To Filter Or Not To Filter...

[jaycat]

Hi all. Just bought a beautiful crimson Betta called Eric, who is waiting at the lfs while I sort out his 18 litre (4 gallon) tank. My main question is whether to put a filter in or not.
My partner had a cycled 4.5W filter, but now I've put it in,
a) the flow rate seems too strong, and
b) I'm worried about him getting stuck behind/ beside it.

Any thoughts?

The substrate (for the moment) is glass pebbles, and he has a plastic plant to hide behind, but I want to change to sand substrate with a real plant and a little plant pot for him to hide in.

Does any of this make a difference to the filter situation?

I've read loads of posts about them geting stuck in things, and about them not liking water movement and I want to give Eric the very best!

Thanks

 

[eb2]

Well it's completely up to you but IMO
there are various issues presented with the filter, filtering the small tank and the Betta in relation to the filter...my recent experiences with my betta are as follows:
1. my Betta enjoyed the current but he over swam it, like running on a treadmill non-stop and blew out a fin
2. he liked to get behind it and while he didn't get caught ity also, rubs the fins
3. the fins got caught around the slots in the intake and that had to be modified
with torn fins, iI ended up treating him with anti biotic so I'm currently running happily with no filter, just air stones * fish loves them too!
I started with a full layer of gravel and marbles on top, but since illness have found that it was much easier to go bare.. the breeders on here use no substrate either
I am currently considering a sponge small filter, or a whisper 3i with a sponge added to hold good bacteria, as adjunct waste removal in addition to the frequent water changes. I'm inclined to think that anything other than a thin layer of that smooth marble substrate (for looks really)thats easy to clean, holds onto too much of the bad bacteria...(a planted tank is probably a little easier) So I don't plan to rely on the filter to maintain a healthy cycle like I do in my bigger tank, (10gal with a 30 gal filter, 2 fish no problems ever)
I currently use silk plants, recommended over plastic becuase they do scrape the fins as well.
Once meds are done I will likely added a floating plant. I removed a frond from a silk plant and float that
I also float a 1/2 a stirofoam cup as a castle/tunnel, the fish loves that thing too!
I've had alot of trial and error with this little tank, thank goodness i've haven't killed any fish but right now I'm happy without a filter. I expect to do 50% water change about every 3rd day in my 3 gal tank, til I decide what sponge or other little filter too use to hold some good bacteria in there. I don't know if any of the small filters can give really good 3 stages of filtraton so I might gerry-rig something

 

[stang1]

I personally think that all fish need a filter but that is just my opinion.
Usually, there is a big enough gap between the filter and the side of the tank so he shouldn't get himself caught up.
You can direct the nozzle of the filter at the back of the tank to stem the flow, you can also move the filter down in the tank slightly. I had an ornament in front of the filter in one of my tanks and that kept the current to a minimum.
Other people have also used coke bottles cut in half and placed over the filter.
There are a few options but the end decision is yours.

 

[eb2]

I personally think that all fish need a filter but that is just my opinion.
Usually, there is a big enough gap between the filter and the side of the tank so he shouldn't get himself caught up.
You can direct the nozzle of the filter at the back of the tank to stem the flow, you can also move the filter down in the tank slightly. I had an ornament in front of the filter in one of my tanks and that kept the current to a minimum.
Other people have also used coke bottles cut in half and placed over the filter.
There are a few options but the end decision is yours.

yeh I agree you need one but I don't think you can rely on any of those small ones to get the job done because when you replace the little cartridge of charcoal you, lose your good bacteria and have to start over, that's why I'm considering a gerry-rig of some kind like a whisper 3i with some sponge in the container.

 

[stang1]

Try something like the Fluval 1 filter, that's what I used when my boys were in 5G tanks.

 

[jaycat]

hi thanks for the replies. The filter is a fluval 1. How about I move it a third of the way along the side of the tank, and put a plant in front of it? I will replace plastic with silk tomorrow.

Don't think he can get behind it.

 

[AngelOfDeath]

I use an interpet 170l/h filter in my 3.6 gall tank. It's divided and i have two small males in there

The flow is not too strong, and i put the novel that they give you on the end which projects the water downwards where they have a lot of hiding places to block the water flow

this works great for me, plus the little sponge filters you get are annoyingly noises, and so atleast this way you know your tank is being filtered well

 

[eb2]

Try something like the Fluval 1 filter, that's what I used when my boys were in 5G tanks.

i just looked that one up, I use the Hagen Aquaclear on my other tank and I love it!!! thanks! do you use substrate in the small tank?

 

[stang1]

I just used fine gravel, a couple of plants and an ornament.
Liz2 uses glass beads in hers, I think and they look really nice too.

 

[eb2]

I just used fine gravel, a couple of plants and an ornament.
Liz2 uses glass beads in hers, I think and they look really nice too.

I have the glass beads now

 

[stang1]

I just used fine gravel, a couple of plants and an ornament.
Liz2 uses glass beads in hers, I think and they look really nice too.

I have the glass beads now

Good for you, looks nice!

 

[eb2]

I just used fine gravel, a couple of plants and an ornament.
Liz2 uses glass beads in hers, I think and they look really nice too.

I have the glass beads now

Good for you, looks nice!

THANK YOU!