Is My Filter Too Much For My Betta?

Hello all! I just recently bought a new filter for my betta tank after having had a nematode outbreak (had to toss out the old filter!). I've since sterilized everything and moved my betta, Gilbert, into a heated 5G. I purchased a Finnex Pure-5 as per many recommendations, but I worry the flow is a little too much?

I adjusted it to what I believe are the lowest settings and cut a fairly thick chunk of filter sponge to place over the intake, but poor little Gilbert still seems a little distressed. He's not being whipped around or anything, but he seems to be hiding in certain parts of the tank where the flow doesn't reach. Is it because he's been without a flow for a while and just needs to adjust again?

He has several places to avoid the flow, but I just worry about my little guy! I want to make sure he's not stressed out or anything by this.

 

Hello! Lots of people recommend sponge filters for bettas now. I use an internal filter which is too strong but I use a plant to cover it. Perhaps you should try to use a sponge plus a plant to block all of the heavy flow.

 

Hello! Lots of people recommend sponge filters for bettas now. I use an internal filter which is too strong but I use a plant to cover it. Perhaps you should try to use a sponge plus a plant to block all of the heavy flow.

I don't know too much about sponge filters, but wouldn't that cause too much surface disturbance in a 5G tank? I'm a little clueless on that stuff!

 

Sponge filter would be fine. I don't use them for my bettas. I have to use them for my shell dwellers who throw a lot of sand around. There is no discernible current.

 

Sponge filter would be fine. I don't use them for my bettas. I have to use them for my shell dwellers who throw a lot of sand around. There is no discernible current.

Do you think that there's anything I could do to further modify the HOB filter I have now? I'd hate to have to buy a new filter after having just gotten this one today.

 

Do you think that there's anything I could do to further modify the HOB filter I have now? I'd hate to have to buy a new filter after having just gotten this one today.

Tie or glue or maybe try to tape a thin piece of sponge on the mouth of the filter. Then, put a plant where the water is dispensed.

 

Sponge filters don’t put a lot of surface agitation, and you can always tie a knot in the line to reduce flow, or add a gang valve, which lets you dial it up or down

I have my ten gallon running with a splitter and three filters...let me see if I can show you the surface

The middle compartment has the most agitation, because I don’t have anything floating in there. In the left side I floated a segment of “Betta grass” upside down, and in the right side I floated a strawberry basket with a “door “ trimmed into it, to make a floating cave

 

Tie or glue or maybe try to tape a thin piece of sponge on the mouth of the filter. Then, put a plant where the water is dispensed.

I'll see if I can give that a try! If all else fails, I'll try looking into a sponge filter. I'm willing to do anything to make sure my little guy is happy as he can be!

 

I have Deep Blue Professional's version of the Pure-5 filter, and I too found its flow to be a little too much even at its lowest setting. I cut a block of filter foam to fit on the outflow ramp, and that diffused the flow. After a while, the filter's outflow calmed down enough that I didn't need the foam diffuser. I still have it at close to the lowest setting.

I had the sponge filter pictured above for my son's betta. It's a nice sponge filter for a 5-gallon tank. Output flow wasn't an issue, but I did lower the flow so the bubble output wouldn't be too much. The betta stayed away from that whole corner of tank. I eventually replaced it with the same filter that my betta has, and within a couple of weeks he was swimming around the whole tank and just seemed more at ease. I've read posts about some people's bettas playing in the bubbles, so I guess it depends on the individual betta.

 

I'll see if I can give that a try! If all else fails, I'll try looking into a sponge filter. I'm willing to do anything to make sure my little guy is happy as he can be!

Sponge filters are relatively cheaper than others!

 

Sponge filters don’t put a lot of surface agitation, and you can always tie a knot in the line to reduce flow, or add a gang valve, which lets you dial it up or down

I have my ten gallon running with a splitter and three filters...let me see if I can show you the surface View attachment 385417
The middle compartment has the most agitation, because I don’t have anything floating in there. In the left side I floated a segment of “Betta grass” upside down, and in the right side I floated a strawberry basket with a “door “ trimmed into it, to make a floating cave View attachment 385418

Thank you for the pictures!! If further modifying my HOB doesn't seem to help, I'll definitely look into a sponge filter then. I hear a lot of good things about them, but until now I'd never heard of them for bettas for some reason!

 

Sponge filter would be fine. I don't use them for my bettas. I have to use them for my shell dwellers who throw a lot of sand around. There is no discernible current.

People have used plastic cups with success.

 

I have Deep Blue Professional's version of the Pure-5 filter, and I too found its flow to be a little too much even at its lowest setting. I cut a block of filter foam to fit on the outflow ramp, and that diffused the flow. After a while, the filter's outflow calmed down enough that I didn't need the foam diffuser. I still have it at close to the lowest setting.

I had the sponge filter pictured above for my son's betta. Output flow wasn't an issue, but I did lower the flow so the bubble output wouldn't be too much. The betta stayed away from that whole corner of tank. I eventually replaced it with the same filter that my betta has, and within a couple of weeks he was swimming around the whole tank and just seemed more at ease. I've read posts about some people's bettas playing in the bubbles, so I guess it depends on the individual betta.

He still comes out around that side of the tank on occasion, right now I think he's curious and trying to get the feel of things, but I'll definitely try using some more filter sponge on the outflow part. I didn't even think of that part, so I'll give it a try. Thank you!

People have used plastic cups with success.
plastic cup to reduce filter flow - Google Search

It's amazing how creative people get when it comes to this stuff. Thank you for the ideas!

Just stuffed a little chunk of filter sponge into the outflow of the filter and coaxed Gilbert over to the area of most flow with my finger and tada! He didn't get pulled around at all! Thank you for the advice everyone, you were all amazingly helpful! I'll definitely switch to sponge filters for future tanks though!

 

He still comes out around that side of the tank on occasion, right now I think he's curious and trying to get the feel of things, but I'll definitely try using some more filter sponge on the outflow part. I didn't even think of that part, so I'll give it a try. Thank you!



It's amazing how creative people get when it comes to this stuff. Thank you for the ideas!

Just stuffed a little chunk of filter sponge into the outflow of the filter and coaxed Gilbert over to the area of most flow with my finger and tada! He didn't get pulled around at all! Thank you for the advice everyone, you were all amazingly helpful! I'll definitely switch to sponge filters for future tanks though!

No problem!!! HOB filters are for like heavy duty fish with heavy bioloads, while sponge filters are for easier fish like your betta.

 

Hi!!! I realized my filter is an internal filter not an HOB. I'm stupid, and I didn't know the difference!

 

try a whisper filter, I have one for my betta and he loves it never gets agitated and is always swimming by it, plus you can barely hear it

 

Thank you! I'm sorry for all the confusion by the way!