Can I use sand with a sponge filter?

[TatteredOcean]

Hi,

I'm getting a five gallon for Molly and guppy fry soon and I was planning on using a sponge filter. Could I use sand as substrate or would It get clogged in the sponge? I was also planning on getting some hornwort for the tank, would sand or gravel be better for the hornwort?

 

[OrionGirl]

A thin layer of sand will be fine with a sponge filter (or any kind other than a UGF, so long as the intake is suitable placed). Hornwort doesn't need to be planted, it's happy to float in the water column. If you prefer it planted, you might be better off using a small pot, to provide enough depth for the roots since you won't want sand that deep.

 

[FreshyFresh]

You'll find some sand in the sponge every time you squeeze it out, but it shouldn't be much because sponge bubbler filters don't have high flow rates. IMO, they're ideal for a small tank with sand substrate.

 

[AbbeysDad]

As long as the sponge filter is off the very bottom, it should be fine.

 

[dougall]

If it's a tank for fry/growout, don't feel like you need to have substrate in there at all.

Having it bare bottomed, will let you see debris that needs to be vacuumed out.

 

[FreshyFresh]

^^ Can't beat a bare bottom for ease of maintenance.

Or so I've read..

 

[TatteredOcean]

Thank you so much for your answers do shrimp(red cherry or ghost) and snails need substrate?

 

[OrionGirl]

Nope. The only down side to no substrate is that the bottom of the tank reflects, and that can stress some fish. Many will paint the bottom of the tank (on the outside).

 

[FreshyFresh]

Thank you so much for your answers do shrimp(red cherry or ghost) and snails need substrate?

IMO, a display tank with shrimp and snails with no substrate would look odd, but you could make it work. It would perhaps keep some snails like Malaysian trumpets from breeding as much. Same with shrimp w/ less places to hide.

 

[TatteredOcean]

Thank you