[Hahaha789]

Hi!
So I personally have a Top Fin 5.5 gallon Aquarium Starter Kit for my Betta Barry, but my friend who gave me Barry has a betta that she's owned and kept for about 5 months. She keeps him in a .5 gallon fish bowl and he seems to be doing fine but after doing a good of research into betta fish (hints why mine has a 5.5 gallon tank) I felt like he deserved so much better. So I got her the 3.5 gallon tank for her birthday thats coming up on the 20th of December. I got the 3.5 gal because she thought I was crazy for getting the 5 gallon one. That way it wasn't so big too.

Well I set it up because I found out that you had to cycle aquariums (I know I know I'm a newb, I'm trying to learn my best!) and I thought I should cycle hers so she didn't dump her fish in there and die (What kind of gift would that be). So I set it up cleaned it and conditioned it and let it run. I also decided to keep some zebra danios in the tank because I was told they were hardy enough for the cycling.

Was way too strong because one day I found markings on some of the sides of the zebra danios (3 of them) and they appeared hurt I was freaking out because I got super attached to them and they were starting to pass away. So I covered it with a shoe sock (the kind you wear with flats so it wasn't thick). That seemed to do the trick but then I think they were getting physical trauma after with the water output that squirts out it was pretty hard that it shoots down I was surprised and they were getting caught in the current smacking against the wall and the buffer it cam with. So I put a sponge held on by a cloth rubber band so it would soften it up and it wouldn't happen anymore with my last zebra danio but I think he had already suffered to much and passed.

Now I am terrified to give my friend this because of the filter! I want to make sure that what I did still allows the filter to do its job or any suggestions people may have to make this safer. I don't want it to suck up her betta or beat it up and like i said the adjustments I made I want to make sure they aren't defeating the purpose please help! Thank you!

 

[Olivia27]

You can either:
a) Buffer the flow even more with ornaments or plants, or
b) Just ditch it and get another filter. I gotta let you know that not too long ago a member posted here about a recall for a couple of Top Fin products because the filter is faulty. Not sure if the filter in their 3.5G tank kit is included, but you better go check!

EDIT: as a side note, you might want to ditch those plastic plants. They're going to rip the Betta's fin.

 

[Tourmaline]

I just bought the same tank today. I put some sponge over the filter and it was fine with my Betta in it, doesn't seem to bother him at all, and he hasn't gotten sucked up by it. I think as long as you keep the sponge over the outflow, it should be fine.

Also, as Seren said, you should replace the plastic plants with silk ones when you can, especially if a Betta with long, flowy fins is going to live in it.

 

[Hahaha789]

I Didn't know how to buffer it with other plants because it is so strong and I haven't found silk plants that go that high up. Is there another way to buffer it? I don't think the water bottle method will work on this one.
I will be switching them out because my own fish has ripped his fin and it kind of repairing but I feel awful about it.
I just checked that recall I would have never known thank you!!! I have a 5.5 gal and my brother has a 10 gal that are included on that list so we will be taking them in.
The 3.5 wasn't included on that list though. Thank you for all your help so far!

 

[Hahaha789]

I just bought the same tank today. I put some sponge over the filter and it was fine with my Betta in it, doesn't seem to bother him at all, and he hasn't gotten sucked up by it. I think as long as you keep the sponge over the outflow, it should be fine.

Also, as Seren said, you should replace the plastic plants with silk ones when you can, especially if a Betta with long, flowy fins is going to live in it.

Thank you so much! Ok that makes me feel much better! This may seem like a silly question but how did you put the sponge on it? I just want to make sure Im doing it right.
I will be changing them out thank you!

 

[Olivia27]

I Didn't know how to buffer it with other plants because it is so strong and I haven't found silk plants that go that high up. Is there another way to buffer it? I don't think the water bottle method will work on this one.
I will be switching them out because my own fish has ripped his fin and it kind of repairing but I feel awful about it.
I just checked that recall I would have never known thank you!!! I have a 5.5 gal and my brother has a 10 gal that are included on that list so we will be taking them in.
The 3.5 wasn't included on that list though. Thank you for all your help so far!

If you can't find what you need in-store, go online. I'm very sure they make silk plants in a very huge range of height. OR, you can jump into the planted tank world and purchase live plants. You can easily find tall live plants like Java fern anywhere you go. Trust me it's great :-D I love my plants.

 

[Hahaha789]

If you can't find what you need in-store, go online. I'm very sure they make silk plants in a very huge range of height. OR, you can jump into the planted tank world and purchase live plants. You can easily find tall live plants like Java fern anywhere you go. Trust me it's great :-D I love my plants.

Seriously you are a God sent thank you so much!!!