It makes it so that any filter really can work for a betta. With just a square-ish piece of water safe netting, I stretched it over the bottom of the tube and secured it with a rubber band. It breaks down like this, Bettas have been bred to have beautiful, flowy fins above all else (except the plakat tail type that more closely resembles the wild Betta tail shape). Also replace them when they start to break down in the water. Why do you need a sponge filter for aquarium? It isn’t actually a sponge filter, but a compact internal filter with two water-polishing sponges and a small compartment for holding biological filter … I purchased a 15 gallon column tank setup second-hand and it came with a Marineland Bio-wheel 150, which created a strong current. It’s a win-win for you and your fishy friend. If your filter doesn’t, chances are it is not a very good quality product and you might need to upgrade your filtration system. I can talk more later about why some people don’t think that filters are necessary for Betta, but all I can say from my experience is they may not need them all the time to live, but they definitely need them to thrive. That's how mine is done, and it should as long as it has a top. If not, it might still work. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. There are those that are built with double sponge, those intended to serve large or small tanks, nano tanks, ponds and other Betta tanks. Once frozen take it out and drill a hole halfway through the sponge with the hole saw attachment slightly smaller than the diameter of your pipe. Water quality should be a top priority, and this is a pretty easy way to help it. First I raised the water level so the fall was as little as possible, then I took an empty water bottle and cut off the top above the lable and the bottom below the label. I'm going to have to buy new filters for each tank and I was hoping I could go with sponge filters. And you really don’t need to do much with this filter. The bettas I have kept with filters really came into their full colors and finnage and are absolutely beautiful; and I wish I would’ve known to use them sooner! How to make an easy DIY sponge filter that's works well in your Betta fish tank. It only takes a little while to set up a safe filter and it will make all the difference for the rest of their lives. This type of filter works, if you have it set up right . would sponge filters be alright? Jul 4, 2009 #4 MissMTS Fishlore VIP. It provides a gentle current as water moves through the sponge and out the tube on the top. Sponge Filters for bettas. All I did was remove the top of the sponge that was precut and empty out the carbon. I then secured the plastic over the lip so that it curled under the waterfall. There are two ways that a … A second way to modify an intake is to leave the original guard on the tube. I got a 10 gallon tank today and I'm planning to do a divided tank so I can house 2. Change ). As the equipment making industry expects, people aren’t going to pay way more money for equipment and set up than they do for the fish itself. As long as it has holes in the bottom it should work. This is a good Betta fish filter because it is run on an air pump, so the water flow can easily be adjusted. Until next time, love from me and Luxe (my betta), Just a person with a passion for what I would humbly consider the most wonderful and underrated fish in the aquarium keeping hobby; seeking to share information, stories and ideas! I would just stick to your regular water changes. They are ideal for short-term use in breeding and fry tanks, and for hospital set-ups when you can’t or don’t want to use chemical filtering media. It’s an ideal sponge system for a 10-gallon or smaller set-up. It was made to be inserted in a filter to help chemically filter impurities from the water. For one of the most commonly kept pet fish in America, there is shockingly little consideration given to the Betta. There is not much equipment really made for them and as a result they are one of the most improperly kept fish. The other filter part that needs to be altered is the output, where the cleaned water from the filer flows back out into the aquarium. I think I'm going to make some DIY sponge filters then. Note: if you are using rubber bands make sure they’re not dyed or perfumed in any way etc. It will do a better job cleaning. Don’t forget, diy filter changes CAN go horribly wrong, if you’re like me and make mistakes before finding the right way that works for you BUT that’s a story for another time. If you don’t know what you are doing, you can easily get conned. (If they knew it could also be messy and was just as much work as any other pet it would lose its appeal, since the payoff, if you don’t enjoy the hobby in itself, is very minimal for most). It can quickly clean an opaque betta tank or remove impurities inside the tank. Alternatively, you could run both filters simultaneously for several weeks, but that would not help the flow problem, so I recommend the former method. (see previous posts) However, I will say all of my long-term success with Bettas always involved a filter. The depth of the sponge happened to be enough to cover the length of the guard at the end of the intake tube. Aug 26, 2016 - In this video I will show you how to make a DIY internal air stone sponge filter for a Betta fish tank. Lots of fish species love current, so lots of filters are made to create current in their output. ( Log Out /  I’ve said it before, water quality is the most important part of their life. (more on filters to come). Sponge filters are a good option for lightly stocked tanks with a few occupants, or for use as a supplementary filtration system used alongside an internal filter, HOB or canister system. (Benefits) I found, in my local pet store, a filter sponge. Other fish don’t have these problems, so the guards or cages on filters are made to keep the body of a fish from being sucked up through the intake tube of the filter, they are not made fine enough to keep delicate, long fins that other fish species don’t have from being sucked inside. Like any other living animal, Bettas deserve proper care. I got a couple of questions about using a sponge filter with a betta. Start by taking everything out of the box. Firstly, the aquarium hobby likes to focus on larger more expensive fish because they know that “real” aquarium keepers want those fish more than your everyday Walmart Betta, and are the ones looking to buy expensive equipment for their expensive fish. A sponge type filter is the Best Filter for Betta aquariums. I am not a handy person and I’m sure there are many other ways out there to make filters safe for Bettas. They really make all the difference when done properly and are really a piece of equipment to invest in (though not all are that expensive and there are some great deals out there!). Luckily this is an easy fix. With that being said, let’s look at some of the DIY ways to reduce the filter flow rate: Use Pre-filter sponge. here is my recipe for a great home made filter. The water on my filter dropped off a little lip and fell to the aquarium like a waterfall. So, choose something that floats on the surface to catch your fish’s eye. They're also ideal for 5 gallon tanks and under. But I think anyone can make these ideas work and I really think they should. On the flip side of that, filters can be extremely dangerous to Bettas if the keeper is not vigilant and diligent with what they choose and how they set it up. I hope something in here is a little helpful. ... -I use 2 sponge filters and 2 hang over the back filters … This leads to thirdly that Betta are marketed and sold as cheap fish that don’t need “regular fish” care. Price: $9.88: Price Disclaimer ... -there are also a TON of DIY methods. Love these filters much smaller then the old school sponge filter but I can clearly see it pushes more water through the filter and helps provide a little current to circulate the water, I have 2 one at each end of my 20 gal betta tank and they dont seem to mind it at all. Those may interest you: I have modified the intake on two different types of filters recently. A lot of Chinese brands copy the American one. Then, you put an air hose and air stone down into the tube and the rising air bubbles from the air stone push water up through … For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It just takes a bit more customization. Either they don’t have it, because if they did they would’ve gotten a more expensive fish, or they don’t want a pet they have to spend money on, so they buy the cheapest one they can find, which will either be a Betta or a goldfish. I got a 10 gallon tank today and I'm planning to do a divided tank so I can house 2 bettas in it. I feel comfortable saying that Bettas do much better with a filter. This creates a fine enough guard that even fins won’t get sucked inside and ripped apart, yet water can still get through. Not all types of sponges may be as good for this, but any type of filter sponge should be able to do the job. They are portrayed as some super fish that lives in mud and happens to have a short natural lifespan. If you want what is really best for your fish I think you’ll be glad you did. If you are at this page, you probably realize that this is a mistake and want your wonderful Betta to have a better home with more water. Even if it's the smallest one? Simply put, because of their anatomy they can live without one, but I just don’t think they can thrive indefinitely that way unless you have a much better set up, care system and time devotion than I did, and I had a fair amount. For an extra note: when in doubt you can always buy a filter rated for more gallons than what’s in your aquarium. Poor guy has been through a lot with my learning curve! ( Log Out /  This is for a couple of reasons. Because the sponge was made to be in a filter, it was made to have a lot of water pass easily through it, so it really didn’t block the water from going into the filter at all. Then I used the top part and rolled it into a tube. SunGrow Sponge Betta Filter, 3x4 Inches, Multi-Layer Filtration System, Ultra Quiet Underwater Corner Filter, Excellent Oxygen Resource, Works in Tropical Fish and … It was a cube of blue sponge, hollowed inside and filled with carbon pellets. 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