Sponge Filters...

[Reddog80p]

So how do sponge filters work? Are they mainly for fry tanks who get very frequent water changes and planted tanks with low bio-loads? Can a sponge filter be effective on a lightly stocked unplanted tank?

 

[Riiz]

They are just a sponge with a hole through them for some type of water flow. Sponges can actually support large bio-loads, provided they have enough water flow through then and are large enough. Their only drawback despite being very effective bio-filters is their lack of mechanical and chemical filtration.

 

[Lupin]

Sponge filters do not have force that suck the fry and eggs and mangle them which makes them truly suitable for rearing and breeding purposes.

 

[BettaFishMommy]

sponge filters work via air pump, at least in my set ups. i have heard how you can use a powerhead, but haven't tried it myself.

this may be helpful:

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/sponge_filtration.html

 

[Rbishop]

They work on the same principle as a lift tube for an UGF, Redd. They are low flow and great for biological filtration. You can use a small power head with a sponge on the intake, provided the flow doesn't cause your fish of plants problems. Most fry tank ones are just air driven.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Their only drawback despite being very effective bio-filters is their lack of mechanical and chemical filtration.

If you have ever rinsed out a sponge filter- you would not say they lack mech filtration capability. They are useless for chemical though.

 

[Draal5]

They are great as long as you have enough air going through them fry will also pick at them and eat whats on them. Hands down the best filter for BB fry and grow out tanks.

 

[BigAds]

If you have ever rinsed out a sponge filter- you would not say they lack mech filtration capability. They are useless for chemical though.

Unless you have it running on a powerhead or another filters intake, I'd say that they do not perform any kind of active mechanical filtration. Sure, random gunk & crap accumulates in and on them, but it isn't in any way drawn to the sponge to do a thorough job of mech. filtration.

 

[PopPopsfish]

We run our entire Breeding Operation on Sponge filters. Our tanks are crystal clear .
Even our invert tanks are run on sponge filters . The trick to using sponge filters is to have the air flow adjusted so that the bubbles coming out of the lift tube are not to fast , just a medium flow works great. We have 30 + tanks running on a AP40 air pump.

 

[msjinkzd]

i love my sponge filters for my invert tanks