View Full Version : Sponge Filters
bayoupr
12-29-2003, 10:17 PM
Does anyone here use this type of filter instead of canisters or HOB types? I belong to another site and some of these people swear by this type. If its as efficient as claimed, think of how much money and time you would save on media and cleaning filters. An air hose run through a sponge pulling water through the sponge creating a large bacteria bed enriched with oxygen, how much simplier can it get. Any opinions on these because I'm thinking about trying this method.
yhbae
12-29-2003, 10:33 PM
Although I like them, I tend to use them alone only in the small tanks (5.5g or less - there are sponge filter/air pumps that are rated much higher than this.). Anything larger, I have both sponge filter and a power filter. I find them to be great bio-filter but not very good at mechanical filtration. I can clearly see the difference in clarity between the tanks that have power filters and that don't. Also having two filters prevent disasters if power filter fails, so it is an insurance (especially against those AquaClears that ocasionally fails to restart after power failure).
bayoupr
12-29-2003, 10:45 PM
What about hooking them to powerheads?
yhbae
12-29-2003, 11:33 PM
No idea - sorry. I've never tried connecting the powerheads to a sponge filter...
How would that work though? Do you pump the water from the bottom of the tube to create inward pressure inside going up? (Similar to python, except the water flow is from bottom to up?)
Just imagining myself... :D
valerie
12-30-2003, 2:06 AM
I have a DIY sponge filter i made out of a AC 200 sponge and a AC powerhead. I took the AC sponge and cut a hole in it to fit over the extra AC intake tube i had layign around. I then attached the sponge and tube to the powerhead. Instant sponge filter. I got the idea off some website, works really well. I use it in my 5g fry tank.
Interesting...
What would be the advantage of that over the one that is driven by the air pumps?
blitzen25bm
12-30-2003, 3:53 AM
Originally posted by yhbae
Interesting...
What would be the advantage of that over the one that is driven by the air pumps?
your just pushing more water though it, and i like how you dont have the bubble sounds. i have one made from an AC500 sponge and pushing around 200 gph through it. perfectly silent and its the only thing filtering my 60 gallon. have some live plants and regular water changes, i dont think i rinsed out the sponge in over 4 months.
yhbae
12-30-2003, 11:02 AM
Originally posted by blitzen25bm
your just pushing more water though it, and i like how you dont have the bubble sounds. i have one made from an AC500 sponge and pushing around 200 gph through it. perfectly silent and its the only thing filtering my 60 gallon. have some live plants and regular water changes, i dont think i rinsed out the sponge in over 4 months.
Aha... I'll have to keep this in mind when I eventually get to some seriously planted tanks... (I always like to have some additional filtering, "just in case"...) Thanks for the info guys! :D
I use a sponge filter for my 5 gallon betta tank. Perfect water all the time. I can even go away for 3 weeks and just have a friend mfeed every other day and still the water is perfect. There is also plants and it is on a low flow. I have never cleaned the sponge in it as it is too hard to get at.
Gunnie
01-01-2004, 5:38 PM
I use this sponge filter/powerhead combination in my turtle tank. It does a great job, but I think any tank under 55 gal. would have too strong of a current with fish in it. The turtle tank is a 29 gal., and when I put resy reds in it, they really get sloshed around. The tank stays crystal clear though.
Penguin power sponge (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=6478&Ne=40000&R=11959&N=2006+22768)
Originally posted by yhbae
Aha... I'll have to keep this in mind when I eventually get to some seriously planted tanks... (I always like to have some additional filtering, "just in case"...) Thanks for the info guys! :D If you have a planted tank, you'll want to keep water surface movement down to a minimum for CO2 retention. A sponge filter does this beautifully.
Check my tank specs below. I use a sponge filter (impeller driven, not air driven) as a prefilter to a RFUGF on 1/3 of my 30g planted tank. Works terrific!
FishGuy72
01-01-2004, 9:28 PM
I have used both with power head and with air stone... haven't been able to decide on which is better. I suppose that the power head moves (cleans) more water... but the water has less time in contact with the sponge.
Of all the LFS in my area... the one with the cleanest tanks uses only air driven sponge filters. The tanks have no dead fish, crystal clear water and LOTS of happy fish. That said... all of the tanks I have with sponges, also have powerfilters... cheap insurance I think.
Originally posted by Matak
If you have a planted tank, you'll want to keep water surface movement down to a minimum for CO2 retention. A sponge filter does this beautifully.
Check my tank specs below. I use a sponge filter (impeller driven, not air driven) as a prefilter to a RFUGF on 1/3 of my 30g planted tank. Works terrific!
I guess that is the key thing - impeller driven, and not air driven. My air-driven sponge filters create water disturbance like crazy, which I like in most of the tanks...
As you said, I should seriously consider this filtering mechanism for my next planted tank.
blitzen25bm
01-01-2004, 10:04 PM
Originally posted by yhbae
I guess that is the key thing - impeller driven, and not air driven. My air-driven sponge filters create water disturbance like crazy, which I like in most of the tanks...
As you said, I should seriously consider this filtering mechanism for my next planted tank.
yea thats why i didnt use air pumps and the bubbles and airpumps are noisy. i also have the water directed 2 ways up and sideways so i dont have much surface movement and the side flows make the plants sway nicely.
yhbae
01-01-2004, 10:10 PM
Originally posted by blitzen25bm
i also have the water directed 2 ways up and sideways so i dont have much surface movement and the side flows make the plants sway nicely.
Nice... :D
Can it be positioned to create current near the substrate to "blow up" the waste particles? That might give the filter more chance to collect them...
Matak
01-01-2004, 10:26 PM
Originally posted by yhbae
As you said, I should seriously consider this filtering mechanism for my next planted tank. Yes but any Joe here :rolleyes: will tell you, UFG's are time bombs. I think I will even redo mine in a years time. Too much (possible) gunk build up under the plate. But I feel mine will go for about three years no prob with a medium/light bio load.
yhbae
01-01-2004, 11:04 PM
Originally posted by Matak
Yes but any Joe here :rolleyes: will tell you, UFG's are time bombs. I think I will even redo mine in a years time. Too much (possible) gunk build up under the plate. But I feel mine will go for about three years no prob with a medium/light bio load.
Uh? how did this turn into UFGs? :D
I definitely wouldn't go towards UFG especially after reading so many horror stories about them... :D
blitzen25bm
01-02-2004, 1:22 AM
Originally posted by yhbae
Nice... :D
Can it be positioned to create current near the substrate to "blow up" the waste particles? That might give the filter more chance to collect them...
the filter is on the far right of my tank and everything gets blown to the far left, i only have to gravel vac a third of the tank :D i do the whole thing anways but mostly on the left because theres never much anywhere else.