Reddit mentions of Huijukon Air Driven Sponge Filter Aquarium Filter Sponge Shrimp Fry Fish Tank Filter (Fiter)

Hmm odd that the water fizzed up. Did you rinse out the tank and rinse off the carbon and decorations before putting them in? The fact that you can smell chlorine is probably a good indicator you are best of to switch to a different water conditioner. (I like Seachem Prime.) Betta's like a low flow filter so just keep an eye on the filter or even switch to a sponge filter, or filter with a sponge over the intake, etc. Remeber to test your tap water too! I will link some products I have used or similar to those I have used in the past and had success with. (It may be a good idea to compare prices at your LFS store to Amazon, as I know my local Petsmart/Petco charges a fortune for a lot of aquarium items without much selection.)

API Freshwater Test Kit (Amazon wow $19.99 right now!) or at your LFS -Don't buy the test strips.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000255NCI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

SeaChem Prime ($4-$13 depending on size from Amazon or at your LFS. I swear by Prime.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002568S6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

A thermometer is a good idea to make sure your heater does not create a major issue. I do not use this exact one but figured I would add it to the list with a link ($2)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AQITK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Here I will just attach a link for a sponge filter I use in a 10 gallon (~$12). You will need some airline hosing and an air pump (tetra air pump works) if you get it, though I think it may be a little big for a 4 gallon. Also, an aquaclear is by far my favorite HOB filter if you go that route. Hopefully, your filter will workout!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXRDZPO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=A316L92SV4DH0Y&psc=1
Tetra Air pump (~$7)
https://www.amazon.com/Tetra-77851-Whisper-Pump-10-Gallon/dp/B0009YJ4N6/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1506349229&sr=1-1&keywords=tetra%2Bair%2Bpump&th=1
Aquaclear 20 (110V ~$25): This may be a little big for your 4 gallon, not sure as I have the Aquaclear 50 on my 30 gallon but I will add it along just in case.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000260FVG/ref=twister_B00MO35VD2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Airline Tubing (a few dollars, great to have)

Household Ammonia without surfactant (to do your fishless cycle) see link http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles_51/fishless-cycling-article.htm

If you decide to go with silk aquarium plants, they have few fun options online. I would also suggest really plants as they will help reduce nitrates in the future. Some good low-tech plants would be anubias, or java fern (and some others). These can be tied to a rock or driftwood as don't need to be placed in the gravel/sand/soil itself. (A small clip-on LED for an aquarium should work
if you go this route.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/wiki/plantsetc

I would provide food options, but r/bettafish has done a great job!
https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/wiki/food

Here are a few they have mentioned:

Ocean Nutrition Atison's Betta Food (~12)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/huc/view.html?ie=UTF8&newItems=C38WET63RPACA8%2C1

New Life Spectrum Betta Formula (~$10)
https://www.amazon.com/New-Life-Spectrum-Formula-Semi-Float/dp/B0038JTL1Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1506350883&sr=1-1&keywords=New+Life+Spectrum+Betta+Pellets

Hikari Betta Bio-Gold (~$13)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013EXTU7S/ref=twister_B00ZJZMXIS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

You should be able to find frozen daphnia, and frozen brine shrimp at Petco/Petsmart, and live brine shrimp at your LFS.

Will add on later! Happy cycling and keep us posted!

Seems a bit overstocked IMO

I’d recommend skipping the barbs as they can be a bit nippy especially when overcrowded or in a community tank, from experience. In a tank that small, the loaches will be your main fish so I’d just go with the schools and tetras and rasboras, and you could definitely get away with bigger schools as long as you add them slowly.

The 2 most important factors when pushing stocking levels is biological filtration and surface agitation. If you add a sponge filter like this or this, you’ll be in much better shape. Since you didn’t mention compressed CO2, your fish and plants will thank you.

This one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXRDZPO/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_K4YWCbBV3D5RS

Huijukon Air Pump Double Sponge Filter for Aquarium Fish Tank Up to 55 Gallons (Fiter) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXRDZPO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_e.ZpzbW8Q12Z9

Seconding the sponge filter: (all materials available on Amazon for ~$45): sponge filter, air pump, airline tubing (buy this separately, don't use the one that sometimes comes with the air pump kit as it's not reliable), check valve, bleed valve, T connector. Diagram: https://m.imgur.com/gallery/6GUliCb

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXRDZPO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fuBwDbXJFK5KG

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C5KSCMD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_tuBwDbQRXRZAH


OR an internal filter. Aqueon has one that has an adjustable outflow.

I would recommend a basic sponge filter. Something like this:
Huijukon Air Pump Double Sponge Filter for Aquarium Fish Tank Up to 55 Gallons (Fiter) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXRDZPO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1-RvDb4Y55QH5

I have a ten gallon I use a sponge filter on, it’s fairly quite if u get a good air pump, adds aeration to the tank and the flow isnt as heavy. You can get an air pump with a dial too so you can adjust how strong the bubbles are

Bless your heart! So if I get this (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXRDZPO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A316L92SV4DH0Y&psc=1) filter (bc it's prime shipping haha) how would I set up the air pump? This one goes on the wall of the tank right?

Out of curiosity, which sponge filter do you use? I had something like this, but smaller, before: https://www.amazon.com/Huijukon-Double-Sponge-Aquarium-Gallons/dp/B01LXRDZPO

(FYI, Cobalt's swimming in a 10 gallon tank now. I think he likes it.)

I bought this sponge filter for my 15 gallon. How much airflow should my pump be set to?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXRDZPO/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_K.9wDbHHY7N8R

Huijukon Air Pump Double Sponge Filter for Aquarium Fish Tank Up to 55 Gallons (Fiter) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXRDZPO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_zoYuDbN9TR716

It would depend on the size of the sponge filter. You could either do 2 small ones or just 1 medium to large 1. Another thing to look for is what the sponger filter is rated at per gallons. I have a 20 gallon tall with this sponge filter which I love love just love as it is my first sponge filter and it keeps the water so clean! I highly recommend it as it also adjustable height wise to either produce more surface tension or lower it.


sponge filter recommendation

Edit: also this filter is rated at 55 gallons so it’s the real deal