how to reduce water flow for betta

[Larry]

Just bought a 5.5g to replace the 3g. I have an albino cory and one
betta to put in.
Q#1. Can the waterflow in a Penquin 100 be reduced? I think the
output might be a bit much for the betta.

Q#2 I'd like to add two more fish or so. I'd like to either put in 3
panda cory's or two of sometjhing else that the betta will get along
with. Any suggestions?

Larry

[Empty]

On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 21:08:16 -0500, Larry wrote:

> Just bought a 5.5g to replace the 3g. I have an albino cory and one
> betta to put in.
> Q#1. Can the waterflow in a Penquin 100 be reduced? I think the
> output might be a bit much for the betta.

Try using a filter sponge with a hole in it(like a
sock) as a prefilter. Depending on the sponge you can get a decent
reduction.

On my Aquaclear on my 2.5g (it's a standard 10G filter) I drilled a hole
in the U tube for the intake, on the filter side right above the
impeller. This reduced flow has worked well for me, but I advise caution
in gauging up the hole size- it's a lot easier to make a hole bigger than
to make one smaller ;)

> Q#2 I'd like to add two more fish or so. I'd like
to either put in 3
> panda cory's or two of sometjhing else that the betta will get along
> with. Any suggestions?

Trade in the albino for starters. Personally in that tank I would go with
3 pygmy cories. If it's lit and planted I would go with an amano shrimp
and a dwarf frog.

~Empty

[Steve]

Empty wrote:
> On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 21:08:16 -0500, Larry wrote:
>
>
>>Just bought a 5.5g to replace the 3g. I have an albino cory and one
>>betta to put in.
>>Q#1. Can the waterflow in a Penquin 100 be reduced? I think the
>>output might be a bit much for the betta.
>
>
> Try using a filter sponge with a hole in it(like a
> sock) as a prefilter. Depending on the sponge you can get a decent
> reduction.
>
> On my Aquaclear on my 2.5g (it's a standard 10G filter) I drilled a hole
> in the U tube for the intake, on the filter side right above the
> impeller. This reduced flow has worked well for me, but I advise caution
> in gauging up the hole size- it's a lot easier to make a hole bigger than
> to make one smaller ;)
>
>

On the Aquaclear you can shift the top of the tube sideways to reduce
water flow - works well.
Steve

[Tynk]

Larry wrote:
> Just bought a 5.5g to replace the 3g. I have an albino cory and one
> betta to put in.
> Q#1. Can the waterflow in a Penquin 100 be reduced? I think the
> output might be a bit much for the betta.
>
> Q#2 I'd like to add two more fish or so. I'd like to either put in 3
> panda cory's or two of sometjhing else that the betta will get along
> with. Any suggestions?
>
> Larry

Hi Larry.
It's great that you upgraded, but it's not large enough to add more
Cories, other than Pygmy Cories. Even the *technically consdidered
small*, Panda female's get pretty good sized.
Being that Cories are schooling fish, they need to be with at least a
few of their own kind, but more are better. The Albino Cory will
actually grow to be too large for the 5.5g himself, and needs buddies
to boot. So I agree with the other poster and see if you can change him
for some Pygmies (call first, as not all places do this, and not all
places have the Pygmies, (but they all should, as they're perfect for
small tanks!). If you can't find Pygmy Cories (3 or 4 would be fine for
a 5.5g with the Betta), try a few Oto's (Otocinclus cats).
Acclimate both species slowly using the drip method, as it's a sure
fire way not to shock these guys.

[Tynk]

Larry wrote:
> Just bought a 5.5g to replace the 3g. I have an albino cory and one
> betta to put in.
> Q#1. Can the waterflow in a Penquin 100 be reduced? I think the
> output might be a bit much for the betta.
>
> Q#2 I'd like to add two more fish or so. I'd like to either put in 3
> panda cory's or two of sometjhing else that the betta will get along
> with. Any suggestions?
>
> Larry
Larry,
I forgot to mention that quite often a Betta needs to learn how to swim
around with a current. Some may take to it right away and others may
need a few days to learn.
There is the occasional Betta that never likes the current and measures
need to be taken to reduce the flow.
I was wondering if this Betta was new to having a current, or if it was
obvious that the new filter is just too much for the tank and the fish
are getting blown about?

[Empty]

On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 07:03:19 -0500, Steve wrote:

> On the Aquaclear you can shift the top of the tube sideways to reduce
> water flow - works well.

Yes, I know that :) I needed even more reduction in flow though- 2.5G with
2" of substrate (fine gravel over mud) puts the bottom close to the
filter, so I was ending up with a big crater that was threatening to put
mud in the water column (not to mention looking ugly)

I love the ACs- in my opinion they are the best HOB you can buy due to
their ease and reliability.

~Empty

[Koi-lo]

"Empty" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 07:03:19 -0500, Steve wrote:
>
>> On the Aquaclear you can shift the top of the tube sideways to reduce
>> water flow - works well.
>
> Yes, I know that :) I needed even more reduction in flow though- 2.5G with
> 2" of substrate (fine gravel over mud) puts the bottom close to the
> filter, so I was ending up with a big crater that was threatening to put
> mud in the water column (not to mention looking ugly)
>
> I love the ACs- in my opinion they are the best HOB you can buy due to
> their ease and reliability.
========================
I have some ACs going on 15 years of almost continuous use. :-) Azoo
makes tiny HOB filters for small 1 and 2 gallon tanks. I have one on a 2
gallon betta tank that's fantastic. They're very much like the Aquaclears
but real small. They're called "palm filters" and cost $6.49 from Fosters &
Smith. They turn over 16gph, are only 3 watts and are silent. The one I
have now has been running for about 6 months. They have a replaceable
sponge and a filterpad but they're still like new in my Azoo. Just squeeze
'em out and replace them in the filter. I plan to order a few more
soon.........
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Larry]

On 12 Dec 2005 07:52:34 -0800, "Tynk" > wrote:

>
>Larry wrote:
>> Just bought a 5.5g to replace the 3g. I have an albino cory and one
>> betta to put in.
>> Q#1. Can the waterflow in a Penquin 100 be reduced? I think the
>> output might be a bit much for the betta.
>>
>> Q#2 I'd like to add two more fish or so. I'd like to either put in 3
>> panda cory's or two of sometjhing else that the betta will get along
>> with. Any suggestions?
>>
>> Larry
>
>Hi Larry.
>It's great that you upgraded, but it's not large enough to add more
>Cories, other than Pygmy Cories. Even the *technically consdidered
>small*, Panda female's get pretty good sized.
>Being that Cories are schooling fish, they need to be with at least a
>few of their own kind, but more are better. The Albino Cory will
>actually grow to be too large for the 5.5g himself, and needs buddies
>to boot. So I agree with the other poster and see if you can change him
>for some Pygmies (call first, as not all places do this, and not all
>places have the Pygmies, (but they all should, as they're perfect for
>small tanks!). If you can't find Pygmy Cories (3 or 4 would be fine for
>a 5.5g with the Betta), try a few Oto's (Otocinclus cats).
>Acclimate both species slowly using the drip method, as it's a sure
>fire way not to shock these guys.

Hi Tink

Pygmys sound like a good idea. I have 4 in my 26g and they must be
pygmys because they are no more than an inch right now and are over
8-12months old.

The Albino Cory is about 1.5-2 inches and is about 2 years old(don't
think It'll grow any more...will it?)

Thanks for the advice about my betta learning to handle the current.
Hopefully it will learn to handle it.

How do you get it to feed? The food use to be dropped in and the
betta would come to the top. Now the pellets take off around the tank
and I'm not sure the betta will get the hang of going after it's
breaky.

Larry

[NetMax]

"Larry" > wrote in message
...
> On 12 Dec 2005 07:52:34 -0800, "Tynk" > wrote:
<snip>
>
> The Albino Cory is about 1.5-2 inches and is about 2 years old(don't
> think It'll grow any more...will it?)


2-3/4" (if albino Bronze, C.aeneus)
3" (if albino Peppered, C.paleatus)
--
www.NetMax.tk

>
> Larry

[Tynk]

Larry wrote:
> On 12 Dec 2005 07:52:34 -0800, "Tynk" > wrote:
>
> >
> >Larry wrote:
> >> Just bought a 5.5g to replace the 3g. I have an albino cory and one
> >> betta to put in.
> >> Q#1. Can the waterflow in a Penquin 100 be reduced? I think the
> >> output might be a bit much for the betta.
> >>
> >> Q#2 I'd like to add two more fish or so. I'd like to either put in 3
> >> panda cory's or two of sometjhing else that the betta will get along
> >> with. Any suggestions?
> >>
> >> Larry
> >
> >Hi Larry.
> >It's great that you upgraded, but it's not large enough to add more
> >Cories, other than Pygmy Cories. Even the *technically consdidered
> >small*, Panda female's get pretty good sized.
> >Being that Cories are schooling fish, they need to be with at least a
> >few of their own kind, but more are better. The Albino Cory will
> >actually grow to be too large for the 5.5g himself, and needs buddies
> >to boot. So I agree with the other poster and see if you can change him
> >for some Pygmies (call first, as not all places do this, and not all
> >places have the Pygmies, (but they all should, as they're perfect for
> >small tanks!). If you can't find Pygmy Cories (3 or 4 would be fine for
> >a 5.5g with the Betta), try a few Oto's (Otocinclus cats).
> >Acclimate both species slowly using the drip method, as it's a sure
> >fire way not to shock these guys.
>
> Hi Tink
>
> Pygmys sound like a good idea. I have 4 in my 26g and they must be
> pygmys because they are no more than an inch right now and are over
> 8-12months old.
>
> The Albino Cory is about 1.5-2 inches and is about 2 years old(don't
> think It'll grow any more...will it?)
>
> Thanks for the advice about my betta learning to handle the current.
> Hopefully it will learn to handle it.
>
> How do you get it to feed? The food use to be dropped in and the
> betta would come to the top. Now the pellets take off around the tank
> and I'm not sure the betta will get the hang of going after it's
> breaky.
>
> Larry

> How do you get it to feed? The food use to be dropped in and the
> betta would come to the top. Now the pellets take off around the tank
> and I'm not sure the betta will get the hang of going after it's
> breaky.
>
> Larry

Hi Larry.
He will quickly learn how to eat with a current too.
If it gets blown about the tank he will hunt it down later on. If it
falls on the gravel, no prob. He will learn to turn that head and
snatch it up.
Some learn where to hang out near the current and have the food blown
to them.
Some go wild chasing it all over, like a hunter after it's prey.
No worries, he'll learn. = )