a little 2 1/2 gallon (5.68 liters) tank that i am going to put a betta in. Should i get a filter for it or not? I was planning on getting a little HOB filter, but then read that the current might be bothersome.

 

[kizno1]

cant you get a bigger tank about 5g would be alot better and it would be alot easyer to have a fillter in. you can get 5g tanks of ebay for a couple of pound.

 

[llamalord305]

I agree. If the betta hates the current, get a spray bar or make a current killer out of a soda bottle.

 

[Forestpisces]

Get a much bigger tank, 13litres bare minimum and 5gallons is optimal, that way you can have a heater, filter and even some small tank mates if your betta is not too territorial.

 

[loraxchick]

make you rown sponge filter. the design is so easy and customizable that you could make one to fit the dimensions of the tank while mazimizing space(if you cant afford a different/bigger tank). while you dont NEED a filter (no fishkeeper really does if you absolutely commit to waterchanges), but they make life so much easier down the road. so yeah, id say everyone will say you need a filter as not having one is a pain in the rear end! mandatory everyday waterchanges, with out fail! thats too much commitment. so make a sponge filter yourself (i have really easy directions i could send you. typed them up and have made many of them myself...takes minutes to build and is relatively cheap (airpunp would be the biggest cost in building one)). or find a small hob or air driven filter(essentially a sponge filter). they now make them for very small tanks. if current too much, there are tricks to manage the outflow.
best of luck

 

[tez2k007]

Get a much bigger tank, 13litres bare minimum and 5gallons is optimal, that way you can have a heater, filter and even some small tank mates if your betta is not too territorial.

Dont know much about bettas but a quick question. Can they live in coldwater. Without a heater?

 

[kizno1]

no they need to be between 27-29c

 

[loraxchick]

Get a much bigger tank, 13litres bare minimum and 5gallons is optimal, that way you can have a heater, filter and even some small tank mates if your betta is not too territorial.

Dont know much about bettas but a quick question. Can they live in coldwater. Without a heater?

if you are not able to maintain a constant temp of around 78 then no...you need a heater for them. they arent classic "coldwater" fish as they are from southeast asia (and its warm there). they are tropical bottom line. simply "marketed" as being able to live in tiny cold bowls/vases.
all the best

 

[Forestpisces]

I agree with loraxchick they are purely tropical.

 

[Assaye]

I'd say 2 1/2 is a tad small for a betta to be really happy. I keep mine in 3 UK gallons (4.5 litres per gallon) MINIMUM, and currently have one in a 13 gallon and the other four will have 4.5 gallon sections of a divided tank soon. Oddly enough, it is my smallest boy who is most intolerant of small spaces ^^

However, it is your choice. Try it if you want but please be open minded about upgrading.

As for filters - if you can promise to change the water as often as necessary (anytime there is even the teeniest bit of ammonia when you test) then you can run a tank without a filter. However, it's so much easier to get a tiny filter and cycle it. I have a little Superfish Aqua Flow 50 that is tall and thin, and has a very gentle flow. Works for my QT tank =)

I'd suggest using the 2.5 as betta QT/treatment tank and getting a 3-10 gallon for a betta. Means you can make the tank a much nicer home for him with plants etd

 

[ellena]

If it's 5.68l and you have worked out the gallons from that, they're wrong. 5.68l is only 1.5gallons-way too small! Lots of good advice above

 

[natalie265]

If it's 5.68l and you have worked out the gallons from that, they're wrong. 5.68l is only 1.5gallons-way too small! Lots of good advice above

No, it's 2 1/2 gallons (U.S.), so if anything i got the liters wrong. I got the 2 1/2 gallon because of something i read on a pinned topic on this very forum under frequently asked questions. It says, "Bettas can live healthy and well in anything from a 1 gallon up. A 1 gallon is the absolute minimum, preferable size is a 2.5 to a 5." But it seems that everyone unanimously opposes this? If so, can we get this statement changed so other people don't make my same mistake?

Loraxchick, can you send me your instructions on making the sponge filter? I'll either do that, or order the little HOB i saw on dr. fosters. I've already purchased a small heater.

I'll keep my eye on craigslist and see if i can get a 5 gallon, but i'm really disappointed that my cute, little 2 1/2 gal that i purchased and got all set up w/live plants and everything isn't going to be acceptable!

 

[kizno1]

i dont agree with that 3g is the bare min but 5g is alot better.in a 1g tank you wouldnt have enough room for a fillter and heater and in a tank that small amonnia would build up very quickly just because it can survive in a 1g dosnt mean it should be kept in it.
what are the dimentions of your tank?

 

[natalie265]

i dont agree with that 3g is the bare min but 5g is alot better.in a 1g tank you wouldnt have enough room for a fillter and heater and in a tank that small amonnia would build up very quickly just because it can survive in a 1g dosnt mean it should be kept in it.
what are the dimentions of your tank?

Yes, that is why i got the 2 1/2 gallon, not the 1 gallon!

The dimensions are: 12" long x 6" wide x 8" tall.

By the way, the same pinned topic that made me think a 2 1/2 gallon was good is also what made me have second thoughts about the filter, as it states: "Bettas don't necessarily need filters, that's up to you. They do make water changes a lot easier,but your betta may prefer his tank water calm". I kind of thought that if a topic got pinned it meant it was more or less agreed upon, but i'm definitely going to start taking them w/a grain of salt!

 

[kizno1]

you can have no fillter but have to do 75% water changes every day and if you miss on amonnia will build up very quickly.