How the filter works?

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iJohno

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Jul 28, 2010
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Hi guys, so Im kind of new with sponge filters, and I am upgrading my 2.5g tank to another 5 gallon tank. 2.5g is too small for me and I like my current 5g, so ima get another 5g or even another 10g. All of my tank at the moment have internal filtration system.

With my new 5g, I want to do something different, and go with a sponge filter. What is a good cheap sponge filter brand, cheap as in less than 50 bucks.

I saw this kind of sponge filter: http://www.bobstropicalplants.com/shop/en/supplies/259-sponge-filter.html:. Is this the full filter it self? How does it work, water gets sucked into the sponge and shoots out the tube? or is this just a piece of a whole larger filtration system?

Thanks. Noobie question :(

or even this filter: same one but from amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hydro-Sponge-Filter-Up-gallons/dp/B0002602S2
 

AquaticAustin

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Sep 29, 2011
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I use this type http://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Bioc...VF82/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1329371999&sr=8-6 and it is a whole filter in itself. However its really only a biological filter, it houses giant amounts of that beneficial bacteria but doesnt really suck any debris up. It certainly can be the only filter, especially in a 5 or 10gallon aquarium. Basically it works with water flow like a UGF the bubbles flow up the tube and bring water with them, so the water gets sucked in through the sponges, goes up the tube with the bubbles and goes out the top with the bubbles. So the water being sucked through the sponge will pass through the bacteria that will clean it. Thats how I understand it to work at least! I use the 2 sponge one so I can clean one sponge and leave the other to prevent a mini cycle
 

iJohno

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Jul 28, 2010
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You think from the one you posted, i can use that in my 2.5/5 and 10? Well of course the 5 and 10, since they are pretty big size, but the 2.5? I mean its not that big of a tank, but the internal one i have is pretty big itself.
 

AquaticAustin

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Sep 29, 2011
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Iv never had a 2.5 so im not sure, it would certainly fit in the 5.5 it fits.nicely in the 10 gal I have it in. for the 2.5 it would fit on the floor of the tank if its a bare bottom? Or maybe on.the wall if its tall enough

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excuzzzeme

Stroke Survivor '05
Air rises up the riser tube forcing water out. The new water is then drawn in through the sponge. This is a continuous process. Sponge filters have been around since seemingly forever and are the preferred filters for breeders. To say that they do biological only is not correct. The only thing they do not do is chemical (i.e. no carbon). Some people have made DIY mods so they can add carbon. If you want to run carbon there is no reason you cant fill the riser tube part way.
 

The Zigman

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Oct 5, 2007
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If you want to run carbon in an air powered filter, look for a 'box" or corner filter from Lee's.

they work exactly the same way any of the formentioned sponge filters do, just hook up an air pump and go. But with the plastic box/corner filters, you can fill them with filter floss or carbon, or ammochips or biomedia, whatever you want.

http://www.kensfish.com/box-filters.html
http://www.kensfish.com/product111.html
 

bradlgt21

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May 9, 2009
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They do suck up some debrees and keep water circulating in the tank. They are perfect for breeders because they are calm and gentle and won't harm tiny fish babies. Plus the filter has tiny little organisms on it that the fish eat. The biggest benefit I think though is its very cheap to expand with. You buy a air pump for like $10-$20 and you can T off, or buy a valve to run multiple tanks with one air pump.
 

SMinNC

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Feb 23, 2009
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Another option could be something like this....

One of these placed at the bottom back corner...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4587+21414&pcatid=21414

With a small sponge around it.
Something like this...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4136+18352&pcatid=18352

The small pump and the small sponge are close to the same size. But you just need to worry about covering the Inlet.

The pump does have somewhat of a funcky design for this(oppossed to just a plain box shape). So it could be a little tricky with cutting out the sponge. But... I'm sure you could make it work.

I looked around at a couple of sites and didn't see anything any better.
 

platytudes

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I would say to go with either an XY sponge filter from eBay (just go to eBay and search for xy sponge filter, you'll get results a lot like below)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bio-Sponge-...ain_0&var=&hash=item80124451a4#ht_2515wt_1029

And get a cheapy air pump from Walmart for about $7:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqua-Culture-5-15-Gallon-Single-Outlet-Aquarium-Air-Pump-1-ct/10532632

Or a Whisper domed air pump, if you want to spend the extra money for an bit quieter and more powerful output:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tetra-Whisper-Air-Pump-1-ct/10291813

Either way, you will need airline tubing and a check valve...check valve is only applicable if you plan on situating your air pump below the water level (for example, under a tank). Both are super cheap, should only add an extra $5 or so to your order.

$5 sponge filter + $12 air pump + $3 tubing means that you could just as easily get a $20 Aqueon 10 or whatever. The nice thing about external power filters is that they are quiet, one piece units...but replacing cartridges is a pain (which is why I recommend rinseable, reusable AquaClear media in all filters, regardless of whether they are AquaClear or not).

However they do limit what you can do on a tank somewhat. They affect your placement of a hood/lid/cover, you will have to accommodate for their presence...and you can't put a tank flush up against a wall if it's going to have a power filter hanging off of the back of it it.

Sponge filters (air powered filtration in general) are also super cheap to run, air only uses a few watts per hour to drive....and they are nice for breeding tanks, since fry pick off of the bits of edible stuff that sponge filters suck up.
 
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