Filter for a 75L Betta tank?

[Spartacus]

Hello Everyone,

Hope you are all doing well 😊

Sorry to trouble you I wonder if anyone had any comments they would kindly like to make on a suitable filter for the below Betta tank:

Oase Styline 85 -

StyleLine 85 Set

www.oase.com

The other half would like her own tank but basically just for a Betta and perhaps some form of clean up crew (Betta munching factor to be confirmed!) Due to it being for a Betta I can’t see it being stocked much at all!

The filter the package comes with is an Oase Bioplus Thermo 100 which seems pretty limited in terms of media capacity.

It will be a low tech tank with Epiphytes and simple planting.

Options for HOB styles seem unable to be done due to the lip and lid of the unit.
I know Bettas don’t like flow - Money is not a factor in this it’s more what’s best for the Betta. I spent a small fortune on my tank so whatever is best for her and the Betta I’m all for.

Thank You very much indeed!

Take Care,

Murray 😊

 

[AlecF]

three small sponge filters and a good number of water changes.

 

[Bradders]

What is the foam size (WxLxD)? I can see that the 100 includes the below, but I can't find the foam dimensions! I can then do some math on how much bio-loading it can take.

1. One 30 ppi blue filter foam
2. Two 20 ppi blue filter foams
3. One carbon filter foam

I think it will be enough for healthy water (filter only view, with one 3-inch Betta) but the flow might need some baffling/turning down.

There are also some that have an external filter and airstone and make setups like this. i.e. opposing forces of air bubbles and flow which highly aerate but create next to no flow:

 

[Spartacus]

Thank you @AlecF & @Bradders as always!

It’s a bit of a minefield but as always UKAPS proves how amazing a place it is 😊

Foam dimensions are:

20PI & 30PI Foam:
Length: 6.5cm
Width: 3cm
Height: 5cm

I don’t know if the Filter Thermo Start 200 might be a better option? I assume flow is totally adjustable down to a trickle.

It’s all probably total overkill for our needs I’m sure but if the Betta and the boss is happy that’s all that counts 😊

Thanks again,

Murray

 

[G mac]

I honestly feel that foam is generally an under appreciated filter media. I've not felt the need to modify the bio therm in my Styleline 85, for me it just works. I did watch one of Pond Guru's videos, where he drills out the compartments and replaces the foams with varying medias but it just seemed a little pointless to me.

 

[AlecF]

It's interesting whether, once you turn the flow down to a trickle, and given there are lots of plants, the filter is doing much more than sponge air filters?

 

[Bradders]

20PI & 30PI Foam:
Length: 6.5cm
Width: 3cm
Height: 5cm

Based on my calculations for a filter-only setup (i.e. the filter being the only point or measurement in this response) then the Bioplus Thermo 100 will only just do the job of providing crystal clear water for a 3-inch betta with that foam mass.

I don’t know if the Filter Thermo Start 200 might be a better option? I assume flow is totally adjustable down to a trickle.

The Thermo 200 has about 30% more effective surface area so this indeed would feel like the 'belt and braces' option to take. The only thing I do not know, is just how slow the filter can go!

 

[Bradders]

It's interesting whether, once you turn the flow down to a trickle, and given there are lots of plants, the filter is doing much more than sponge air filters?

Its a good question. But it does depend on the mass of the filter media, the pull of the air-pump etc. Happy to do a comparison if people are as sad as me!

Also, I didn't get the impression from @Spartacus that this would be a heavily planted aquarium. However, I just based the response on the technology only to feed into Murrys calculations.

 

[OllieTY]

Start with what it comes with, then upgrade if you see issues.

 

[G H Nelson]

@Spartacus
If my memory is correct....the flow can be directed out of those holes on the top of the filter!
This reduces the flow from the out pipe/nozzle.
You can actually open that top part up and add a thin piece of filter floss or pad/sponge in there.

hoggie

 

[Little]

I would use what comes with it and focus more on cramming in a ton of extra plants.
My betta is currently in a 25liter tank with a ton of epiphytes and just a usb nano pump and it’s gin clear water. Plants for the win.

 

[G H Nelson]

 

[Maf 2500]

One betta, plus clean up crew, is not going to need much filtration, the stock Oase filter will be fine. More than fine. As it is modular you could even add an extra segment if you so wished, to increase the amount of sponge.

500 l/ph is plenty flow and as @G H Nelson pointed out above you can direct a portion of the flow through the small holes if it creates too much turbulence through the main outflow.

If it is more about getting the equipment out of the tank then by all means get an external like the Filter Thermo Smart 200.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

If it is more about getting the equipment out of the tank then by all means get an external like the Filter Thermo Start 200.

Vice-versa if you don't mind equipment in the tank, a <"powerhead / big sponge combo"> gives you more filtration than you will ever need.

Personally, for me, the powerhead & Koi sponge combination <"Shrimp safe filter for 35l tanks"> is always a winner - <"Flourish and Flourish Excel">.
You get a lot of <"filtration and flow">, a <"sponge grazing surface"> and the two separate generic components are cheap to buy and you can mix and match, what is not to like?

cheers Darrel

 

[JMorgan]

If this didn't come with a filter already, with one betta in 75 litres I'd be tempted to not bother with a filter at all. Given how tall the tank is relative to its width, I wonder if you'd consider only half filling it and playing with emersed plants and floating plants as well as the epiphytes? 35 litres is more than enough for a single betta and it could look amazing. With non carbon limited plants growing well you'd not only have great water quality, you'd also have a very happy betta hunting about in the roots . . .
For sure depends what you mean by 'clean up crew' ?

 

[Maf 2500]

a <"powerhead / big sponge combo"> gives you more filtration than you will ever need.

I'm a big fan of the powerhead / big sponge combo (and air driven equivalents) but they fall down on aesthetics. Given this is a tank for "the other half" I am feeling that how it looks is going to be important and a massive sponge covered in biofilm/brown gunk is not the look they are going for. For me, the only choice would be between sticking with what it comes with (free and reasonably neat looking) or going all the way towards neat with an external thermo-filter.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

but they fall down on aesthetics

Point taken, I have both no sense of <"aesthetics and very weedy tanks">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Spartacus]

Thank you very much everyone as always for taking the time to help. It’s people like you’re good selves that make this place so amazing a resource 😊

Apologies for the delay I’m on holiday with pretty poor access to internet to say the least!

We’re going to order the tank at the start of the week and then do some more research into the filter situation. Tank will be planted but not “heavily” but going for the duckweed index and dark start method as that’s served us well for our 3ft tank.

Hope you all look after yourself and thank you once again 😊

Murray

 

[FrozenShivers]

Unless the aesthetics bother her and assuming the stocking isn’t wildly different to what you stated, I don’t see why there is any need to upgrade filtration in an extremely low stocked, mildly planted aquarium with a basic filter.

 

[bazz]

For low tech, single Betta and plants, I too would just use the supplied filter. Those corner filters can be pretty well disguised with a few plants and Bettas much prefer low flow anyway.