I just upgraded my betta’s tank to 10 gallons but he hates the current that the new higher flow filter creates even at the lowest setting (he hides from it and doesn’t even like coming to the surface for food). I also saw him stuck to the intake at one point— luckily he managed to wiggle away from it.
So today I bought a fluval ac70 filter, cut it down a bit, and stuck a bit of it in the intake and this much larger piece on the outflow of the filter.
Now the water is nice and still and my betta immediately came out from hiding… seems very happy in the tank.
My question is: is there any downside to having such a big block of the bio foam floating on the surface like this as a baffle?
https://i.redd.it/02wjrt5k7dkg1.jpeg
Posted by someliskguy
12 Comments
I’m having a similar issue and this is a solution I hadn’t thought of, I’m open to others too
Yes, this is a perfectly valid way to reduce flow. The only downside is you might get surface film from reducing surface agitation.
So I actually have the same filter. I just grabbed a sponge at PetSmart and cut it down to fit inside the back. I currently have it shoved back there with the disposable filter along with it. Once the disposable filter starts to actually fall apart, then I will remove it and just keep the other sponge in there. That’s the advice I was given when asking how to keep my filter while also switching away from disposable filter cartridges.
I have the same filter on my 5 gallon. My Koi does fine on the low setting.
Do you mean biofilm? Having a sponge there may actually help remove or reduce biofilm, it’s a hack we use in swimming pool skimmers!
As for whether or not the foam is harmful, it shouldn’t be as long as you don’t have anything that might try to eat it or climb out using it (shrimp, snails etc).
Check out Etsy, I bought a 3D printed baffle
for my hob filter and it’s been great! Lots of sellers. I also bought 3D printed adapted parts for my fluval.
I did something just like this! But I got cylinder shaped ones, sliced it on one side and slipped it on the filter outflow. Used a bit of fishing line to hold it in place. Very delicate balance between less flow and just enough that you don’t get a film on top of the tank lol
You can baffle your filter by over stuffing with filter sponge or filter floss. I used a plastic soap dish that has suction cups on it. Suction cup it to the glass under the output and put a piece of black sponge filter on it will do what your big piece of sponge is doing but will be way less visible. I used a black soap dish and you could barely see it. I had to do this for a betta and another time African dwarf frogs.
as long as it’s a coarse sponge looks good to me!
Cut a piece and actually insert it inside the filter and fold/crease it down to cover the spout. It will baffle the flow and look cleaner. Won’t have anything floating on the water.
Why is no one saying anything about the bright neon gravel?
While it will work, you’re killing most if not all surface agitation, having it is important for oxygen exchange. This avoids any fish gasping at the surface