Does a 10 gallon planted tank necessarily need a filter if it is planted in order to house a betta? How much of a bio load can one betta produce? I'm thinking just a power head with a sponge on the intake for water circulation. any thoughts?
as long as your doing 50% weekly water changes, and its VERY heavily planted it should be fine. as long as he has a heater, but make sure the tank is cycled.
You don't need a filter at all in a 10 gallon with a single betta that's planted. In fact, I'd monitor the nitrates and see how often you need to do significant water changes (might be bi-weekly). The fish will help fertilized the plants, and one betta in a 10 gallon is a remarkably low bioload.
This is an ideal low tech set-up. If you want to be even lower tech, trade out the betta for a paradise fish and you won't need any heat even in winter.
Paradise fish stats on liveaquaria say minimum 30 gal tank. so I thinlk I'll pass. I have a betta I need to rehome if I'm going the gourami route for my 75 g
well I put the tank on my coffee table that I moved into the bedroom, so I have room for my AC50 Moved some flourite, and some plants from the 29. Moved some cories and can't find my betta in the 29 gal tank. That is the tank that I'm replacing with the 75. I already emptied and got rid of the 29 on the bottom shelf. Have the fiter running, and need to let the water clear from disturbing the flourite.