New Tank, Few Questions Concerning Ugf

[Snooks1!]

Whilst out last night, I picked up a 6.3 liter tank (hex) from wal-mart. It was only 10$ because some-one had opened the packaging, and taken the instructions out of it. ( Pretty decent seeming as they usually run 20$ ). So, I brought it home and immediately set it up to test it. It is working just fine, no problems at all; however, I'm worried that the bubbles coming from the airstone disrupt the surface too much for a betta to come up to breath. So...Is there any way I can cut back the flow of the bubbles?

Or am I just overly worrisome?

Also...what sort of heating would be best suited for a tank of this size?

 

[joycould]

First thing I do with any of those filters or air stones is get rid of it. I do have a three betta of tanks with filters but they are the type that hangs on the back and adjustable. If you want a heater walmart have a small one i think it is 7.5 watts it isn't adjustable, petco has one that is a little flat pad that works to raise the temperature a couple of degrees. Most bettas don't really like water current.

This is a picture of a little 2 gallon planted tanks that has a hang on the back filter that is barely a trickle of water coming out, the driftwood helps cut down on the water current.

 

[dthoffsett]

I have a ugf on my divided betta tank and they don't have any problems with the bubbles. I'd just try it and if he looks like he's getting blown around, invest in a HOB filter (hang-on-back aka power filter).

 

[Snooks1!]

Thing is.. A HOB filter wouldn't fit on my tank ( or at least... I have yet to find one that small ), each side is only 4.5inchs wide. 6.3 liters is only a little over a gallon and a half, I have never seen a filter small enough for a tank this size.

And, unless absolutely needed, I really didn't want to buy a 10-20 dollar filter for a 10$ tank . If I could just rig the UGF filter to work, I'd much rather do that than over-filter such a small tank.

 

[Tolak]

I would go with a small sponge filter, you need an air pump for the ugf, just buy a $5 sponge filter, or make your own for even cheaper.

You could easily make a mini one of these, probably from items kicking around the house; http/www.fishforums.net/content/Aquarium...-sponge-filter/

 

[Snooks1!]

That would take up a whole 1/4 section of the tank heh....

But...how would that be any different from the UGF?

Do take note, I'm not having problems with it. I just want to know how to cut down on the surface disruption.

 

[Tolak]

Build a small version, a pill bottle will work. Turn down, or bleed off some air, one bubble per second will run the filter, and create minimal surface disruption. You could even put a small low light plant in the surface of the filter, I've seen plenty of breeders with bare tanks do this with box filters.

Ugf won't work well with a flow that low, a mini box/sponge filter will.

 

[Snooks1!]

Build a small version, a pill bottle will work. Turn down, or bleed off some air, one bubble per second will run the filter, and create minimal surface disruption. You could even put a small low light plant in the surface of the filter, I've seen plenty of breeders with bare tanks do this with box filters.

Ugf won't work well with a flow that low, a mini box/sponge filter will.

Well, my air-pump isn't adjustable...It's a cheapo kit-set sort of thing, so I could put a bit of a kink into the hose and see if that works. Though, why would making a small canister filter be any better than just using the UGF? Wouldn't the UGF have more surface area to actually...filter?

Or is my thought process on how the UGF works wrong?