What is everything I need for a sponge filter?

[TatteredOcean]

Hello, I want to get a sponge filter for my male Betta, Hawking because his filter is too strong and I plan to eventually move him to my 20gal and put Molly fry his tank(a 5.5gal). I can't seem to find everything I need for one, if someone could give me a list of everything I need it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[OrionGirl]

There are sponge filters sold as a kit, or you can assemble it piecemeal, but that will probably cost more and be fiddly. It's basically a sponge with a hole all the way or partially through, some sort of diffuser/airstone, air line tubing, an air pump and a weight to keep the sponge submerged. I like having a check valve and and adjustment valve as well, but they're not required, just good practice.

 

[dougall]

A check valve should not be needed if you keep the air pump above the tank, but I would consider essential if you have the pump below the tank, say on the floor.

In a nutshell the water will siphon through the airline if you lose power or for some other reason it doesn't push air through the airline. at the end, this will likely mean water and mains electricity mixing, which is not a good idea.

 

[TatteredOcean]

Would you recommend any sponge filter kits?

 

[OrionGirl]

I've used a lot of Hydro sponge filters, but really, there isn't a huge difference between most of them that I've seen. The quality of the sponge, maybe, in which case Swiss Tropical is the way to go.

 

[dougall]

Jungle make/made one that basically sat on the bottom of the tank, maybe an inch or so tall... might work better than a standard one if space is limited.

 

[dougall]

It looks like they don't any more.

but I do agree, Swiss tropicals are really the way to go. Not just fir the quality of the foam, but their jet lifter system is awesome too.

But, if space is limited in your tank, I would likely use that as the primary consideration. Note that air powered box filters will likely work as well as a sponge filter, and perhaps you can find a smaller one of those

 

[FreshyFresh]

I've used these in a few setups. They've got their own built-in diffuser so no air stone is needed and the sponge slides off a stem for cleaning so you don't have to remove the suction cups and jet lifter assembly. Plus the outlet tube telescopes. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bio-Sponge-...985312?hash=item27d11bcfa0:g:A2kAAMXQMmJRS8k3

 

[dougall]

If you can afford the space, I'd look into a HMF for the tank

A kind of sponge filter, but the size of one of the walls of your tank.

If you want more space in the tank itself, and don't mind a little googling, look into a De ruyne filter.

Look towards killifish keepers for cheap ways of filtration for smaller tanks... they have the most experience.

 

[FreshyFresh]

I can't find those low profile ones Doug was referring to above, but I've seen them in use. One of my LFSs that's been around forever uses them in their display tanks and just basically throws (some) gravel over the top of them.