I have two Hydro-Sponge V Filters in my 55gal discus tank run by a whisper 100, Ive noticed that everytime i wash the filters out to get the debris out (which is at the same time i do a w/c) that when i restart the pump that the filters float for a while...most of the time I have to end up squeezing them a few times and hope that they stay on the bottom then. Ive tried doing this prior to starting the pump, but they still float. Its a bare bottom tank so I can bury the weight in the substrate to keep it down...anybody have any tricks or ideas to keep the sponges down?
Sponge Filter Floats
- Thread starter VTwinFanatic
- Start date
can you rig a suction cup from a heater or airline clip to hold them down until they stay down on their own?
After you squeeze out the gunk in a bucket of tank water to clean the sponges, stick in your tank and squeeze the air out of the sponge...
I cant really rig up a suction cup due to their large size...they are "rated" for a 125gal tank each...and ive got two of them stacked...they have about 2.5inches of foam around the center tube.
I have also tried squeezing the sponge inside the tank...it doesnt work either...they seem to stay down until I turn the air pump back on
I have also tried squeezing the sponge inside the tank...it doesnt work either...they seem to stay down until I turn the air pump back on
i use a sponge in my breeding tank and usually just giving it a good squeeze all over will make it sink.
legendaryfrog
Tactical Refreshment Action
pour a few stones down the chimney of the filter to weigh it down.
On a side note, how are the sopnge filters working for you?
On a side note, how are the sopnge filters working for you?
I really dont feel like a few rocks will weigh these HUGE filters down...they have about a 6+"
diameter which holds a lot of air...and being that they are stacked makes it even worse...I had them seperate for a while, but I get much better results running them stacked with one air line feeding them rather than them being seperate w/ two seperate air lines.
LEGENDARYFROG: I LOVE MY Sponge Filters...I have the two in my discus tank and one in both of my cherry shrimp breeding tanks. I do weekly w/c's on all my tanks (with the exception of my discus tank they get 2+) so my solid debris stay at a minimum. As far as all my readings go they are Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, and Nitrates~10ppm, they are much quieter than HOB filters that I used to use and much easier to maintain.
diameter which holds a lot of air...and being that they are stacked makes it even worse...I had them seperate for a while, but I get much better results running them stacked with one air line feeding them rather than them being seperate w/ two seperate air lines.
LEGENDARYFROG: I LOVE MY Sponge Filters...I have the two in my discus tank and one in both of my cherry shrimp breeding tanks. I do weekly w/c's on all my tanks (with the exception of my discus tank they get 2+) so my solid debris stay at a minimum. As far as all my readings go they are Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, and Nitrates~10ppm, they are much quieter than HOB filters that I used to use and much easier to maintain.
legendaryfrog
Tactical Refreshment Action
I'll agree that sponge filters are awesome; I just discovered their greatness 'bout 2 months ago. Right now, all of my tanks (except my mini-reef) have one.
Currently, I'm using these sponge filters, http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3953&N=2004+113424, and they also had problems with constantly surfacing. Like I said before, I dumped a couple rocks into the chimeny, which solved the problem.
Currently, I'm using these sponge filters, http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3953&N=2004+113424, and they also had problems with constantly surfacing. Like I said before, I dumped a couple rocks into the chimeny, which solved the problem.
I've had the same problem keeping my sponge filter on the bottom of the tank. I put a couple of lava rocks on the sponge to wiegh it down and some more around the periphery to make it look more like a rock pile than a sponge filter.
I've had good success with mine. It's quiet and peacefull, all you hear are the bubbles, and it provides adequate mechanical and excelllent bioligical filtration.
I've had good success with mine. It's quiet and peacefull, all you hear are the bubbles, and it provides adequate mechanical and excelllent bioligical filtration.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp19170/si1379360/cl0/lustarhydrospongefilter5 this is the type that im working with (x2). I'll try the rocks in the chimney...i actually found the success of sponges about a year ago...i started with one of the Hydrosponge 5 along with an XP2 on my discus tank...but I decided to change the canister filter to my 30gal planted tank to take the place of my HOB filter and the constant surface aggitation and noise. I placed the 2nd Sponge in the tank about 3 weeks before i moved filters around...after that I decided to change the HOB filter on my shrimp breeding tank for a sponge, then had to buy another one for my small 5.5 gal tank that i had a few sparkling gourami in, but moved them to my sister 10gal planted tank...and made the 5.5 into another shrimp tank....I have them in every tank except my planted tanks...and I LOVE THEM