Dividing a 10 gal

[tttnjfttt]

Ok, MTS is hitting again, and my current plan is to divide up my 10 gal hospital (still brand new) and divide it up for bettas. I've seen all the DIY posts on it, so i know HOW to do it, my question is how many divisions should I create?

My current plan is for no filter, or if i do anything, I will maybe have a couple of air bubblers max.

 

[splashluff]

^_~ awesome! Personally, if/when I divided a 10 gal, I would make 4 2.5gallon compartments. good luck! and please post pics of the finished product

 

[Seahorse]

Why do people use air bubblers in betta tanks? They breath from the top, bubbles just annoy them.

And why not filter a 10 gallon? That is a lot of water... If they are bothered by the current, just divide it off (why would that matter if you are willing to use a bubbler though).

 

[Saucy]

I'd just divide once or twice at the most. Any more than that and the areas get really skinny and long... and just eww in my opinion. Having just one leaves a lot of open glass to look at the fish and so they can get lots of light. And 5 gallons of good water for each baby!

 

[tttnjfttt]

Why I was willing to use the air bubbler thing is I have it in the 5 gal right now with a betta who isn't bothered by it, but is bothered by both the intake and ouput from my filter. The main puropse of it is to just break up the water at the surface. The stresscoat/dechlorinator was leaving the surface kinda filmy looking, so i wanted to break it up.

 

[Synirr]

I divided my 10 gallon into 5 compartments and I think they look nice... not too skinny.

 

[Mariah]

Divide it into 4 so than you can have 4 bettas!

 

[Karah's_Mommy]

I think I'd go with 4 - 2.5 gallon sections, 5 at the most. If I were doing it, I would seriously consider cycling the tank and using a filter. I just recently got some 5 gallon aquaviews and cycled them and divided them in 2. They've got internal whisper filters and they're set on the lowest setting possible, so the water return is almost nothing. I've got an older betta that I just put in one section and he made a bubblenest for the first time ever on his second day in the tank. If you don't cycle, I personally like the air bubblers too. I keep them on a valve so the air barely trickles out, causing almost no movement at all. I find it keeps the water clearer and it keeps that yucky film from building up when you don't use an air bubbler.

 

[tttnjfttt]

:stupid: Duh...I totally forgot adjustable filters exist. My 20 gal filter is adjustable, which I turned down for feeding today (now if i can only remember to turn it back up after ).

I'll look around for one of those. This way, I still have a filter for my hospital tank, that is if I ever beat MTS and can keep myself from turning the quarentine tank into anohter aquarium.

 

[GSD]

id go for 3 or 4 compartments

 

[FishEnthusiast]

I have my 10G divided into 2 compartments, 5G each. I don't think I would want to do more because I like them to have lots of side to side room. If I divided it more, they would still be able to swim front to back, but then I wouldn't see them as much. I love watching them. I do not have a filter on my 10G. I tried 4 different filters and both the boys hated them, including the little sponge filters that hook up to an air pump. I had a gang valve and I had them turned right down. They didn't like the bubbles at all. I do 100% water changes. It takes a while, but I use a 2 bucket system. Fill one up, put the hose in the empty bucket, go dump the full bucket, etc... I have a hose that runs from my tap in the laundry room. I find out the temp in the tank, and match the running water's temp and fill it up. It takes some work, but I enjoy it.

 

[Seahorse]

I made a topic about the adjustable settings on those filters, and I cannot find it I am really disturbed by this Seriously though, I own four and none of them are adjustable?

The only thing I can do is change the hook that hangs on the tank to the top thing or bottom thing, but I think that is a weird way to be adjustable

Edit: And I wouldn't divide over two times. Once is my max, the boys each have 5 gals each.

 

[tttnjfttt]

My whisper filter is adjustable, I turn a nob on the top of it to adjust the flow. It goes down to maybe 5 drops/second. Whether or not a filter is adjustable is really dependent on the filer. My old filter (WM brand, I think) isn't adjustable and WAY too strong for my little guys.

For those who do use an adjustable filter, does keeping it running really slowly sustain the beneficial bacteria?

Also, a comment about the air stones - I know ALOT of people really don't like them, but I saw my betta playing in the bubbles today after a water change I guess the current isn't too strong, atleast not for Jewl.

 

[Seahorse]

Right that is what mine is. They say they are adjustable, but there is no place to adjust. I think I have some new kind that aren't anymore...

 

[tttnjfttt]

no nob on the top of the filter? Right above the intake tube?

Another thought, out of curiousity, what size is your filter?