Back filter flow way to strong for betta

Am having trouble with a betta that HATES strong water flow. Have a Lifegard Aquatic 10 gallon with back filter. Pump is way to strong. Tried an Aquaneat that fit in the back but again, way to strong. Currently have the tubing "clipped" but it's a metal clip and shouldn't be in the water. Anyone have suggestions on a filter or a way to baffle the current one? I also notice that the betta is getting "sucked" into the hole where the filter tubing enters into the water. This is where he hangs out (directly under the output nozzle to avoid the current I guess). Sorry for lack of vocabulary. New at all of this.

 

All Bettas hate strong water flow. In the wild they live in water that has little to no flow- they live in rice paddies and similar still water. The long fins on the modern domestic Betta splendens also mean that a filter can do serious damage to their fins.

You can buy a filter intake sponge to cover the filter intake and also use a piece of sponge to baffle the outflow- which will also increase the amount of surface area for your beneficial bacteria. If you can't imagine how to do this, there are YouTube videos explaining it.

I exclusively use sponge filters in my Betta tanks nowadays because of this exact issue- it's important to me that my Betta isn't torn and tattered by my filter. A plus side to this is that sponge filters are super cheap and require almost no maintenance.

 

All Bettas hate strong water flow. In the wild they live in water that has little to no flow- they live in rice paddies and similar still water. The long fins on the modern domestic Betta splendens also mean that a filter can do serious damage to their fins.

You can buy a filter intake sponge to cover the filter intake and also use a piece of sponge to baffle the outflow- which will also increase the amount of surface area for your beneficial bacteria. If you can't imagine how to do this, there are YouTube videos explaining it.

I exclusively use sponge filters in my Betta tanks nowadays because of this exact issue- it's important to me that my Betta isn't torn and tattered by my filter. A plue side to this is that sponge filters are super cheap and require almost no maintenance.

Thanks for info. Can I place a sponge filter in the compartment located in the "back of the tank" where my current filter is or do I have to place it in the portion of the tank where the fish is and not use the back compartments?

 

Most sponge filters are cylindrical in shape and would not fit in a "compartment", though I'm afraid I can't picture what you mean as I've never owned a tank that had a back compartment.

If you have something like a Fluval Spec, there are specific instructions on Google as to the best way to baffle these to keep a Betta happy and healthy. I would link but Fishlore has a rule against competing links and I'm never sure what links will break that rule.

 

Most sponge filters are cylindrical in shape and would not fit in a "compartment", though I'm afraid I can't picture what you mean as I've never owned a tank that had a back compartment.

If you have something like a Fluval Spec, there are specific instructions on Google as to the best way to baffle these to keep a Betta happy and healthy. I would link but Fishlore has a rule against competing links and I'm never sure what links will break that rule.

Thanks. yes, I have a Fluval (the betta in this tank is fine with the fluval current) and now also the Lifegard which is the same design as a Fluval. So I will google for that info.

 

Googled & put some tiny holes in the filter tubing which seemed to help. Also ordered a fluval sponge to go over output water nozzle "thing a ma jig".