Betta in filtered tank
- Thread starter ChazECJr
- Start date
I've had no bad experiences with bettas on UGF filters. I water 25% twice a week using a siphon vac to get the uneaten food on the bottom (yes I know I overfeed too).
First thing I could think of with that article is that the orginal 2 gallon tank being cloudy was because it hadn't compeltely cycled. Doing so many drastic water changes as the author did would continuously disturb the cycle, thus lending to a "dirty" looking tank. If they'd just left it alone, or only did small water changes, it would've cleared itself up.
The AquaTanks V I have have experience with have UGF filters. I have not seen an AquaTanks V Plus version before, but I know the AquaTanks X Plus tanks have Marineland Mini filters (a Pengiun mini without the bio-wheels) in them. If the AquaTanks V Plus also has a Marineland Mini, that is definately -too- strong a current for a betta, so no wonder she was having issues. No where in the article did the author mention what filters her research recommended.
The first betta could've gotten sick from all the constant water changing and unsettled water chemistries.
Currently I have one betta living in a two gallon UGF tank, and no problems within these past two weeks. I take the airstone out to feed since he doesn't enjoy chasing his Betta Bio-Gold all over the tank, but after he's done, I put the airstone back in, and leave it running all the time. The only deco is a coffee mug on it's side, and two day-glo colored silk plants. The gravel is blue plastic beads mixed with blue marbles.
Previously I did have a betta live in the same tank for close to four years, with a bi-weekly 100% water change. He was the happiest betta I ever owned, and my Elwood went back and forth from NY to Pa to Va in all my college travels in that tank, and that still didn't kill him. The only deco he had was the coffee mug and the same gravel.
Bettas do great in filtered tanks, you just don't want the current so strong he can't swim in it. But that rule applies to all fish.
~~Colesea
First thing I could think of with that article is that the orginal 2 gallon tank being cloudy was because it hadn't compeltely cycled. Doing so many drastic water changes as the author did would continuously disturb the cycle, thus lending to a "dirty" looking tank. If they'd just left it alone, or only did small water changes, it would've cleared itself up.
The AquaTanks V I have have experience with have UGF filters. I have not seen an AquaTanks V Plus version before, but I know the AquaTanks X Plus tanks have Marineland Mini filters (a Pengiun mini without the bio-wheels) in them. If the AquaTanks V Plus also has a Marineland Mini, that is definately -too- strong a current for a betta, so no wonder she was having issues. No where in the article did the author mention what filters her research recommended.
The first betta could've gotten sick from all the constant water changing and unsettled water chemistries.
Currently I have one betta living in a two gallon UGF tank, and no problems within these past two weeks. I take the airstone out to feed since he doesn't enjoy chasing his Betta Bio-Gold all over the tank, but after he's done, I put the airstone back in, and leave it running all the time. The only deco is a coffee mug on it's side, and two day-glo colored silk plants. The gravel is blue plastic beads mixed with blue marbles.
Previously I did have a betta live in the same tank for close to four years, with a bi-weekly 100% water change. He was the happiest betta I ever owned, and my Elwood went back and forth from NY to Pa to Va in all my college travels in that tank, and that still didn't kill him. The only deco he had was the coffee mug and the same gravel.
Bettas do great in filtered tanks, you just don't want the current so strong he can't swim in it. But that rule applies to all fish.
~~Colesea
Not an Eclipse Explorer, it was a 2 gallon Aquatic Gardens Hex with a UGF. That one on the counter at work did wonderfully for several months, he was a beautiful purple color, then some bastard sold him >
Every time I put the pretty purple bettas in that hex, sure enough -that's- the one every customer has to want, no matter how often I say "he's mine, you can't have him, go away, he's mine mine mine!" some bastard goes and sells 'im when I'm off shift. The white clouds are gone too, I took them out cause I got bored with them. But bettas have been in that tank on and off without ill effects, but they never stay in there long enough to tell either way.
Currently sitting on my counter at work I have the 2 gallon Aquatic Gardens Hex UGF with a white betta in it (not as pretty as the purple ones, but he'll do) since last night, and the smallest CAE I have ever seen, an' he's been in there since two months ago. Nobody ever knows he's there, so he hasn't been sold (yet).
Then there is the Eclipse Explorer next to it with the baby bluegill. He's a beautiful baby, and I truely wish I had some other place to put him! I'm afraid if I put him with anything else he'll get sold. I put a baby bluegill in with the painted turtle, and now I can't find it, so I'm really hoping he's hiding underneath the rock display and didn't get chowed upon. I could remove the bluegill from the Explorer and try a betta in there, it just never occured to me before because, well, I had the white clouds in there first, then took them out to make a home for a baby crayfish and the two baby bluegill, then some bastard sold my crayfish, and I put one bluegill with the turtle, so now I have only one bluegill.
~~Colesea
Every time I put the pretty purple bettas in that hex, sure enough -that's- the one every customer has to want, no matter how often I say "he's mine, you can't have him, go away, he's mine mine mine!" some bastard goes and sells 'im when I'm off shift. The white clouds are gone too, I took them out cause I got bored with them. But bettas have been in that tank on and off without ill effects, but they never stay in there long enough to tell either way.Currently sitting on my counter at work I have the 2 gallon Aquatic Gardens Hex UGF with a white betta in it (not as pretty as the purple ones, but he'll do) since last night, and the smallest CAE I have ever seen, an' he's been in there since two months ago. Nobody ever knows he's there, so he hasn't been sold (yet).
Then there is the Eclipse Explorer next to it with the baby bluegill. He's a beautiful baby, and I truely wish I had some other place to put him! I'm afraid if I put him with anything else he'll get sold. I put a baby bluegill in with the painted turtle, and now I can't find it, so I'm really hoping he's hiding underneath the rock display and didn't get chowed upon. I could remove the bluegill from the Explorer and try a betta in there, it just never occured to me before because, well, I had the white clouds in there first, then took them out to make a home for a baby crayfish and the two baby bluegill, then some bastard sold my crayfish, and I put one bluegill with the turtle, so now I have only one bluegill.
~~Colesea
I have recently read about people keeping their bettas in Eclipse Explorer tanks, but not using the filter. They claim the current was so strong that it tore their fins. Anyone else have this problem with an Eclipse system??
Couldn't the flow rate be reduced by partially blocking the intake tube?
Couldn't the flow rate be reduced by partially blocking the intake tube?
i had a beta in my 20L tank for a year, 1st filtered w/a fluval and then i changed to an emperor 280. it was fine and extremely active. i noticed that occasionally, my clown loaches would nip @ its fins but it looked like they were just "playing." but the beta died for reasons unknown after a year. water quality was fine.
i use both 2gal.eclipse and a 2gal.hex w/ugf.the only time i've had ripped fins is if some thing sharp got in the tank(plastic plants ect.)water change can be from 3 months,not recomeneded. to onec a week or every other week which is normal.if you insist on using a small bowl use a turkey baster to suck out waste,then gently replace the missing water
Dumb question:
I assume you were doing PARTIAL water changes? That is, the tanks were cycled?
A "betta expert" out there insists that even in filtered tanks 100% water changes are needed. I thought that with a cycled tank you only did partial water changes, to control nitrate levels. I thought 100% changes were to be avoided as they can be stressful to the fish.
I assume you were doing PARTIAL water changes? That is, the tanks were cycled?
A "betta expert" out there insists that even in filtered tanks 100% water changes are needed. I thought that with a cycled tank you only did partial water changes, to control nitrate levels. I thought 100% changes were to be avoided as they can be stressful to the fish.