gentle filter

Larry Blanchard wrote:
I've currently got a betta and a cory cat in a 2.5 gallon tank with no
filter and no plants. I want to move the betta into a 5.5 planted tank
and add a filter. I'll move the cory to another tank and get him some
companions, replacing him with an SAE.

Actually, I've already set up the tank and cycled it. The problem is
that the filter on it, the smallest Aquaclear, generates too much water
flow for a betta, even turned down all the way.

So I'm looking for a different filter. I could go with no filter at
all, but I tried that in the 2.5 gallon and it seemed to increase algae
growth.

The only thing I've come up with so far is a Duetto 50, but I'm
wondering if there are other alternatives. Suggestions?

BTW, the airstone driven corner/box filters seem to have quite a
turbulence effect from the bubble stream, so unless there's a way to
quiet them and still have them work, I don't think they'd be suitable.

Here's a shocker. Try an undergravel filter on a small airpump. UGF is
great for tiny tanks because it provides so much surface area for
biofiltration and cleaning all of the gravel is simple. You don't get
much turbulence because the lift tube outlet is close to the surface.
My 2 gallon hex betta tank has an UGF, and my betta is able to maintain
his bubblenest at the surface in a corner opposite the lift tube. Also,
since a 2.5 gal is so small, it's not a big deal to carry the tank to
the sink and break it down once a year to clean gunk from under the
filter plate.

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__ Elaine T __
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