Running a filter only 1/2 the time?

[ltshinthebetta]

Well, I'm getting ready to put my betta's in their divided 10 gallon (just waiting for William's fins to continue to heal). :)
My dad is a huge saftey freak, he's a fire fighter and once went to a house fire started by an filter in a fish tank. He says he'll let me get a filter (I plan on buying it in October) but I can only run it when we are home. So that would be after school, and at night.
I dont plan on cycling this tank, and I dont think I'd be able to with the filter only on half the time. I would do 100% water changes.

I dont think it would be a problem running the filter only half the time, would it?
And how many times a month would I have to clean the tank then?

Also, I'd like to get a heater, my bedroom is freezing in the winter, but I think it would be bad to only have it on half the time, the temperature would fluctuate (sorry about my spelling haha) a lot. D:

[dramaqueen]

I would run my heater all the time during the winter.

[ltshinthebetta]

I want to, but my dad would insist I unplug it when we leave the house in case it starts a fire. :/

[dramaqueen]

You can unplug it when you leave the house. I thought maybe you were going to leave it off at night.

[dr2b]

What if you got a timer for the heater? Is he against that too?

[Kim]

Hmmm...a filter on an uncycled tank isn't going to do much except for distribute heat better. Trapping the gunk in the filter is not taking it out of the system so it won't help your water change schedule any. You'll actually have to clean it all out every time you do a water change.

As far as the heater...they do sell ones with an automatic shut off if it starts to overheat. They are more expensive, but if you skip the filter it may be worth it. Would your dad let you run one like that all the time?

[ltshinthebetta]

So I dont need a filter then?

My dad will only let me get a heater if its unplugged when we arent home. So he wont even let it have a timer. :/

[dramaqueen]

I would go ahead and get the heater and unplug it when you aren't home.

[ltshinthebetta]

ok, thanks. :)

[Kim]

Filters are optional in uncycled tanks. If you find that you are getting "dead spots" or spots that don't get heat, I would use a filter to get the water flowing a little more. If this isn't a problem for you then you don't need to bother. Just remember to clean it out during water changes if you do get it.