New Filter Too Strong?

[cherrypearl]

I am a first time fish owner. I had the betta in a one gallon bowl when I got him, but just put him in a 2.5 gallon tank with an internal filter. I know bigger would be better, but I don't have room for a bigger tank.

Do you think I am stressing him out with all of the current? It is a penn-plax cascade 170 internal filter, any way to baffle it a little?

He seems to kinda like being bounced around and swimming against the current and there are places where he can relax and chill out. I don't wanna stress the poor guy out, and I want him to have nice clean water without having to do a full water change weekly.

I might go get a filter sponge to try to put over it, but not sure how to manage that. Rubberband it over the little half moon opening where the water shoots out? Any thoughts, suggestions, comments would be very helpful!
Here is a link to a video of him...

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=z57tJPXI0k0

 

[algir]

The filter sponge should slow the intake. Your Betta may need to gain some strength before being able to swim with such a current. Bettas get pretty weak from sitting in those small cups in the LFS!

 

[Caprichoso]

He just need to build some muscle lol...my male Betta really got thrown around in the current for the first week after I got him but he's fine now and is able to swim in the current with the rest of my fish with no issues.

 

[cherrypearl]

He just need to build some muscle lol...my male Betta really got thrown around in the current for the first week after I got him but he's fine now and is able to swim in the current with the rest of my fish with no issues.

Thanks! I've been getting more nervous watching him slosh around all afternoon... however, he seems to swim in it fine when he likes to and just hangs out sometimes so I think he's in control ) When I do water changes instead of shying away from the stream, he likes to swim into it.

Was just thinking I better run out to get a sponge to try to dampen it... but don't know if the filter would even still work then... my first tank, learning as I go!

thx!

 

[cherrypearl]

I exchanged the cascade internal filter for a smallworld filter. I have two 2.5 gallon tanks each with 1 betta. I got a smallworld filter for each tank and run them both off of one pump. Fishies LOVE them ) They are quite amused with the bubbles they produce and the water clarity is much improved.