Can I turn my Betta's filter off for some of the day?

Question

He has a 5 gallon tank, the filter is too rough. It's for a 5-10G tank but it agitates the whole surface of the water. He won't go on that side of the tank at all, so I just turned it off and he seems to be swimming all around, happier. Can I leave it off for part of the day? How long? Also, is there a way to just reduce the output current?

Answer 1

Not a good idea. You'll be killing the cycle you've established.



You can place a large plant/decoration in front of your filter's output to disperse the flow.

You can do this: http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/347/

Or you can buy a sponge filter.



Good luck.



Edit @ Brad:

Please refrain from answering questions about subjects you are ignorant in, especially when the welfare of a living creature is involved.

Bettas are not capable of living in any of the conditions that you describe.

Ever notice how those tiny cups of water are blue? That's because they're full of medication to keep the fish from succumbing to the toxic water in which it's kept.

And brackish water? Really?!?!? You clearly don't know what that means. Bettas are strictly fresh water fish.

If you're going to answer in the fish section, do a bit of research first.

Answer 2

You could probably turn off the filter for part of the day without serious harm, but filters work best when they run constantly.



I think it's a better idea to modify the current from your filter so that the current is gentler. How to do this depends on the design of the filter. Some filters actually have an adjustment where you can reduce the water volume flowing through it. Read the operating instructions that came with your filter to see if this is true.



If your filter is air-driven, you can simply reduce the air flow. Get a gang valve (an air valve with at least two outlets) from the pet store and "bleed off" any extra air pressure.



Some filters allow you to change the direction of the output current. If this is the case with yours, have the outlet directed toward a wall of the tank. After the water bounces off the tank wall, the current will be milder in the rest of the tank.



You could also add a prefilter to the intake of your filter. You can buy these, or you can also make your own prefilter with some filter foam and attach it to the filter intake tube with rubber bands or zip-ties. Another version of this is to take a piece of mesh, such as netting or a piece of pantyhose material (washed), and put a few layers of it over the filter intake. The usual reason for prefilters is to keep fish fry from being sucked into the filter, but one will also obstruct the water flow enough to slow down the output of the filter.

Blocking off part (not all!) of the filter intake opening with a bit of plastic wrap of smilary material (held on with rubber bands) will accomplish more or less the same thing.

Any such obstructions should be added to the intake side, not the output, because back pressure on the output will make your filter wear out fast.

Answer 3

i've got had bettas for style of 10 years, and no, you do no longer decide for a filter out -- as long as you swear circulate-your-heart to alter the water religiously. replace 50% each and every week, or a hundred% each and every 2, and definite you're able to try this competently supplied you utilize a dechlorinator, use a similar temp water, and upload a "stable micro organism" booster. My final betta lived 6 years in a 2 gallon bowl without filter out. The trick is a) to no longer enable them to get too chilly (in no way below approximately seventy 4) and b) in no way placed the bowl in direct image voltaic. i'm interior a similar boat as you, however - attempting to circulate a betta who's continuously lived in a "stillwater" bowl to a filtered tank. he's had an algae difficulty in his bowl, and filtration might help. yet such as you, i'm a touch under pressure that he seems to be spending countless capability getting to grasp to swim interior the present. i'm uncertain in spite of if I could turn off the filter out at night and permit him relax, a minimum of initially, or circulate away it on each and all of the time so he can get used to it. i might love some advice on that, too. interim, however, the quick answer on your question is definite. Bettas can certainly stay in an unfiltered bowl, as long as you're looking after it wisely.

Answer 4

No need to!! I have 3 bettas in 5 gal tanks and a 10 gal female betta sorority. Someone on here once saved me with a really awesome, and totally cheap, trick that I've used on all of my betta's filters. Here's instructions!!

http://www.aquariumforum.com/f34/filter-baffle-8822.html

http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/347/

This totally solved the problem for all of my bettas. The deflector creates two much gentler flows, one coming from each side, and your betta will feel much more compfortable with them, and actually get used to and like the gentle current in no time :-) Best part is, this doesn't alter your filters effectiveness so your water stays clean and you still only have to do a weekly water change!

Answer 5

I have a 10 gallon with filter with the same problem.



First off it is safe to have no filter in a tank with a betta but it just means more water changes.

Second choice is to baffle the filter ( I did this). It is very simple to do. One way to do so is to put a natural sponge (not the cleaning sponges) at the output of the filter, usually you can just rubberband it around the filter. Another way to do so is to use a water bottle (I use this method), I took a water that I cleaned with hot water and removed the paper from it. Then I cut it down to size. Cut the bottom and top off, and then cut down the center which will allow it fit over the output. I had to rubber band mine around the output since it was light weight plastic.

Answer 6

Please dont turn the filter off, It is bad for the fish, and if hes struggling in the current, its gonna bother him when you turn the thing back on again. Baffle the filter or get a sponge filter like Aquella and Erin suggested.

Answer 7

If you turn the filter off the beneficial bacteria that lives inside it and keeps the water quality healthy will begin to die, turn it back on! Turning it on and off could cause ammonia spikes and kill the fish. If the current is too strong switch to a sponge filter set up (cloning the new sponge with the old sponge in your current filter).

Answer 8

either get a whisper filter which keeps teh water completely still or a bigger tank.A sponge filter wont be that adequit for a 5 gallon or what ever yu have. Just get a fricken whisper filter.

Answer 9

i lived in the philipnes and we would just use a bowl to raise our bettas. turning the filter off wont hurt the fish one bit! bettas r tough, they can live in the jars in freakking Walmart for christ sakes! just dont leave the filter off for a long time if u wana get technecal and finicky

Answer 10

get a new filter

Answer 11

Betta fish do not need a filter and can live quite happily in very dirty, even brackish water. Ever notice how they are usually in small cups on a shelf at the fish store and not in a tank? Granted, the water will get dirty faster and require more changes if you want to keep your fish as happy as possible.

Answer 12

just try adding plants or decorations to impede the flow



http://bettacare101.com

Answer 13

Not sure how toreduce..but yes u can ...leave it off for the while day and turn it On during the night so ur fishy tank still gets cleaned(:

Answer 14

You do not even have to have filters for Betta's, So it would be fine if you turn it off sometimes.

Answer 15

sure why not? i dont see a problem for just one day...