Possibly dumb question about Hydro Sponge

[H2Ogal]

Looking at using a Hydro Pro sponge with a powerhead.

Can Hydro sponges be used without the weighted base? I really don't need that part, but can't figure out if it's removable. Is there's a plug or something I should be looking to buy?

 

[BioHazard]

Yeah, it is removable. No need for a plug or anything.

 

[H2Ogal]

Good to hear. Thanks for the help!

 

[The Zigman]

well if you remove the base, then there is an open hole at both ends...

 

[XanAvaloni]

Zig, I see the open hole at the bottom...but the top of the inner, slotted plastic tube does not look open at all. It has a very small diameter nozzle-looking piece at the center of the cylinder. What exactly attaches to this (can you tell I have never had this style of sponge filter?) and how does it pull water through the sponge to provide filtering services?

I'd actually just like to find somebody who sells the spongy part, which I could then pop on the ends of my standard HOB inlet tubes to keep little things from getting in it. Being poor I thought about getting a regular household sponge and cutting it into a circle then carving out enough in the center to get it to stay on the intake. Only sponge I could find that was thick enough was the sort sold for hand-washing cars, and those holes were entirely too big. The search continues.

 

[coach_z]

sounds like you are trying to remove additional floating debris from your tank? im sure you can fit some more filter media into the HOB. I like the big pads of 'blue bonded filter pads' or whatever they are called. its cheap and easy. If you dont want to put them in your filter you can wrap around your intake with a rubber band. i know this doesnt quite answer your question, but i hope this might have helped or provided some insight.

 

[The Zigman]

the center piece is called the bulls eye.
it is where the air line attaches.

it is wide open.
I have a powerhead on a Hydro filter.
I'll get some pix for you later.

Go to www.kensfish.com he sells all the parts for these Hydro filters, as well as the Hydro prefilter for Hobs.

Yes Hydro makes a prefilter that attached to the inlet tube of most HOB filters.
I am using Fluval edge prefilters ($3 From Petsmart) as prefilters on my small hobs.


Also, If you plan on using a powerhead, there are 2 different types of foam mor hydro filters.
The Lighter gray foam shown below is the regular foam, its pretty fine, and then the darker colored, more coarse, reticulated foam filter...

I would recommmend the reticulated filter for powerhead use. It has a much higher flow rate.

 

[H2Ogal]

the center piece is called the bulls eye.
it is where the air line attaches.

it is wide open.
I have a powerhead on a Hydro filter.
I'll get some pix for you later.

Go to www.kensfish.com he sells all the parts for these Hydro filters, as well as the Hydro prefilter for Hobs.

Yes Hydro makes a prefilter that attached to the inlet tube of most HOB filters.
I am using Fluval edge prefilters ($3 From Petsmart) as prefilters on my small hobs.


Also, If you plan on using a powerhead, there are 2 different types of foam mor hydro filters.
The Lighter gray foam shown below is the regular foam, its pretty fine, and then the darker colored, more coarse, reticulated foam filter...

I would recommmend the reticulated filter for powerhead use. It has a much higher flow rate.

Pics would be great, Zigman.

I'm looking at using PH/sponge as my only filter on a 20g long so thinking I'll go with the #3 Hydro Pro (rated to 40g).

Yes, kens is the place. Got my shopping cart just about filled. Unfortunately, the image for the "step" that attaches the base to the bottom of the sponge isn't opening correctly. Can the step be used to close the bottom hole in the sponge? If not, do you think cutting a slightly oversized circle of similar filter foam and stuffing it in there would work?

 

[The Zigman]

OK here are some pix...
Somewhere in the jungle of Vals, if you look closely, you can see a sponge filter with a topfin 30 Powerhead attached to it..

All I did, was remove the weighted base, from the bottom... Just the base, not the extension tube... And remobed the bullseye from the top...

then I truned the whole thing over and put the powerhead in the extension tube where the weighted base was, and put the weighted base where the bullseye was..

Works fine!

 

[H2Ogal]

The vals are gorgeous ... Did you say there's equipment behind there?

Nice switcheroo with the basic parts. Thanks for the help.