Sponge filter keeps floating

[BPags52]

Yesterday I added a BioPlus sponge filter rated for 25g to my tank, just to help a little with the bioload.

Its my first sponge filter. I think I have it hooked up right.

I soaked the sponge in the tank for awhile before attaching it to the air pump and turning it on, and I squeezed the sponge to get out any airbubbles etc that were still trapped.

I used a mag-float to clean the area of the glass the suction cups attach to. But after about an hour or so of being in place, it keeps detaching from the glass and floating to the top. I'm just wondering if this is common for sponge filters?

Will I need to secure it to a rock or something to keep it from floating up? The suction cups don't seem to be worth a ****.

 

[Pharaoh]

They will tend to hold air really wll for a bit. Give it another good round of squeezing to get the air out. It will sink eventually, just take a bit of time to pull out all the air bubbles.

 

[BPags52]

They will tend to hold air really wll for a bit. Give it another good round of squeezing to get the air out. It will sink eventually, just take a bit of time to pull out all the air bubbles.

Ok thanks I'll try that.

Once the sponge is to the point it'll sink, will the air pump / bubbles make it float still? Or will the sinking sponge out-weigh the air bubbles bringing it to the top?

 

[Toby_H]

The air from the air pump doesn't actually go through the sponge... so the air pump will not "refresh" the air bubbles in the sponge...

I agree with Pharaoh, when the sponges are new/stiff they hold air bubbles... as they break in and soften up those bubbles escape and they stay down much better... Don't hesitate to keep on squeezing it to help soften it up...

Most suction cups don't work very well in aquariums. In my experience it's just a cheesy way of attaching something. The higher grade sponge filters have weights designed in them to keep them down...

 

[swede]

try to bury it half way in the substrate until it gets all the air out, kinda like you need to soak driftwood

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

I allways just drop some old ceramic media down the tube for weight and to help it cycle faster plus more bio filtration.

suction cups suck. i wish they made magnet attachments for all powerheads and stuff.

 

[BPags52]

Well I just rang out the sponge underwater and no air bubbles came out. Just reattached it to the glass, i'll see how long it lasts there.

I would have already put it in the substrate but I cut the airline tube a little too short for that. I have more but I was hoping not to have to re-do the airline tubing. If it keeps floating after a few days i'll just re-do the airline and bury it halfway in the substrate.

Thanks!

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

if its gravel just put some down the tube. it won't hurt a thing.


sand might slow it down though.

 

[BPags52]

thanks for the bio-media / gravel down the tube idea. Haven't tried it yet but thats next if partially burying it in gravel doesn't work...

edit: On a side note, I noticed some small particles of waste/etc drift into the sponge, but they didn't stick...is that normal? It's hooked up right, right?

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

i have never used that kind before but it looks like there may be a slit in the top of the sponge for the air luft tube to slide down in.