Baffling - How Much is Too Much?

So, with my bamboo gone, I needed a new way to baffle V's filter. It's an Aqueon Quiet Flow 10 in his 10g, where he resides on his own. What I did was attach a sponge below the filter output. It works really well and then it hit me...too well. He has total roam of his tank because the water is basically still. I know he's a labyrinth fish but he's taken to burynig himself inside and underneath the subwassertang. I know he's come up for air if he needs to but I don't want him to have to.

So, doesn't gas exchange occur inside the HOB filter box as well? Air coming through the little vents on top and gas is exchanged as the water moves through the filter. That water is then dumped into the tank after traveling through the sponge on the output, right?

So my question...will that be sufficient oxygenation for V to not have to come to the surface to breathe unless he wants to? I'm going to just buy or make him a sponge filter, I think, now that the medication destroyed his cycle anyway, so I guess I'll switch it up in about a week but, until then, you guys think whatever occurs inside the filter is sufficient? He's also getting 30-50% WCs every other day. It keeps his levels totally negative and his water clean for healing, so I guess he's getting fresh, oxygenated water that way too.

I pushed the sponge aside so only half of the output is baffled but it's still not much surface disruption for that big old tank of his. Think it'll do though for a week? If I un-baffle it, he gets knocked around hard in that area of the tank and I don't have much betta-safe decor that will baffle as well as the bamboo did. I could also add a tiny air stone I have but the only pump I have is a hydroponics pump. It's great for a bigger tank but a bit strong for a 10g. Moves a lot of air through a tiny, little airstone haha.

 

PI, I would maybe baffle it. As long as you are getting water to come out and cycling through the filter, it should be fine.

 

Bettas have to come up for air. Even in oxygen-saturated water, they have to come up for air. It's not about the amount of oxygen in the water, its about having a labyrinth organ in their head that needs oxygen. They have evolved it to live in oxygen poor conditions, so I wouldn't worry about the amount of oxygen in the tank.

 

PI, I would maybe baffle it. As long as you are getting water to come out and cycling through the filter, it should be fine.

Yeah I was, then I noticed the temp coming up in the tank I guess because the water flow was too slow, so I sort of pseudo-baffled it by just letting the sponge sort of float against the output. It mostly works for now. I have to re-cycle his tank when he heals anyway so I'm just going to make or buy him a sponge filter and save myself the headache The bamboo was doing a great job of baffling but it wasn't having the whole submerged thing and started rotting on me. When I could smell it in the water, I realized it was worse than it looked haha. Between the pseudo baffle and the floaters, it'll do till I get that sponge filter in there.

Thanks

 

Here is a link for the sponge filters-I use these in qt and toss the sponge after I move the resident-if it is a concern of spreading a disease.
Here is the type I buy and you can't make them for this price+free shipping!

 

I use a manifold with a valve anytime I put an airstone in a tank, unless it is running a sponge filter. That way I can change my mind how much bubbles I want, or adjust it if the stone starts whistling (happened once).

 

The oxygen content of your tank depends upon on the amount of oxygen that is saturated into the water.
This is a natural occurance where the water meets the air and the oxygen is absorbed into the water.
There will of course be a small amount of oxygen absorbed into the water as it passes through the HOB, but the amount is relatively small compared with the saturation that occurs over the surface area of the tank.
Therefore there will be sufficient oxygen for the fish, and being a Labyrinth fish, if he needs more its easy for him to obtain.
Maybe with the loss of the bamboo, he is feeling a little insecure, and will settle soon.

 

If there was such a thing as baffling too well, I would be able to report on it. I pretty much eliminate moving water completely in many of my tanks. Enough so that I go in there with a turkey baster blow off the plants periodically.

 

Thanks guys. That's a nice price tag claireputput haha. I could hang with that. I like it because it's 2 sponges. I was looking at the Hydro Pro II for the 10 gallon as well. I guess a 10 gallon with just a betta is fine without biomedia? The hydro is only one sponge but I have a feeling the sponge will outlive my betta honestly.

It did occur to me this morning I should maybe have given the water temp time to adjust. The heater was probably heating at the usual rate for a bit but then I slowed the water flow and the temp came up. Probably it would have adjusted itself to the water flow, right?