Airstone VS Sponge filter

[batang_mcdo]

I'm planning to reduce my powerheads in my tank's , I also have have acdc pumps which have air stones at the end , would replacing the airstone with sponge filters be a good idea? will it provide the same aeration as airstone?

was also thinking since i'll be remobing my Overhead filters as backup filters for my tank, the sponge might act as backups in case of power failure?

also another air stone question, will depth matter for placement of airstone? i noticed the surface agitation is stronger if the airstone is nearer to the surface of the water? or will there be benefits if the airstone is placed deeper?

 

[mgk]

if the sponge filter agitates the surface the same amount, then they are the same. Air stones mainly work because they agitate the surface causing increased gas exchange.

 

[batang_mcdo]

if the sponge filter agitates the surface the same amount, then they are the same. Air stones mainly work because they agitate the surface causing increased gas exchange.

thanks. Will there be a difference with the depth of the airstone, since the deeper the airstone the more it pulls the water up? vs the air stone closer to the waters surface? the water agitation seems to be stronger?

 

[mgk]

thanks. Will there be a difference with the depth of the airstone, since the deeper the airstone the more it pulls the water up? vs the air stone closer to the waters surface? the water agitation seems to be stronger?

i don't really know. I would assume deeper is better.

 

[ron521]

The HydroSponge filters I've used had the airstone within a few inches of the bottom, and channelled the bubbles through a 1" lift tube, creating a pretty powerful suction on the sponge, and a nice turbulence at the water surface.
In my largest tank I used the directional top caps from an undergravel filter on the lift tubes so I could "aim" the output flow...and you could see the bubbles travelling across the surface in that direction.

 

[screaminleeman]

I'm planning to reduce my powerheads in my tank's , I also have have acdc pumps which have air stones at the end , would replacing the airstone with sponge filters be a good idea? will it provide the same aeration as airstone?

was also thinking since i'll be remobing my Overhead filters as backup filters for my tank, the sponge might act as backups in case of power failure?

also another air stone question, will depth matter for placement of airstone? i noticed the surface agitation is stronger if the airstone is nearer to the surface of the water? or will there be benefits if the airstone is placed deeper?

Like Ron said! I use Hydro sponge filters in all of my tanks. The instructions say that they can have a airstone attached internally, or work without the airstone. I have attached an airstone inside some and not inside others. I have fould that the addition of a cheap 50 cent airstone creates better suction from the sponge filter and disturbs the surface more. I will eventually get around to adding airstone inside of the ones that don't have em' yet.

 

[tcarswell]

I just recently did this. I replaced two powerheads (unneeded really) for sponge filters powered by the large penn plax dual outlet 50 dollar battery backup I highly reccomend it. Should be some modest back up filtration in case of a power outage. And will keep surface agitation going.


Thanks for the airstone sponge idea guys ill experiment with that... I love learning and experimenting with new methods and information shared here ,


Taylor

 

[Toby_H]

I'm planning to reduce my powerheads in my tank's , I also have have acdc pumps which have air stones at the end , would replacing the airstone with sponge filters be a good idea? will it provide the same aeration as airstone?

　
I would use an airstone at the end of an airline with or without the sponge filter on it. Sponge filters offer the same “aeration” as an airstone alone but also add the benefit of mechanical filtration as well as additional surface for bacteria to grow (for those who believe they need that ;-) )
　

was also thinking since i'll be removing my Overhead filters as backup filters for my tank, the sponge might act as backups in case of power failure?

　
Marvelous idea…
　

also another air stone question, will depth matter for placement of airstone? i noticed the surface agitation is stronger if the airstone is nearer to the surface of the water? or will there be benefits if the airstone is placed deeper?

　
The deeper the airstone is placed, the more backpressure is caused and therefore the less air will be pumped out of the line. This is why you see more surface agitation from shallow placed airstones in comparison to deeply placed airstones.
　
In addition to causing “surface agitation”, air stones & sponge filters cause water movement within the tank. The importance of this water movement should not go overlooked…
　
“Surface agitation” only oxygenated the water at the surface. It takes water movement within the water column to pull that oxygen rich water from the surface to other regions in the tank and allow the less oxygenated water to return to the surface to be recharged with oxygen.
　
Air stones are also a wise idea on any airline because smaller bubbles makes more water movement than larger bubbles…

 

[batang_mcdo]

thanks guys will remove my extra powerhead this weekend and replace with 2 sponge filters