Sponge filter under sand?

[Industrial]

So I am setting up a five gallon tanks for a couple tiny fish that I hope to spawn. I am using black sand and I am wondering if a sponge filter can still work under sand. I normally bury them in gravel and I know that is fine, but I am unsure about sand.

 

[jpappy789]

Sand is pretty fine, especially compared to gravel which is why the waste sticks to the top. I'm not sure if it would hurt anything but I can't see it being any more efficient.

 

[aXio]

Hmm never though about burying my sponges before... interesting

 

[Industrial]

I am mostly worried because fine sand can develop pockets of noxious gasses that build up from decay. The bubbles escape because the sand is moved showing that there was a spot where air was not getting through. I am more curious if the filter would actually force the air through the sand enough.

 

[mjordan29]

mts snails are the way to go.they dig and turn up sand bottom tanks. no need to bury the filter in sand. i doubt it would hurt but i also doubt it would help

 

[SubRosa]

Sand could easily find its way into the pores of the sponge and that couldn't be good.

 

[platytudes]

I don't think the sponge filter will work under sand, honestly. To avoid "dead spots" use the least amount of sand possible. If you're using floating plants to spawn the fish, I would only use enough sand to cover the bottom and keep it from reflecting light. If you need the sand for rooted plants, then dead spots will be much less of a problem, since plants positively thrive in anaerobic zones (think of vigorous pond plants in smelly swamp mud)

 

[WeedCali]

I agree with SubRosa. that was my first thought.

 

[Industrial]

The idea of this tank would be to permanently house the parent fish and serve as a spawning tank. So I was hoping I could make it look nice (hence sand and hidden filter), make it easy to maintain (sand is easier than gravel) and allow a few fry to survive after each spawning (various grasses).

Maybe I will just go with a Hydor sponge filter instead.

 

[jpappy789]

If you are really worried and dont want to do it manually then MTS all the way