Q About Bubble Nests + Filters

[Taridan]

Well, I've officially got George and Tucker moved into my 30 gallon tank, along with a fake root thing and a real Java Fern on top of the hole in the root. George is getting along pretty well with Tucker, the Pleko... I'm sure it helps that tucker is about an inch longer than him, quicker than him, and rock colored. Yeah, theres been some flaring, and some 'I'm in your face, yo!' from George, but no biting. the one time george got sort of in his face, tucker moved towards him and he backed off, so I think they'll be fine. Its seems like george is more attracted to flaring at him whenever he moves.

2 questions:
a) I've noticed some bubbles along the top edge of the water, but I'm confused in that they are over by where the water comes back in from the filter. I thought wouldn't he make them in the side with the calmer surface water? Is there something I should put on top of the water on the calm side to make him feel better? I found a 'feeding ring' that suctions to the side of the tank... anyone use it, or think he would make his bubbles in it?

B) I noticed when george swum by the intake filter, when he paused in his swiming, his fins got 'stuck' to the little slits. As far as i know there is no way to change the speed at which it sucks up water, and he pulled away easily enough once he stopped resting, but do you know if I should be worried about this damaging his fins at all, or if I should be worried, anything I could do? I do -not- want to wake up one morning and find him stuck to the filter.

I used the DIY current killer, where you cut the soda bottle? It seems to be working well... it reduced the noise and current by about 75%, and my fish seems happy with it... He'll let the water float him away from the top of the filter, then if there is any food nearby being pushed by the water, he'll lie in wait for it, and ambush it. XD

 

[MrMarblesTI]

I don't know about the bubblenest, I'm really not experienced enough to help you with that one.

With the intake filter though, an easy solution might be to run it for a certain time each day. I'm not sure if this is possible in your current setup, but it might be something to think about. If it were me, I might get a little nervous with my betta around the filter intake. Like you said, it really wouldn't be that fun to wake up with him stuck to it, or something like that. Maybe you could only run it while you're home? Just a thought...

 

[Andreeuh]

Maybe you could put a bushy long fake plant by the filter so they can't really get too close to it.

 

[Taridan]

Maybe you could put a bushy long fake plant by the filter so they can't really get too close to it.

Well, I wouldn't want to prevent my pleko from going over there, as thats where its the hardest to clean and where he really likes to eat. George was fine this morning, and I think the two times he got too close to it he learned how to pull away from it. Before I went to bed he kept swimming around the -top- of it, where there's no intake slits... I think he'll be okay with it, just took him a few times to learn since he's never been in a filtered tank before.

anyone know about the bubble nests or feeding rings?

 

[happyannie]

You might get some floating plants like Riccia but then I think they need higher light or better get a plant that's a long background one that flops over in the water. Put that down in the calm end. I know there are other floating plants out there that don't need as much light just not sure of their names. Per another forum member's suggestion I tied a knot in the air tube from the pump to the box filter I have to cut down on the flow. Some of these guys have tendencies to attack the bubbles as well as not liking the flow.

edit to post: I have one in a tank with one of the kind that sit in the tank and have a waterfall type flow. He didn't like that at first either but soon learned to ride down the current like a pro. Helped him have an easy commute from one place to another.