Filter for 5.5g planted betta tank

I would go to my LFS and buy a Whisper model 10 and keep it on half flow. That would be 90 GPH full flow and 45 GPH half flow. I swear by these filters. The reason for the slower flow is cuz Bettas don't like high flow rates. If you put other fish in the tank without Bettas, you should run it on full flow. If the half flow seems to be too much for your betta, it will slowly clog over time. Just don't clean out where the flow control is and it will stay that way. This is what I used for my betta on a 2 gal tank, but I left it on my 10 gallon until it clogged in the WonderTube a little.

I selected other so, what I use is a small simple set pool filter cartridge with a large airstone. you burry part of the cartridge in the gravel then place the airstone and fill with gravel, rocks or filter floss. I am currently using this on a 5g with a female betta and have used it on a moderetly stocked 10g with larger tetras as suplementery filtation.

It is a Hang On Back filter. Here is thelink to the manufacturers website:

http://www.tetra-fish.com/catalog/product.aspx?id=275

id say eheim 2211. i have 2213 for my 7G and i close the stop valve thing half way...other peoples filters been running like that for years. at first i was worried but not anymore.

Just to drop my 2 cents worth in, I had the small whisper internal tank filter on my 2.5 gallon, and a slightly bigger one on my 10 gallon, and they both conked out about the same time. I bought a fluval in tank filter for the 10 and have been happy with it.
I'm looking for something for my 2.5 gallon..I'm interested to see how everyone answers this too!

actually for planted betta tank, i think HOB filter would do just fine.. dont forget to kill the current as betta likes calm water. if i were you, i probably go filterless and just plant a lot of plants and have peat moss in it to create black water..

If you buy a Whisper HOB, if the current is too strong, I would put one of the thick n fluffy filter bags at the outlet to help disperse water flow.

misopeenut said:

if i were you, i probably go filterless and just plant a lot of plants and have peat moss in it to create black water..

Click to expand...

That sounds like a really cool idea for an advanced or experienced aquarist who has been running filtered blackwater tanks and knows how to "play" with peat. Even I wouldn't try that just yet and I've been running a blackwater tank for a year now. But still, sounds like if such a tank were succesful it would be a really sharp work of living art.


Back on topic I would suggest just staying with the Duetto. They're really not that big and they're very easily hidden with some driftwood and a few plants. (I manage to keep my Stingray hidden in a 5.5g.) Plus they work really well as you said.

The Azoo and Red Sea filters are good (I'm using Red Seas on my 2.5g tanks) but they're a bit weak for a 5.5g. The Tetra has been known to have reliability issues, and unlike your Duetto, the flow cannot be directed so as to allow minimal current for your betta, who likes still water. There is my two cents.