2.5 Gallon Mini Bow--suggestions?

[kizno1]

you can use sponge fillter in betta tanks then you wont get a strong current but i really do think you should take the 2.5g back and get at the very min a 3g but a 5g would be alot lot better

 

[GuppyGoddess]

I know most of you will recommend this up and down...but I transfered to my 36 gallon from a 12 gallon Eclipse. Now, we all know the current is STRONG on those things...IF (and I REALLY mean if) I had the room for the 12 gallon.....what can I do about the strong filter?

But I would have to return all the 2.5 gallon stuff

For a stronger filter, You can buy black foam like this: http/www.petco.com/product/13797/Hagen-E...at=OnSiteSearch

Measure your intake tube and then cut the media and wrap it around that part with a rubber band or hair tie. Then take another chunk and duct tape that to the outtake valve so that the water that is coming out moves more slowly. I did this with my eclipse and the duct tape part is covered by the hood (and is out of the water), but the media is visable. Plants partically cover it. . .however, it's still visable. Better though than having my betta swept around in the tank.

 

[aly_starh]

In Lunars first tank 10l he had a DIY Filter

 

[Honeythorn]

Bettas can survive for some while in what amounts to a puddle it's true, but that's no reason to keep them in one permanently.


It's not hard to make space for a 12 gallon tank. Is it a long or tall 12 gal? Both would fit on a normal sized kitchen worktop. A solid wood desk will also hold a 12 gallon if you have one. Look around the house, see what can take the weight and if there is stuff on there, move it/store i elsewhere . Simple.

Unless you drove a vast distance to get to Petco it really shouldn't be too strenuous to simply pack up the tank and equipment into their boxes, grab your receipt and return them.


As for a strong filter flow -

You can wrap some filter sponge around your intake, or ziptie some over the outflow of the filter to slow the flow.

You could replace the existing filter with a sponge filter which has a slow flow anyway.

If the existing filter has an outflow nozzle that sticks out, then you can easliy make a spray bar and face the holes at the back wall of the tank to deflect the flow.

 

[ny2oz]

Bettas can survive for some while in what amounts to a puddle it's true, but that's no reason to keep them in one permanently.


It's not hard to make space for a 12 gallon tank. Is it a long or tall 12 gal? Both would fit on a normal sized kitchen worktop. A solid wood desk will also hold a 12 gallon if you have one. Look around the house, see what can take the weight and if there is stuff on there, move it/store i elsewhere . Simple.

Unless you drove a vast distance to get to Petco it really shouldn't be too strenuous to simply pack up the tank and equipment into their boxes, grab your receipt and return them.


As for a strong filter flow -

You can wrap some filter sponge around your intake, or ziptie some over the outflow of the filter to slow the flow.

You could replace the existing filter with a sponge filter which has a slow flow anyway.

If the existing filter has an outflow nozzle that sticks out, then you can easliy make a spray bar and face the holes at the back wall of the tank to deflect the flow.

The Eclipse is kind of a tall tank...has the biowheel Eclipse 12 info page and pic link

Dimensions: 21"L x 11"W x 18"H..its a lovely 12 gallon tank. I ordered the 2.5 and all online, I CAN always drive 15 minutes to return it all. I do not have an entire house to play with, just part of the upstairs. It has it's own stand, too. If I move around a small refrigerator I can probably place it. THe filtration system, as most Eclipse owners know, comes with it, and kept all my fish happy and water great...just the outflow is an issue. I can do all you have suggested, and give him tank makes which would be cheaper then the setup I just bought which cost me $67 anyway...lol.

 

[aly_starh]

that looks like a better tank.
Your from the US
2.5 usg= 2ukg
So very small, too small infact, you will definetly need a bigger tank.

oh yeah, you will need lots more plants as they like to shelter.

 

[Honeythorn]

The Eclipse is kind of a tall tank...has the biowheel Eclipse 12 info page and pic link

Dimensions: 21"L x 11"W x 18"H..its a lovely 12 gallon tank. I ordered the 2.5 and all online, I CAN always drive 15 minutes to return it all. I do not have an entire house to play with, just part of the upstairs. It has it's own stand, too. If I move around a small refrigerator I can probably place it. THe filtration system, as most Eclipse owners know, comes with it, and kept all my fish happy and water great...just the outflow is an issue. I can do all you have suggested, and give him tank makes which would be cheaper then the setup I just bought which cost me $67 anyway...lol.

That looks an excellent tank , Perfect for a betta. You could have some cories or Khulie loaches as tankmates, or shrimp and an apple snail. Plant it up heavily with either real or silk plants so he has lots of places to hide and he should use the whole tank.

I would suggest simply modifying the filter to slow the flow. I do not own a biowheel flter and don't know what the inlet and outflow look like Could you post a picture of both ends ? That way we can help figure out how to deflect the water flow to make it comfortable for a betta.

That said, if you like female bettas, a group of 5 would work in that tank. I have a 12 gallon with 5 pretty girls, 4 endlers and an apple snail, running with a Fluval 2, and they all do just fine. Females , with their short fins deal with current far better than a long finned male, so they are always an option if it turns out to be too much hassle to modify the filter ( it shouldn't be though )

 

[ny2oz]

The Eclipse is kind of a tall tank...has the biowheel Eclipse 12 info page and pic link

Dimensions: 21"L x 11"W x 18"H..its a lovely 12 gallon tank. I ordered the 2.5 and all online, I CAN always drive 15 minutes to return it all. I do not have an entire house to play with, just part of the upstairs. It has it's own stand, too. If I move around a small refrigerator I can probably place it. THe filtration system, as most Eclipse owners know, comes with it, and kept all my fish happy and water great...just the outflow is an issue. I can do all you have suggested, and give him tank makes which would be cheaper then the setup I just bought which cost me $67 anyway...lol.

That looks an excellent tank , Perfect for a betta. You could have some cories or Khulie loaches as tankmates, or shrimp and an apple snail. Plant it up heavily with either real or silk plants so he has lots of places to hide and he should use the whole tank.

I would suggest simply modifying the filter to slow the flow. I do not own a biowheel flter and don't know what the inlet and outflow look like Could you post a picture of both ends ? That way we can help figure out how to deflect the water flow to make it comfortable for a betta.

That said, if you like female bettas, a group of 5 would work in that tank. I have a 12 gallon with 5 pretty girls, 4 endlers and an apple snail, running with a Fluval 2, and they all do just fine. Females , with their short fins deal with current far better than a long finned male, so they are always an option if it turns out to be too much hassle to modify the filter ( it shouldn't be though )

I will post pictures of intake and out take, but oddly, I am hesitant to try female community. I have done this before...twice. Each time, ALL of the females died within a month. I dont know if it was the quality of females the store sold (petsmart and petco) at the time, but I was thinking it was me and almost gave up the hobby, until I switched to regular tropical fish, and whom I've had most now for over a year since that incident. SO I know it wasnt me, especially since I was successful with males (although in different tanks). I plan on using live plants, as I always do. If I stick with one male, I have 2 groups of neons in my 36 gallon (Glo-lite tetras, and reg. neon tetras...I could always transfer a group with the male, or, if by some chance I decide to go with a female community again, I'm not sure what I can put in there...besides just the bettas?

1st pic is intake...2nd, its the "slit" on the right side of tank.

Here is the intake and outtake.

 

[Honeythorn]

Do NOT put neons or any sort of tetra with a male betta. If you do you can kiss his fins goodbye. Bottom feeders like cories and loaches are best with males. You might get away with endlers livebearers ( males ) depending on the temperament of the betta. It'sbest to add all other fish first and the betta last . That way he won't feel his space is being " invaded" and is less likely to attack tankmates.

Ok so the outflow is just a hole/lip. Well if there is space behind it, you could get some medium - large grade aquarium filter sponge ( as in, the holes/gaps on the sponge are larger than the sort you find in most small filter sponges ) pond filter sponge should be good , then cut this to size and slot a piece in behind that hole, so the water will still pass through it, but the force will be greatly reduced.

Buy a couple of pieces. One large grade, one medium. Try both ( before adding fish of course ) and see which one slows the flow best. Do make sure it doesn't impede the workings of the filter by slowing it TOO much though. A gentle pour and a little bit of plant movement is what you want to see, not splashing water and loads of surface agitation. Raising the water level till it almost touches the outflow is also a good way to stop splashing.

You could also position a tall ornament , broad leafed plant or tall piece of wood of some sort directly under where the flow pours into the tank as an extra measure to block the force of the water.

 

[ny2oz]

Do NOT put neons or any sort of tetra with a male betta. If you do you can kiss his fins goodbye. Bottom feeders like cories and loaches are best with males. You might get away with endlers livebearers ( males ) depending on the temperament of the betta. It'sbest to add all other fish first and the betta last . That way he won't feel his space is being " invaded" and is less likely to attack tankmates.

Ok so the outflow is just a hole/lip. Well if there is space behind it, you could get some medium - large grade aquarium filter sponge ( as in, the holes/gaps on the sponge are larger than the sort you find in most small filter sponges ) pond filter sponge should be good , then cut this to size and slot a piece in behind that hole, so the water will still pass through it, but the force will be greatly reduced.

Buy a couple of pieces. One large grade, one medium. Try both ( before adding fish of course ) and see which one slows the flow best. Do make sure it doesn't impede the workings of the filter by slowing it TOO much though. A gentle pour and a little bit of plant movement is what you want to see, not splashing water and loads of surface agitation. Raising the water level till it almost touches the outflow is also a good way to stop splashing.

You could also position a tall ornament , broad leafed plant or tall piece of wood of some sort directly under where the flow pours into the tank as an extra measure to block the force of the water.

OK so no tetras. I wonder if I should try my hand at females again. I did not have any tank mates with them the last time...would this be ok if I did this again? I have three cories in my larger tank I could transfer, but would prefer not to since it seems they are enjoying the room. Doesn't loaches get too big for a 12 gallon? Not much "quailty" variety over in these parts! Still contemplating a male with bottom feeders, or a female community again. Any special care for females?

 

[Honeythorn]

5 girls would certainly work and they require no special care, you probably wouldn't even need to modify your filter if you plant hevaily and just stick something under the flow of the water in the tank.

I have 5 girls in a 12 gallon right now and my tank is of similar dimensions. You have a greater variety of tankmate choices if you have girls. I have 4 male endlers with mine which works very well. 6 galaxy or harlequin rasboros and 5 girls would work ok, Endlers ( male) are good and pretty, 1 or 2 platies ( male) might also be worth a try.

If you go for some cories on the bottom ( 4 peppered /panda or 6-8 pygmies ) make sure you have a sand substrate. Plants do well in sand by the way so no worries for that.

Apple snails are also good, as are shrimp if you want invertebrates.


As for a male, It's best to stick with some cories on the bottom, and/or invertebrates.

It all depends on how lively/active you prefer your tank to be. A group of girls and a few tankmates will be more visually active , though on the other hand a single beautiful male would make a stunning solo fish for such a tank.

 

[ny2oz]

5 girls would certainly work and they require no special care, you probably wouldn't even need to modify your filter if you plant hevaily and just stick something under the flow of the water in the tank.

I have 5 girls in a 12 gallon right now and my tank is of similar dimensions. You have a greater variety of tankmate choices if you have girls. I have 4 male endlers with mine which works very well. 6 galaxy or harlequin rasboros and 5 girls would work ok, Endlers ( male) are good and pretty, 1 or 2 platies ( male) might also be worth a try.

If you go for some cories on the bottom ( 4 peppered /panda or 6-8 pygmies ) make sure you have a sand substrate. Plants do well in sand by the way so no worries for that.

Apple snails are also good, as are shrimp if you want invertebrates.


As for a male, It's best to stick with some cories on the bottom, and/or invertebrates.

It all depends on how lively/active you prefer your tank to be. A group of girls and a few tankmates will be more visually active , though on the other hand a single beautiful male would make a stunning solo fish for such a tank.

I've pretty much decided to go with my 12 again, but still on the fence about what to do. If I chose females, would it be best to just have the 5 in there? endlers I never see in the stores here, but the rasboros I have. I'd rather stick with gravel since I have some extra.

 

[Honeythorn]

Yes just 5 girls on their own would work fine. Tankmates aren't an absolute necessity.

 

[ny2oz]

Yes just 5 girls on their own would work fine. Tankmates aren't an absolute necessity.

Would Bamboo shrimp be ok in this tank size? I wanted a couple in my 36 bow, but Its fully stocked and I wont add anything else at the moment.... In your opinion...what would you recommend? I'm very indecisive lol.

 

[ny2oz]

Would Bamboo shrimp be ok in this tank size? I wanted a couple in my 36 bow, but Its fully stocked and I wont add anything else at the moment.... In your opinion...what would you recommend? I'm very indecisive lol.

Since it's been since 2005 since I had a male betta last, I think i'm ready to try for another one as the "center piece" my Boseami Rainbows in my 36 gallon give me plenty of activity lol. I think I read shrimp aren't good with males..so are bamboo shrimp out?