Sponge filter not working

[Anna94]

So I’ve had my sponge filter for 2 years and I had it hooked up to an airline, but my air pump started getting noisy so I got rid of it and switched to a powerhead instead. I haven’t rinsed the filter in a year and it still looks like new and I just rinsed it today and the water looked clean. Is the sponge filter not doing anything? Am I doing something wrong?

 

[Autumnsky]

Was the air tubing connected and were there air bubbles coming up through the top?

 

[Anna94]

Was the air tubing connected and were there air bubbles coming up through the top?

Yes, when I had airline hooked up to it

 

[Autumnsky]

Hmmm, if you saw air bubbles coming out of the top of the sponge, it would mean that the air was pulling through the sponge.

What kind of power filter is it?

 

[Anna94]

Hmmm, if you saw air bubbles coming out of the top of the sponge, it would mean that the air was pulling through the sponge.

What kind of power filter is it?

I meant I saw air bubbles when I had it hooked up to an airline. I just decided to remove the powerhead and use an airline and air pump again.

 

[King Fisher]

I'd run the HOB and the sponge filters until the sponge filters are colonized with beneficial bacteria by the HOB. It'll take away the chance of your tank going into a mini cycle.