Is A Filter Essential?

[Marto666]

Is a filter essential for a 40L tank if your keeping say just one betta in it? Would a weekly water change do the job?

Cheers

 

[Rogue4Fish]

From what I've read in the past, no it isn't, but you need to do daily water changes. Every other day at the least.

 

[mattbleasby]

In my opinion yes. A filter is essential no matter the water change setup.

 

[Marto666]

Ok, thanks.

I guess those internal filters are fairly cheap, would save the hastle of daily water changes?

 

[Rogue4Fish]

Yep! I've got a small one and just do my water changes once per week as normal.

 

[Marto666]

Cool. Looks like you can get one for a tenner so very cheap.

Thinking of moving my betta and his ladies in to a smaller tank. Think they will look good seperated from the community.

 

[micko]

Yes. They're only cheap.

 

[adgieman]

yeah, get a cheap one and bung some of your other tanks mature media in. job done

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Thinking of moving my betta and his ladies in to a smaller tank.

This sounds like a dangerous game of "Russian Roulette" as even professional Betta breeders are very cautious of mixing a male with any females for a short time. Would be far safer to keep the male seperate and then have a group of 5+ females in another tank, so that the top female's aggression is spread out between more fish, reducing the risk of a stress or injury-realted death.

 

[Mikaila31]

Provided you have enough live plants a filter is definitely not essential. Only half my tanks have filters.

 

[StandbySetting]

Agree with Mikaila here, filters aren't necessary in all cases, take a read on the Walstad method for further information, many low tech planted set ups are run filterless as the plants utilise all of the ammonia, and some bacteria are likely to colonise anyway in the biofilm as the tank develops, some low tech set ups can go months/years without water changes.