5g Betta tank - Airpump or not?

[goodeyesniper]

I have a 5g Marineland Hex Tank. It has a filter but I wasn't planning on using it since Bettas have a tougher time swimming with them.

Do I need to get an airpump for the tank for some agitation or will I be okay without it? thanks!

 

[Mr. Limpet]

I have a 5g Marineland Hex Tank. It has a filter but I wasn't planning on using it since Bettas have a tougher time swimming with them.

Do I need to get an airpump for the tank for some agitation or will I be okay without it? thanks!

I'd suggest you reconsider the no filter plan. An air pump/stone isn't going to replace the need for a filtration system. If the filter flow is too strong, consider options to redirect the flow, or a sponge filter is an option.

 

[goodeyesniper]

What about baffling my filter? I'd need to use a sponge though because of the way the filter works, I just don't know how to do it exactly

 

[Mr. Limpet]

What about baffling my filter? I'd need to use a sponge though because of the way the filter works, I just don't know how to do it exactly

What kind of filter is it (make/model info helpful).

I used poly-fil stuff on the output slide of my Aqueon when I had my fry tank setup and that worked great for me. You could use a sponge in the same way, or others have use a plastic bottle cut down the length (remove top/bottom) and it catches the output, then diverts it to lessen the impact into the tank.

 

[goodeyesniper]

It's a Marineland Hex Eclipse 5 if that helps. It sucks water up through a tube and filters through a bio wheel

 

[Mr. Limpet]

It's a Marineland Hex Eclipse 5 if that helps. It sucks water up through a tube and filters through a bio wheel

Gotcha. I had an integrated hex kinda like this a few years ago and returned it when the bio wheel quit working, so I'll leave it at that . Nothing from google really shows the filter, so can't really come up with a specific idea for you.

Try some poly-fil, which you can get at a craft or fabric store and works in many types of filters if you have more than one tank (a bag will last a looong time).

Or get a sponge from a LFS that will fit on the output slide and at least break up the flow.

 

[goodeyesniper]

Alright thank you very much! I have a PetCo and PetSmart in the area so I will check both for a sponge

 

[Mr. Limpet]

Alright thank you very much! I have a PetCo and PetSmart in the area so I will check both for a sponge

Yep, it'll be trial and error IME, but you definatly want the filter running. While you're there check out some sponge or intank filters, they take up a little space in the tank, but they do offer an option to the built in one.

Good luck and please keep us updated. Oh and pics always gets a +1 from me .

 

[goodeyesniper]

Here's the current tank setup--excuse the mess around it

I tested the water and it's ammonia is at about .25ppm but it's about 90% new water (It was semi cycled and the cycle in my 2g ended up crashing so I was just going to move him over to his new tank anyway so I wouldn't have to acclimate him to a cycle twice). I use Prime, as you can see, and I hear that will raise the ammonia levels on tests for the first 24 hours so hopefully I'll have the little guy in there tomorrow