TigerBarbs
Aquarium Advice Addict
What is the point of a sponge filter? I have had an aquarium for years but never heard much about them.
Sponge filters
- Thread starter TigerBarbs
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bruinsbro1997
Aquarium Advice Addict
Sponge filters help keep the water more cleaner from research, very good for hospital/QT tanks and fry tanks.
I dont know a ton about them either. But I know there's one that doesn't need electricity and it just uses a siphon. There's a sponge at the end and all the debris sticks to it. I think they're just cheap easy filters for temporary use IMO.
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TigerBarbs
Aquarium Advice Addict
Will they pick out all the little specs in my water?
bruinsbro1997
Aquarium Advice Addict
Usually if you have excellent filtration it would do that, but yes sponge filteres will help with that too. From researching on it. I've got no experience.
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TigerBarbs
Aquarium Advice Addict
Ok cool thanks guys
mfdrookie516
Aquarium Free - 2+ Years
Sponge filters are not what I'd consider to be a polishing filter. THey're a great biofilter, and have very little suction, which makes them great for fry.
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TigerBarbs
Aquarium Advice Addict
Ok I don't need anymore biological filtration I don't think because I have an aquaclear powerfitler and it runs porcelain stones that grow those beneficial bacteria
BillD
Aquarium Advice Addict
I would disagree with the polishing aspect of sponge filters to a point.Air powered sponge filters don't have a high rate of flow generally, as mentioned above. However, the fine sponge does catch a lot of fine material as evidenced by the amount of crud that comes out of them when you clean them. Most of my tanks are run with sponge filters (12), from one small air pump.
ashleynicole
Aquarium Advice Addict
I am currently running a sponge filter along with my aquaclear so that I will always have a seeded filter that I can put into a QT tank if needed.
mfdrookie516
Aquarium Free - 2+ Years
Maybe it's just me, but my sponges (ATI Hydro Sponges) don't seem to do a very good job polishing the water. I'm running the 125g size in my 10g, but I ran proper sized sponges in my 40's and 20's for a while. There were always particles floating around. I just think filter floss in a canister does a much better job of that.
jetajockey
come get me tang police!
I use sponge filters in most of my tanks, it's a cheap and efficient form of filtration. They don't collect particles like a power filter would, but they do a good enough job if you regularly maintain your tanks.
ashleynicole
Aquarium Advice Addict
I agree completely. This is my first experience with a sponge filter and I only got it because it was an 'active' filter to cycle my tank. now however I am going to see how it goes running in conjunction with aqua-clear HOB. What I don't like is the space it takes up in the tank.
BillD
Aquarium Advice Addict
I don't disagree, but the amount of crud that ends up inside indicates a large amount of fine matter is getting into the filter. can't argue with floss in the cannister either, or HOB for that matter.
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TigerBarbs
Aquarium Advice Addict
So would it be a good idea to have one with my HOB aquaclear? They are just ugly in tanks
ashleynicole
Aquarium Advice Addict
No you do not need one. I agree, they are unsightly.
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TigerBarbs
Aquarium Advice Addict
I guess I could put a sump on my 29 gallon and put it in there hahaha just kidding
I want a sump for my 20 gallon tall lol
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