Does anyone have fish?

I have a 20 gallon with a sunset gourami, a couple cherry barbs, a school of 5 cory catfish, and a grumpy little African dwarf frog!

The larger filtration systems tend to have more troubles and are more complex systems. For the small tanks, they are simple systems, basic power pump inside with a carbon based filter typically and fewer things that can go wrong with them as a result.

I personally have not any issues with any of the following: Marina, Marineland, Tetra, or Aqueon; crystal clear waters with all. The Marina has the advantage of two filters that are more carbon filled all the way through, which is more costly to replace each time but better water clarity (great prices can be found for these online); the Marineland has the advantage of a biofilter wheel to promote better aeration and bacteria along with a carbon filter. I believe all of those above run under $20, may even be able to find them for less or on sale. I have gotten many years out of them, minimum 5-6 years typically, some even longer, 10 years or more. Just make sure you get the size filtration system for your tank; it goes by tank size and Bettas DO NOT like strong currents. If thinking more filtration might be better... not so.

The issue though with the smaller filtration systems is in finding the right one because the height of your tank makes a difference; some of the flow intake tubes may be too long, hitting the bottom of the tank or substrate, which the bottom of the tube should never be blocked. Checking them out in person is helpful at your local pet store, if the specifications are not available; and/or taking a chance by having to cut the tube the length of that you need to fit your tank(s) ( you cannot return them though if you do this.) I have checked them out locally, then ordered online to get a better price, awful I know, but can be a really an expensive hobby when breeding them, so many tanks, so many filters needed.

The other thing to know is that there is maintenance on the systems that they don't tell you about. Besides changing the filters, for the water quality, every other water change you should clean the flow intake tube. This can help maintain the life of your system and water quality. It is really easy to do though and takes very little time when you clean the rest of the tank, just a good flush and wipe down.

The advantages of a filtration system: 1. saves you time and energy by cutting down on the water changes because instead of having to do them daily with no filtration, you can do them weekly instead, 2. it helps remove waste that you cannot get with the vacuum to prevent disease and 3. promotes gas exchanges in the water even when you have labyrinth fish like Bettas, that though they don't breath the oxygen from the water, they benefit.

I am sorry is this is more than you wanted... get a little enthusiastic sometimes about the wee fishies.

That was actually really helpful! Thanks! I am just glad you didn't yell at me for abusing my fish and go off into some tirade...I have read other sites that are betta focused and some people go off the handle! I've read some people tell another person if they aren't putting their fish in at least 10 gals they are terrible and want their fish to die Nuts.

I am going to need to look into these brands at the store. I have been comparing across stores but need to see them for myself. My tanks are fairly decent in height, and I fill them nearly full with water. Today I put little floating water-safe balls for them to play with but so far, nothing My bettas always seem slow to warm up.

I want want to make sure their maintenance is low-key and they stay healthy for a long time.

I have a betta fish and my husband has a glo-fish tank with 4 glowing zebra danios in it... I also have a tank with cory catfish, female bettas, a couple of guppies and a few neon tetras, and then another tank with 5 tiger barbs and 2 chinese algae eaters. They are both 10 gallons.

Interesting, are they community tanks? I tried to get my female bettas together but they didn't get along

Yeah I have 2 female bettas in a ten gallon tank (started out with 3, one died) and they sometimes have stand-offs but usually keep calm and get along, since there's other fish in the tank with them.

Also, female bettas do well the more there are, otherwise they do fight a lot, especially at first. But after the order has been set they dont fight nearly as much, it could take a few hours to a couple weeks.

If I had known that at the time, I would have gotten 4 betta females. But when I had the two together, one was getting super stressed and I freaked out...I didn't want her getting killed! My other female is a feisty little girl and would stalk the other one and nip. They are happier now with their own tanks.