Everyone loves to see fish swimming in an aquarium. Sometimes we want to make a small tank or fishbowl. When making a fishbowl for our fish, we should remember that not every fish can survive in a bowl. We need to consider some things that we can’t put a heater or filter in a fishbowl.
So, are there any fish that don’t need filters?
Yes, there are some fish that don’t need a filter. But as responsible fishkeepers, we should go through all the steps before deciding what fish we should add to the fishbowl.
Let’s see why the fishbowls are so popular among hobbyist aquarists.
- Fishbowls are typically smaller than a full-sized tank.
- Fishbowls are accessible, easy, and affordable.
- Fishbowls make excellent single-species tanks for small fish.
There are some guidelines to follow when choosing a fish species.
- Small fish that don’t need lots of open space for swimming.
- Hardy fish do well even when the water temperature fluctuates frequently.
- Avoid overcrowding.
- Solitary fish that don’t do well in community tanks.
- Coldwater fish can withstand the often shift in temperature after every water change.
In this guide, we will learn Why do fishes need water filters? And seven most popular fish that don’t need a filter.
Table of Contents
Why Do Fish Need a Water filter?
When we feed fish, they will not eat all the food we give them. The extra amount of food will settle at the bottom of the tank, and some will dissolve in water. This can cause sudden changes in water parameters like ammonia, ph.
The primary excretory product of fish is ammonia which they release directly into the water. Ammonia is harmful to fish, and ammonia is soluble and dissolves in water.
So we need a water filter to reduce this kind of pollution we use a water filter.
Fishbowls are small, so the water change shouldn’t be that hard. We will do a regular water change so the water parameters remain stable.
We should feed them carefully, and overfeeding will pollute the fishbowl ecosystem. Overcrowding means more biowaste, and we shouldn’t be overcrowding our small fishbowl.
Fishbowl Setup
Fishbowl setup will play a crucial part in building a suitable environment for our fishes. Let’s look at how to make an appropriate environment for fish.
Pick the right fishbowl design.
We should choose a fishbowl that has a large water surface area, and fewer surface areas can affect oxygen circulation in the fishbowl.
The larger the contact area between water and air, the more oxygen our tank will get, and the more carbon dioxide will escape.
Plan for a frequent water change
We should schedule partial water changes once every 3-5 days to ensure that your fish live a healthy and happy life in our unfiltered tank, and they can’t survive in murky oxygen-deprived water.
We should aim for 30-50% water change every 3-5 days will do the trick.
Plant live plants
- Fish produce nitrogen-rich waste.
- Plants use nitrogenous matter to grow.
- Plants release oxygen into the water while removing carbon dioxide.
- Plants also provide hiding spots for fish.
Most Popular Fish That Don’t Need A Filter
Even some fish can thrive without a filter but this is not a good choice for the long term. You should keep them for a short period of time without a filter.
A filter is essential equipment for fish keeping, if you do not provide good quality water then your fish may show stress.
Always use a filter while keeping fish.
Guppy Fish
| Category | Rating |
| Care Level: | Easy. |
| Temperament: | Peaceful. |
| Color Form: | Every color is imaginable. |
| Lifespan: | Up to 2 years. |
| Size: | 0.6-2.4 Inches. |
| Diet: | Omnivores. |
| Family: | Poeciliidae. |
| Compatibility: | Other peaceful community fish. |
| pH: | 6-7 |
| Temperature: | 75-82oF |
Pygmy Corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus)
| Category | Rating |
| Care Level: | Beginner. |
| Temperament: | Peaceful. |
| Color Form: | Silver with black horizontal lines. |
| Lifespan: | Up to 3 years. |
| Size: | Up to 1 inch. |
| Diet: | Omnivore. |
| Family: | Callichthyidae. |
| Compatibility: | Small peaceful community. |
| pH: | 6-8 |
| Temperature: | 72-79oF |
White Cloud Mountain Minnow (Tanichthys albonubes)
| Category | Rating |
| Care Level: | Easy. |
| Temperament: | Peaceful. |
| Color Form: | Various depending on the variety. |
| Lifespan: | 5-7 years. |
| Size: | 1.5 inches. |
| Diet: | Omnivore. |
| Family: | Cyprinidae. |
| Compatibility: | Peaceful nano fish. |
| pH: | 6-8 |
| Temperature: | 64-72oF |
Zebra Danio (Danio rerio)
| Category | Rating |
| Care Level: | Easy. |
| Temperament: | Peaceful. |
| Color Form: | Silver and blue striped, golden, albino. |
| Lifespan: | 3-5 years. |
| Size: | 2 inches. |
| Diet: | Omnivore. |
| Family: | Cyprinidae. |
| Compatibility: | Peaceful nano fish. |
| pH: | 6-8 |
| Temperature: | 64-77oF |
Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila)
| Category | Rating |
| Care Level: | Easy. |
| Temperament: | Relatively peaceful. |
| Color Form: | Dark with bright spots. |
| Lifespan: | 4-5 years. |
| Size: | Up to 1.6 inches. |
| Diet: | Omnivore. |
| Family: | Osphronemide. |
| Compatibility: | Limited. |
| pH: | 6-8 |
| Temperature: | 71-80oF |
Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae)
| Category | Rating |
| Care Level: | Easy. |
| Temperament: | Peaceful. |
| Color Form: | Bright orange to bright red. |
| Lifespan: | Up to 2 years |
| Size: | 0.6-0.8 inch |
| Diet: | Omnivore. |
| Family: | Characidae. |
| Compatibility: | Peaceful community fish. |
| pH: | 5.5-7 |
| Temperature: | 68-82oF |
Betta
| Category | Rating |
| Care Level: | Moderate to high |
| Temperament: | Very Aggressive |
| Color Form: | Multiple; Typically blue and red |
| Lifespan: | 2-3 Years |
| Size: | 3 inches |
| Diet: | Carnivorous (high protein) |
| Family: | Gourami |
| Minimum Tank Size: | 5 Gallons |
| Tank Set-Up | Freshwater and Floating water plants |
| Compatibility: | Aggressive |
Paradise Fish
They are aggressive and territorial fish like bettas, they prefer cooler water. There is no need to buy a heater for this fish. Recommend pH is 5.8
Platy Variatus
Dwarf Pufferfish
| Care level | Medium |
| Size | 1.4 inches |
| Lifespan | Up to 4 years |
| pH range | 6.5-8.5 |
| Temperature | 74oF-82oF |
| Behavior | Territorial |
Conclusion
I hope you find this guide helpful.
Personally, I do not recommend a tank without a filter, so use a filter and heater if necessary.
Fill free to comment if I miss anything or you have a suggestion.
