What Am I Doing Wrong?

[rebrn]

Hello, I am trying to get my filter prepared for my betta and I was advised to put a sponge in the out take area to slow the current, but it just is not working for me. I have an AC20 filter for a 5 gallon tank. I have wrapped filter sponge around the intake to protect fins (picture attached). That part worked out fine, I think, but I can't seem to get the filter sponge correct in the out take part. I have attached pictures. I have the filter set on its lowest flow setting, but when I add the sponge it does not seem to further lower the flow current. Please help ... what am I doing wrong?

This is the intake with sponge wrapped around ... Does it look ok or should I use more sponge media?



This is the filter with the sponge in the out take:



Filter with no sponge in out take:



The out put flow current seems to be exactly the same with or with out the sponge in the out take area. I am sure I am doing something wrong here ... I am sorry if this should be obvious but I am realitively new to all this and have never had to make any adjustments like this to the filter before.

Sorry I know it is hard to see the actual flow in the pictures, but I promise, it looks the same with or without the addition of the sponge

Thanks

 

[Honeythorn]

Try pushing the sponge so it pokes out of the hole a bit. And maybe add more sponge behind it to block the flow somewhat. Using sponge with smaller holes may also work.

The sponge should fill the hole so that the water passes through it, not just under it.

 

[rebrn]

Try pushing the sponge so it pokes out of the hole a bit. And maybe add more sponge behind it to block the flow somewhat. Using sponge with smaller holes may also work.

The sponge should fill the hole so that the water passes through it, not just under it.

Ok I will try that, and if that doesn't work I will try to find a finer holed sponge. I knew it was probably something simple like that but for the life of me I couldn't get it to work.

Thanks

 

[ryno1974]

Try pushing the sponge so it pokes out of the hole a bit. And maybe add more sponge behind it to block the flow somewhat. Using sponge with smaller holes may also work.

The sponge should fill the hole so that the water passes through it, not just under it.

Ok I will try that, and if that doesn't work I will try to find a finer holed sponge. I knew it was probably something simple like that but for the life of me I couldn't get it to work.

Thanks

I'm not sure why you need to bother with a sponge on the out flow. Covering the intake makes sense, but just leave the ot flow alone and turn the filter to its lowest setting. If you want even slower, add some filter floss to the top of the media chamber. It will slow it down even more.

 

[rebrn]

Try pushing the sponge so it pokes out of the hole a bit. And maybe add more sponge behind it to block the flow somewhat. Using sponge with smaller holes may also work.

The sponge should fill the hole so that the water passes through it, not just under it.

Ok I will try that, and if that doesn't work I will try to find a finer holed sponge. I knew it was probably something simple like that but for the life of me I couldn't get it to work.

Thanks

I'm not sure why you need to bother with a sponge on the out flow. Covering the intake makes sense, but just leave the ot flow alone and turn the filter to its lowest setting. If you want even slower, add some filter floss to the top of the media chamber. It will slow it down even more.

I can't get it to work ... I was thinking of just leaving it as is with the intake covered and then see how he does (tank probably won't be cycled for at least another 2 weeks or so anyway). The lowest setting on my filter is 33 gph ... I was only trying to make it slower because some people said that 33 gph output may still be too much current for the Betta. But as I can't seem to make it work I will just leave it for now and have some filter floss on hand just in case the current is too much. Thanks

 

[betta fish]

Or what you could do is attach a length of the sponge with an elastic band directly under the water fall bit so it hits the sponge before it hits the water, allowing the filter to work normally and trying to reflect the flow is better than clogging it up to make it work slower as it won't be so efficient in it's job and it may burn out the motor in time, even placing some tall plants directly in front of it should help but just going by your pictures the flow doesnt seem to great at it's lowest setting so just see how the betta copes and then adjust if need be, remember the longer finned types will struggle more in the flow than a shorter fin type and don't forget we do want to see pics when he is all settled

 

[rebrn]

Or what you could do is attach a length of the sponge with an elastic band directly under the water fall bit so it hits the sponge before it hits the water, allowing the filter to work normally and trying to reflect the flow is better than clogging it up to make it work slower as it won't be so efficient in it's job and it may burn out the motor in time, even placing some tall plants directly in front of it should help but just going by your pictures the flow doesnt seem to great at it's lowest setting so just see how the betta copes and then adjust if need be, remember the longer finned types will struggle more in the flow than a shorter fin type and don't forget we do want to see pics when he is all settled

I will definately post pics when I get him. I like the plant idea, I may go with that. I am currently doing a fishless cycle and I haven't put my plants in yet (silk plants) because I didn't want to risk them getting covered in algae purley for looks, but I do have a couple of taller plants that will be going into the back of the tank, one will be right in the flow of the filter so it may work.

Thanks everyone for the tips.

 

[Honeythorn]

Another thing that might work is a tall piece of smooth wood. Placed under the outflow where the water hits,it will break up the strength of flow better than a plant. Try to get a really tall piece that almost sticks out of the water. To make it look less severe, you could tie some riccia or java moss to the top just under the water's surface, and java ferns along the length of wood to make the whole thing look more natural.