Hi guys,
I need some advice on filters, the staff at my local fish shop are not helpful at all.
My current filter (not sure what is the type) does not have any form of flow control. It is the type of filter with a suction cup, completely immersed in the tank and stuck to the side. There is a removable canister with two sponges inside, and an air-tube coming out. Bubbles and water come out from the outlet. My tank is 10 gallons and the filter is rated for 10 gallons, that's why I bought it. But I find that the outlet flow is very strong and any fish that swim near it get swept away.
I used to have about a dozen mollies, but have given them away. Currently my planted tank has 1 betta, and 2 clown loaches. The day I bought the betta, its fins got stuck to the filter intakes (which is basically the whole canister with the sponges inside). After googling around for answers, I tried attaching some filter wool to the canister with rubber bands. This works in reducing the suction power, and the betta doesn't get stuck anymore. Unfortunately, now the aeration and outlet flow has been drastically cut by a lot. It looks fine for just 3 fish, but my plan is to introduce about a dozen tetras later on.
So, what type of filter can I get which can support more fishes, but with gentler suction so that the betta's fins won't get stuck? Or is there some kind of filter where the suction can be located somewhere the betta and other fishes won't swim to, maybe low down in the tank somewhere?
I need some advice on filters, the staff at my local fish shop are not helpful at all.
My current filter (not sure what is the type) does not have any form of flow control. It is the type of filter with a suction cup, completely immersed in the tank and stuck to the side. There is a removable canister with two sponges inside, and an air-tube coming out. Bubbles and water come out from the outlet. My tank is 10 gallons and the filter is rated for 10 gallons, that's why I bought it. But I find that the outlet flow is very strong and any fish that swim near it get swept away.
I used to have about a dozen mollies, but have given them away. Currently my planted tank has 1 betta, and 2 clown loaches. The day I bought the betta, its fins got stuck to the filter intakes (which is basically the whole canister with the sponges inside). After googling around for answers, I tried attaching some filter wool to the canister with rubber bands. This works in reducing the suction power, and the betta doesn't get stuck anymore. Unfortunately, now the aeration and outlet flow has been drastically cut by a lot. It looks fine for just 3 fish, but my plan is to introduce about a dozen tetras later on.
So, what type of filter can I get which can support more fishes, but with gentler suction so that the betta's fins won't get stuck? Or is there some kind of filter where the suction can be located somewhere the betta and other fishes won't swim to, maybe low down in the tank somewhere?
