currently i have a HOB filter designed for 5-20 gal tanks. when i bought the thing, it didn't occur to me that it might create too strong of a current. i've been reading around, and some sites say if the tank is 3 gal or larger, a filter of this type is fine as long as the waterflow has been reduced to a minimum. other sites say unless modified it's a no-no. so, i thought i'd check here and see what your opinions are. i have the flow at it's minimum, but i'm not sure it's low enough. i don't really know what can be done to modify the filter, so if you think modifying would be a good idea, i'm open to any suggestions :)

Do YOU think it's too violent for him? Is he trying to escape the current? Does he seemed bothered by it? Does he spend a lot of time playing with the filter's current?Your betta's behaviour should tell you if you need to modify the filter at all. :)

he tends to float around, and his floating is interrupted by the filter so he sits on the other side of the heater to escape the current...so, at the moment, i do think it's a bit much, but i'm not sure if it's simply because he had been living in a bowl for over a year until last night and he doesn't have much muscle (he didn't have much swimming room before :(), or maybe he's still apprehensive about the new space and the new current, etc.

i figure i'll give him a couple days to adjust, and if he's still hiding i'll do some modifying...only i'm not sure just how to go about that.

To modify it (if it's how I think it is... :laugh: ) I would buy a big sponge and cut out a space to fit the intake and fasten on with something like a rubber band. If there was significant current coming from the 'water fall' into the tank, I'd perhaps put some foam there to. I don't know how the filter would like this, though... :?:

as of this morning he's significantly more active and hasn't seemed to be fighting the current at all (he just doesn't go in it). i think i'll give him a bit more time before deciding to tamper with the filter, because at the moment i think he might do alright. some more observation ought to give me a better idea of what to do.

Yay. :D I hope he learns to enjoy it then - and you don't have to modify it. :)

i hope so too. seeing as this is his first day really exploring the tank (yesterday he just floated around the top and looked a bit unsure of himself...) it's hard to tell still, but he's recently (withing the last few hours) started to swim in the center of the tank where the current is and if it pushes him he either floats along with it or swims with it. now whether he's doing this on purpose or not i'm not sure, but since he doesn't appear to be fighting it i'm guessing it's all in good fun :clap: and he can always go hang out in a corner or in some plants if he'd like a break

My daughter's betta used to swim through a wall of bubbles in my 30gal long, he loved bubbles and current.