Wrong filter for a Betta?

**spritestyle** · 09-11-2012, 04:12 AM

I'm thinking of eventually getting a male betta for my 20 gallon tank. Only issue I see is, the filter that comes with my hood. It's a Marineland Eclipse 2 complete filter and light hood. I like how it filters 200g per hour, but is it possible that this is too strong for a betta to live in. Should I try attaching floss to the return to reduce currents or put a new pantyhose around the intake to reduce the flow?

Not thinking of replacing the hood at this time, but I'm still very interested in getting a betta. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

**genocidex** · 09-11-2012, 04:27 AM

IF the flow is too much you can make a flow breaker. most people use a plastic soda bottle, rinsed of course, and attach it to the output of the filter. plenty of examples for acs, not sure how it will work with that filter.... are you sure its 200gph? seems high for a 20g....

**mizzoutank** · 09-11-2012, 04:31 AM

Originally Posted by genocidex

IF the flow is too much you can make a flow breaker. most people use a plastic soda bottle, rinsed of course, and attach it to the output of the filter. plenty of examples for acs, not sure how it will work with that filter.... are you sure its 200gph? seems high for a 20g....

2nd that post

the marineland penguin 200 that I have for my 45 (rated at 50) has a 200gph flow to it. (I have two of these filters)

So I find that hard to believe a 20 would have that flow rate.

You can do many things to decrease the flow/spread it out to ensure the betta would be happy-as genocidex has said

They are not big fans of high flow tanks-so use filter(s) that would suffice to keep the tank clean, but not blow the betta away.

**genocidex** · 09-11-2012, 04:34 AM

looks like its a drip style with a bio wheel in it, seems like they are rating it for 200gph via their website. BUT thats most likely without media and with the best conditions possible for the filter. i dont think the flow in will be too bad (most of it downward flow it seems). but if it is too much for the betta then just add a flow reducer...

**spritestyle** · 09-11-2012, 04:42 AM

I'm pretty sure that's what the box said, but maybe I'm wrong. I just put in 6 cardinal tetras today, and they seem to have a tough time swiming in the front where the return current is directed. Not sure if they don't know any better or if they were having fun swiming against the current. There's no adjustments on this filter other then to rotate the return spout up-to 90deg. Anymore than that you risk having the water flow over the tank.

I've seen diffusers on amazon for this unit but unsure if it will work or not. Again I was wondering if putting something to break the current would help.

**ameliaaahx** · 09-11-2012, 05:46 AM

I would probably recommend a gourami if it's going to be community. Bettas are iffy in community.

The filter that came on my 5g just about turned the whole thing into a whirlpool. I took it off and got a sponge filter instead.

**genocidex** · 09-11-2012, 12:26 PM

it seems like with the hood combo you can cut a bottle in half and hot glue it to the hood. why hot glue? imo its better in this situation because its non toxic and can be removed, but should hold. the bottle will stop the direct flow into the tank and hopefully reduce the currents in the tank. drill a few small holes on the side of the bottle to allow some flow down but most will be diverted off to the 2 open sides of the bottle.

**Nephalem** · 09-12-2012, 04:13 AM

Also I know it has nothing to do with your main question, but yes your cardinals were playing. It's a good sign, and a pretty good indicator that they are fairly happy. Most species, especially tetras guppy, absolutely LOVE the current. Some larger species actually NEED a strong current or they can have muscles atrophy. We have six male guppy, 10 rasbora, and 20 tetra in our community, and every single one of them spends most of the day either playing in the bubbles, or letting the return current from the two HoBs push them around like a big water slide. I mean honestly, if you were stuck in a rectangle box all day every day, but there was a huge slide in the corner that also had an air conditioner that blew pure oxygen on you, would you ride the slide? I sure would.

Now as for the other q, if you dont want to use a current breaker what I always do is go to the LFS and buy the replacement bio media inserts from Aqua Clear. They are super cheap for the biggest ones. Cut them with some scissors and you can stuff your filter intake with them, or fit a piece onto the end of the intake like a pre-filter/guard. I stuff as much of this stuff into all of my filters as I can. It ups your space for bb, and if enough is used it can really cut your current down. We use it in our betta and breeder tanks. I actually keep a couple squares of it in a little glass canning jar that has a bubbler and some nylon with old shrimp pellets and substrate tied into it. It pre-cycles the sponges so I can use them to seed a new filter whenever I need it. Comes in handy.