whats a better sponge to use

WharfRat

WharfRat

Don't Panic / Always Carry A Towel
Jul 6, 2004
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0
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Orlando Fl
www.aquatichabitats.com
Heres the deal. I'm designing a sponge filter set up for a my 125 and I need a bit of advice. I dont know what size sponge pore to use. I like the real open stuff that they make the Aqua Clear sponges out of. But I also like the more closed cells like they use on the big cylinder sponge filters. The large open pore wont support as much bacteria but will let more water flow over the sponge itself and wouldnt need to be cleaned as often. The more closed cell will house more bacteria but will clog faster and require more frequent rinses. These sponges will have a sponge on each end..90'd to a pipe in the center that will run almost to the surface of the tank where a power head will drive them. So there will be a sponge about every 12 inches or so..I haven't worked out the exact math on it yet.
Thanks
Fred
 
well this is a weird setup but it might give you an idea. I have big al's sponge (fine) cut to prefilters that go over my aquaclear intakes, then aquaclear sponges (coarse) and ceramic biomedia in my filters. my AC sponges rarely if ever need cleaned, and provide biological filtration. there's not even any dirt on them yet.

I just rinse the prefilters really really well every few days when I do a water change. my nitrates stay nice and low and my water is really clear. Hope that gives you an idea.
 
I personally would go with the finer sponges, I use Big Al's as well ( sorry I don't have the part number) The Ac Sponges ( ggod sponges by all rights) are coarse enough to let a lot of stuff through, I also have trouble with snails getting in the pores, and since I hate to kill a snail (my fish do it for me) this adds work.
 
I dont have a BA's catalog anymore and Im not crazy about thier web site..but I'll have a look see. Thanks y'all
 
ASWO # 8138

hope that wasn't too late:)
 
All you need is two Hydro V sponges attached to two Maxi Jet 1200 power heads. This is what I have on my 125g along with an AC500 for mechancial filtration (which I don't even use for mech. filtration because it's pre-sponged) and this works great. I don't think you need sponges every 12".
 
Thanks for that number Chico and thanks a bunch Bayoupr. What I meant by every 12 inches was that I was sure how far apart I wanted to span the sponges..not a sponge every 12 inches. So what you have for your tank is 2 power sponges and a sponge in a box. Cool..thanks for all the replies y'all.
:cool:
 
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