Do I really need a filter?

Greetings, this is my first post! I'm setting up a 10 gallon with a divider for 2 bettas. I have a heater. I also have an Aqua Tech Power Filter (for 5-15 gallon) that I can use. My question is, is it really necessary to use this. I plan on vacuuming the gravel with a water change every week. The tank would be aesthetically more pleasing without having the filter in it. But, I will do what is best for the fish.

Thanks for any advice.

The water wont circulate around such a big tank so the temp will be higher in one part than the other... And it will be hard to keep clean a tank that big and espcially if your only doing WC once a week,,
EDIT: If it ruins the tanks look just put a long bush plant in front..

Yes, you do need a filter, unless you plan on doing partial water changes at least every couple of days to keep ammonia at zero and Kamal is right about the temp - even a small sponge filter would be better than nothing.

Is its just because you dont like the look what about a hang on the back filter so all you would see is one intake pipe in the tank. If your in the UK this is a good and cheap place to get them from
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Thanks everyone, OK....the pump/filter will be used The heater is placed close to the center so should keep the whole tank warm. I've had bettas in the past but always kept in a 1.5 gallon tank. Apparently, I've been lucky because most of them lived for at least 2-3 years and all I every did was change the water once a week. Would buy Spring Water, no heater, no filter. I didn't know any better and in fact thought I was giving them a fantastic habitat compared to what most people used.

Anyway, once I get my tank running I really look forward to a hopefully successful venture!

Thanks again for your input.

Am not in the UK....live in Montana.

Good luck with your new set-up. Sounds like you really care about your fish.

I don't think my divided tank is going to work. The power filter has too much flow for the poor fish who would be residing in that section of the tank.

Any other ideas or should I just give up on having a divided tank?

Point the filter at the divider so it the flow is spread through both sides. Or put a pipe of the output of the filter and put that over the divide are into the other side of the tank.

I don't think I have the kind of filter that I can manipulate around. It's supposed to hang at the back of the intake tube in the water, the rest of the unit hangs outside with the water flowing back into the tank like a waterfall.

If all you have is a trickle filter then it's definitely not going to be too strong for bettas. They might float around for a day after introduction looking like the flow is too strong for them, but they should get used to it and be fine within a day, my lot have no problem with power filters.

I have figured out a trick to lessen the flow of the filter for my betta tanks. Take a clean plastic bag. Cut a small section that is big enough to cover the area on your filter where the water is flowing into the tank. Cut some small holes (5 or 6 approx) in the plastic bag piece. Attach it securely to the filter outtake and there you go! I use rubber bands successfully with mine. The current will still be there but it won't be as strong. You can also try putting a large leaf silk plant directly under the filter outtake area. I use that tactic for my smallest tank.

I cur and rolled up a scrap piece of plastic mesh. Iad to play wirh it a few times until I was satisfied with the result. Seems to have reduce the flow by 50%.

sylvia1572 wrote:I don't think I have the kind of filter that I can manipulate around. It's supposed to hang at the back of the intake tube in the water, the rest of the unit hangs outside with the water flowing back into the tank like a waterfall.

In that case put the intake on one side of the divider and the output on the other side so the flow will go round both sides.

Like so: [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

(please ignore the slime; it is due for a clean)

Thats similar to what I have that I rolled up plastic mesh to break the return
some. It helps!

Well, I switched things around. I moved my last two remaining neon tetras into the 10 gallon tank that I was going to divide. Went to PetSmart and bought 5 Rasboros and 4 ghost shrimp. Will go back when they get their next shipment of Neons and get 3 more so I'll have a total of.
5 neons
5 rasboras
4 ghost shrimp

This tank is in my new home office and really looks nice!

I LOVE those ghost shrimp, they are a "hoot" to watch!

I put Max "the betta" in a 5 gallon and left the two otos in there with him. He really seems to like it and the filter isn't quite as powerful as the one that was in the 10 gallon. I just felt that I was going to be having problems with the divider and the filter, etc.

So, just wanted to update. Thanks for all your responses.

Sounds good. The 10G could do with a centre piece fish IMO though. Maybe a male apistogramma or honey gourami.

Ottos really need to be in groups 4+. But they really dont do well in small tanks for 2 reasons 1) there very fussy about water quality which can quickly go wrong in small tanks and 2) they need very well planted tanks with LOADs and LOADS of algae or they are likely to starve to death. They might survive a few months but not the 3+ years they should.

I've had them about a year and a half now. I do give them an algae wafer once a week. I THINK they're otos....that's what they told me at PetSmart. They're small, fast and spend lots of time in their cave.

A "centre fish"..........that would be great.......I thought perhaps I was at my limit. What is an "apistogramma"? How about an angel fish?

Do you have a pic? Or can you find a similar looking pic?
If they are then you have done well even with algae wafers lots strve after a few months.

I think you have room for one more fish. I would go for something for the bottom because if not the bottom will look quite empty compared to the top.
Angels get 6-8" so to big for a 10G.
An apistogramma is a small species of cichlid. My profile pic if of my male Apistogramma agassizii but there are loads of other types.

I looked at pics of otos and yes that's what I have. i rarely see them and at least once a week I turn over their cave to make sure they're still alive.

I know that there are "no guarantees" but if I get a "centre fish" I'd like something that would be "least likely" to eat my ghost shrimp. I thought I remember reading somewhere that cichlids are aggressive.

There probably just to timid to come out because theres only 2. There shoaling fish and see it as safety as numbers.

Cichlids vary alot in aggression. In general most dwarf cichlids are fairly peacefully. Ive kept apistogramma will all sorts no problem but then you get stuff like Jaguar cichlids which when breeding will kill any tank mates they can just for the sake of it. Ghost shrimps are fairly big aswell so i dont think they would get picked on but you can never be certain.

Thank you.....so informative. So, now I feel bad........should I get a 2 or 3 more otos? Then I would have 5 otos and 1 betta in the 5 gallon which of course is filtered and heated.

I think another 1 or 2 would be best i thing 3 more would be pushing it a little.

This isn't about bettas (he's doing wonderful) but my 4 rasboras that I bought on Monday have died, still have one left but don't hold much hope for him. They all were fine and eating and then they're dead!! I have my two neons (was going to get more) in this tank and the 4 ghost shrimp area all fine!

What do you think........just a bad batch of rasboras or are they a very delicate fish??? The water in the tank checks out fine.