Filter Advice

[HalfMoon B]

Hello all!
I have a 30 gallon that I am currently cycling with a sponge filter and air pump for bio culturing and chemical filtration.
I am setting up a community tank. I need advice on what type of filter to get for mechanical and chemical filtration that is very low current/agitation since I will be putting my betta in the tank.
The tank measurements are 30 wide, by 13.5 deep, and 17.5 tall.
I plan on using the current sponge as a pre filter to maintain the bacteria colony that I have cultered through cycling the past few weeks.
Thanks!

 

[DiscusDennis]

HalfMoon B,
I'd recommend the power filters from AquaClear......The most "bang for the buck".
Although I think the smallest size filter AquaClear makes is the AC20 which has a flow rate of 100 gph. Maybe too much for a betta? Sorry no experience with Betta's. Maybe somebody else can chime in......with the proper size filter (gph flow rate) for a Betta tank?

I've also had good luck with the Marineland Penguin filters.

GREAT idea using a sponge for a pre-filter!

Goodluck on your Betta tank venture!

Dennis

 

[HalfMoon B]

I will look into those. Thanks!

 

[carey]

Yep, I agree on the aquaclear. I would recommend the AC50. Plenty of filtering and very customizable if you decide you want your media "just so" LOL

Good luck!

 

[Hubert90]

+1 on carey! Aquaclear are the best!! U can go for Aquaclear70 or larger even if u want they output flow can easily be manipulated to slow them down! I have a Aquaclear 70 for my 10 gallon! My betta is doin well

 

[hippy guy]

Penguin 150 with biowheel

 

[BillD]

Any filter that has low flow will also have low mechanical capability. I use sponges on most of my tanks.

 

[HalfMoon B]

Any filter that has low flow will also have low mechanical capability. I use sponges on most of my tanks.

Do you only use sponges?

 

[DiscusDennis]

Do you only use sponges?

I use only sponges in my tanks......Hydro-Sponge 5's.

Dennis

 

[ddgarcia05]

I just picked up a ac70 filter off amazon for $39, maybe something you should check out.

 

[Esoteric Backbone]

Betta's don't like currents to much.

 

[HalfMoon B]

I use only sponges in my tanks......Hydro-Sponge 5's.

Dennis

That is what I am using now, I was just unsure of adding additional filtration beyond that. It has worked WONDERS in my 10 gal and 2.5 gals. Love the sponges

 

[hippy guy]

Here's a cool trick.. get a suction cup, similar to the ones on a submersible heater, and use aquarium safe glue and fasten a section of a small soda bottle to the suction cup, so it looks like a mini half pipe. Place it so that the mini halfpipe can sit in front of filter output, and bam, kills most of the current any hob filter would produce.

 

[Missladybug77]

Here's a cool trick.. get a suction cup, similar to the ones on a submersible heater, and use aquarium safe glue and fasten a section of a small soda bottle to the suction cup, so it looks like a mini half pipe. Place it so that the mini halfpipe can sit in front of filter output, and bam, kills most of the current any hob filter would produce.

Do you have a picture of this? I'm trying to slow my filter flow for my betta and this sounds great!

 

[Hubert90]

Do you have a picture of this? I'm trying to slow my filter flow for my betta and this sounds great!

Here's the link that teaches how to make one! Good luck!
http://www.petfish.net/articles/Do-It-Yourself/currentkill.php

 

[HalfMoon B]

Great link! I might have to try that out. I picked up an aqua clear at my local LFS yesterday, get it home for unpacking, and wouldn't ya know it....it was broken.
Going to have to find the time to go an exchange it.... GRRRRR

 

[hippy guy]

Thanks hubert, had been offline for a while there, but yeah that's basically the same thing as what I was saying, only this one seem wayy more convienent... I might need to upgrade

 

[hippy guy]

So I tossed out the old one for this version on both my betta tanks, much more efficient, what current is left flows alongside the back wall.. here's some picks

 

[hippy guy]

The bettas are moon beam,(purple) and sunbeam (red crowntail) and for the botle I used a pedialite bottle,cause it has corners instead of being round, I figured it help divert the current even more, and the bottles are more rigid than typical soda bottles

 

[Missladybug77]

It worked great - THANKS!