Would you recommend me a filter for my betta fish?

Question

I currently have a unfiltered 5 gallon tank with one female betta fish. I am worried because this women at Walmart insisted I get a filter and I had always believed going without a filter was fine. Should I go out and get one if the most fish i would put in the tank was two?

I don't like really loud filters because the tank is in my bedroom. If I got one, how would I find a good fairly quiet filter for a 5 gallon tank without being too strong for my betta fish?

Answer 1

Every fish tank should have a filter. While bettas can survive without them, they still pee and poo in the water they have to live in. For a 5 gallon betta tank, I'd suggest a very small sponge filter. These are quiet, don't take up much room, have plenty of filtration power for a betta and add lots of area for beneficial bacterial growth, plus bettas like to pick microscopic organisms off of them for snacks. They are actually hard to find in most stores as they are too cheap and easy to make yourself and don't wear out. (Not much profit for stores to sell you replacement pads, cartridges, parts, etc.) I go the DIY route myself, but you can buy them online. Here are a couple of links for both premade and DIY sponge filters.

Answer 2

In 3 gallons, I can't imagine your betta is very happy. They prefer calm water, and I can pretty much picture the tank you have, and if so, your air pump is messing with the water too much. -- That aside, nothing belongs in 3 gallons, not even your betta fish, but if you decide to disregard the basic need to swim, much like humans need to socialize, eat, breathe, etc..., you have no room for any other fish. As for your filter question, any filter is both biological and chemical. It's basically the same thing. Bacteria will grow to nitrify Ammonia into Nitrites, and then Nitrate. That's your biological. Activated carbon will take care of your Chemical filtration. I really recommend you give your fish what it needs. A 10 gallon, or even 5 gallon, non circular tank. I say non circular because fish swim left and right, not up and down. Circular tanks often confuse and are just wasteful for fish. Your options are very different if you decide to give your fish more room, not to mention your fish will be happier. EDIT: The person above suggested an "equally aggressive fish" !!! First, bettas are not aggressive! They're territorial! There is a BIG Difference! The fish he suggested needs much more than 3 gallons and will destroy your betta fish. Edit 2: It's funny how the "breeder" can't even spell betta fish correctly, and equally funny that someone who claims to have experience would /ever/ recommend going to a petstore for advice.

Answer 3

i have had at one time in my life 10 bettas 9 males 1 females all where in a small fish tanks, not even a gallon neither was filter and all lived for a while i moved and got ride of them so don;t know how they are now, but with out the filter they did just fine ..i since had put a betta in a tank with a filter and this fish did not like it ( only tried it once) so based on that i will never use a filter again and the fact you have a 5 gallon tank for one fish she is living life good lol. so i would say you do not need one , betta come to surface for air so it does not matter about the amount in the water really, so to use the filter is your choice on if u want to see the bubbles or not lol

Answer 4

Any tank should have a filter, I think. You can never OVER filter. If you don't have one, you should be testing the water regularly and changing a lot of it out to maintain proper water quality. Any internal filter should be quiet enough for you, although I quite enjoy the sound of our outside-the-tank filter's sound when I'm going to sleep. You should go to a local fish store, or pet store and look for filters rated for 5 gallon tanks or that do 100 gallons per hour - the filter should turn your tank over completely at least 20 times an hour. When in doubt, get a better filter.

Answer 5

This filter is great for smaller tanks: http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/207474/product.web

I have one running on a 2.5 gallon tank. They're quiet, and the flow rate can be adjusted so it's not too strong so the betta won't have a hard time swimming.

Answer 6

I would recommend a whisper 3i filter because it is silent and doesnt have a very fast flow rate so the betta can be comfortable. It also does a good job keeping the tank clean.

Answer 7

it would be a very good idea! although betta fish can survive in unfiltered water they still need water changes a couple times a month. a filter would reduce that to maybe 1 water change a month. a cheap filter would be just fine

Answer 8

I never used a filter with my betta fish but did use a air rator that put oxygen in the water for it. It worked cause my beta lived to be 2.5yrs old. Also it helps keep the water fresher for a longer period of time. As well DO NOT put 2 bettas together in the same tank...spells trouble unless you have a divider to keep the 2 separated.

Answer 9

what your thinking about is with males.males dont like the current becuase their long finnage will catch drag which will cause them swimming problems.

short fin males and females will be fine with a current.

you can go with a sponge filter, but for a 5 gallon i would go with an whisper, they make internals and small HOB. Palm and azoo make good small HOB filters.

they arent really that loud, i have 6 filters on my tanks in my room and you can barely notice it.

But try looking at palm or azoo filters, theywill be fine for a 5 gallon.

Answer 10

I've had a beta fish for two years that lives in a small bowl.
You can't put the beta fish with other fishes because they will attack them. Atleast thats how they react towards their own species. I'm not sure if they'll behave the same towards another type of fish. I dont think you need a filter though.