View Full Version : sponge filter are they useful?
qieter
09-08-2003, 8:36 PM
Hi,
My tanks are all filtered by a fluval canister filter and some by Aquaclear power filter, I am thinking of adding sponge filters to each of my tanks...are they really useful or will they just take up unnecessary tank space...and what else would I need to run them other than a normal air pump? thanx
Vic
NJ Devils Fan
09-08-2003, 8:39 PM
Are there any problems with the tank? If there aren't, don't fix them if they ain't broken.;)
Andy16
09-08-2003, 8:40 PM
I think that some powerheads have sponge filters that can be attched to the intake of them. The will take some large foating things out of hte tank, like excess food and waste. They are porbably more useful for biological filteration. Its a good place for the bacteria to live.
Brad CNC 76
09-09-2003, 1:48 AM
I agree that if it's not broke, don't fix it.
BUT... I don't see where adding a sponge filter will hurt anything. They are useful for biological filtration. More area for bacteria.
I use a small one on my 5 gal Betta tank because it doesn't cause a lot of water movement. It does a pretty good job, but it does take up space inside the tank and is UGLY.
On top of being good bio-filters and good in-tank crud filters, I like them because they are easy to clean. During your weekly water changes, just remove them and squeeze them vigorously in some old tank water. I use them on my RFUGF prefilter. Also, it isn't too hard to hide them in the tank. All that shows is a thin black electrical cord going into the tank.
Brad CNC 76
09-09-2003, 1:16 PM
Some are not as ugly as others and some are easier to hide. The one I use on my Betta tank, I think, is ugly. But it does a good job. You can see it on the left side of this picture. It hangs on the back with suction cups. The sponge is in this little cartridge type thing and it also has a small carbon pad under the sponge. I think it's made by Hagen. It runs on just an air pump.
http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL255/1441314/2747404/33482767.jpg
valerie
09-09-2003, 2:36 PM
I use a AC powerhead with a prefilter attachment on my fry tank. Its not a air driven sponge filter but still works great.
somefinnfishy
09-09-2003, 3:11 PM
I use air driven hydro sponges some bought some I made love'em in every tank but the planted. I dont like powerhead driven sponges they get sucked flat:( if they are fine enough to do the job.
I let them run in a bucket outside in direct sun let them grow some nice green hairy stuff on them. I allso never take out of the tank just squeeze them in the tank before my weekly water changes. Most fry will graze on this green bubbleing ball also keeps most the algae off the glass.
yashinfan
09-09-2003, 6:45 PM
Honestly, it doesn't really do anything. It's just good if you have fry and you don't want them all sucked in!
somefinnfishy
09-10-2003, 1:45 PM
Originally posted by yashinfan
Honestly, it doesn't really do anything. It's just good if you have fry and you don't want them all sucked in!
THEY DONT WORK!
I work in a fish room with 400 tanks of fish swimming in their own waste I guess:rolleyes:
dethjam316
09-10-2003, 2:32 PM
i had an old sponge filter i hadn't used in awhile, so i cut it up and put it inside one of the extra empty cartridges of my emperor 400. i figure the extra surface area for bactera can't hurt.
that said, i remember having used it in tanks with guppy and zebra fry with no real problems.
Rare Cichlids
09-10-2003, 9:24 PM
I visited a guy a couple months ago with 70+ tanks in his basement. All were good size tanks (30-125g). He was raising some very nice and very expensive fish. He had dozens of rare Tropheus, Ophthalmotilapia, Paratilapia, Pseudocanthicus, Distichodus, etc., and his sole mode of filtration was through sponge filters. Sponge filters must work and must work good, otherwise he would be seriously screwed with so many thousands of dollars of fish.
yashinfan
09-10-2003, 9:48 PM
Well I must be talking about a different type of sponge filter than y'all. Mine is pretty small, and I got it for 10$. It's pretty much a sponge on a stick powered by an air pump and looks nothing like the one shown in the picture above. If it's effecient enough to clean 125 gallons, is definitely not the same as mine, which is having trouble with 10 gallons!
Brad CNC 76
09-11-2003, 2:26 AM
The one I use doesn't look like most others I've seen. Most look more like this...
http://www.bigalsonline.com/product_images/ASWO15052a.gif
But it works the same, with just an air pump. It works for what I need on this tank.
yashinfan - I assume you are talking about the 10 gal with the 90+ danio fry?? That seems like a lot to me. I would say that a small sponge filter would have trouble keeping up.
Click here (http://www.hagen.com/canada/english/aquatic/product.cfm?CAT=1&SUBCAT=107&PROD_ID=01001700011001) to see Hagens in tank spnge filter. This is like the one I use as a powerhead/prefilter for my RFUGF. It hides well and works well.
Dahlia
09-11-2003, 7:18 AM
Are there any brands/models of these that don't use air pumps? I don't really like pumps but I would like to consider these filters for fry tanks later on (when I have fry I want to grow out).
valerie
09-11-2003, 11:40 AM
I really didn't want an air pump either, that is why i went with the powerhead with the sponge filter attachment. Its quiet and i already had a powerfilter lying around. I decided to buy the prefilter attachment but you can easily DIY out of a AC500 sponge.
Sure. Click here. (http://www.hagen.com/canada/english/aquatic/product.cfm?CAT=1&SUBCAT=107&PROD_ID=01001700011001) While you're there, check out the other three filters as well.
a_free_bird73
09-11-2003, 7:10 PM
You can drive any of the standard sponge filters with a powerhead but they are too strong for raising fry and need flow restriction which makes them expensive for not a lot of value.
Air driven sponge filter are by far the most cost effective large biological capacity filters you can get., They are just not he best things to use for display tanks for a variety of reasons. Anything other than display and they are by far my number one choice.
yashinfan
09-13-2003, 2:24 PM
Originally posted by Brad CNC 76
yashinfan - I assume you are talking about the 10 gal with the 90+ danio fry?? That seems like a lot to me. I would say that a small sponge filter would have trouble keeping up.
Yes, indeed. Well, they are very small. I'd say ~5mm to about an inch. There are only 4 that are an inch long and there are about 30 5mm ones that just swim through the marbles and never come out, so they never get much food and stay tiny. I definitely need a stronger filter but it's hard to find one that'll fit in the 10 gallon and leave me room for all the fish!