You can slam your sarcasm all you want, but it doesn't change what is going on in my tank. Perhaps I just expect and maintain a higher water quality and clarity than yourself, not sure, but it most certainly has nothing to do with my lack of water changes or experience. I have recently changed to a sponge filter when my HOB finally kicked the bucket, and have noticed a MORE than drastic change in my water clarity. I have doubled my weekly water changes from 10% to 20% and it still has little effect on it. I enjoy crystal clear water always, and I am sure this has had a major effect on the quality of and size of the fish I raise. So although I really enjoyed your "expert" advice from your broken ego, I don't think I will be taking it.
The Woefully Underappreciated Sponge Filter
- Thread starter aclockworkorange
- Start date
Hello; To those following this thread, other than Fred from Ontario, the use of sponge filters as a viable alternative for running a tank has a long history. I have used them and will continue to do so.
It should be noted that as with any tool there are some limitations to keep in mind. For solo use I find them best suited for use in QT, freshly hatched fry tanks, hospital tanks and short term holding of fish.
The use as a suppliment in a tank is perhaps more often the case for me. I like to run some sort of bubbler operated "filter" or at least a simple air stone in all my tanks along with a HOB or other such filters than have mechanical filtration.
Over the decades there have been times early on when the modern type power filters were not available to me and the current style of HOB had not been developed. The early HOB's were prone to many failures on a nearly daily basis. The more common issue being that they would lose prime (or siphon). This was something to check for each day as it was so common. Running a sponge, UGF or even a simple air stone has kept my tanks alive many times. The current HOB's are many times more reliable in many ways. If the power flickers off for a moment my power filters will self prime now. The early units would lose siphon.
I have one tank running now with a couple of sponge filters buried in the gravel and an HOB. The sponges are insurance.
Another use for the sponge is as a quick setup tool. I cut some sponge material that is thin and layer this onto a sponge filter base. After being run for a time the sponge layers become colonized with bb. I can either move the entire sponge filter into a new tank or peel a layer of the sponge to use as a seed of bb.
To Fred from Ontario, I am quite comfortable knowing that you do not follow my advice. Feel free to run your tanks any way you wish and good luck. Brings to mind a line from a song "southern man don't need him around anyway".
It should be noted that as with any tool there are some limitations to keep in mind. For solo use I find them best suited for use in QT, freshly hatched fry tanks, hospital tanks and short term holding of fish.
The use as a suppliment in a tank is perhaps more often the case for me. I like to run some sort of bubbler operated "filter" or at least a simple air stone in all my tanks along with a HOB or other such filters than have mechanical filtration.
Over the decades there have been times early on when the modern type power filters were not available to me and the current style of HOB had not been developed. The early HOB's were prone to many failures on a nearly daily basis. The more common issue being that they would lose prime (or siphon). This was something to check for each day as it was so common. Running a sponge, UGF or even a simple air stone has kept my tanks alive many times. The current HOB's are many times more reliable in many ways. If the power flickers off for a moment my power filters will self prime now. The early units would lose siphon.
I have one tank running now with a couple of sponge filters buried in the gravel and an HOB. The sponges are insurance.
Another use for the sponge is as a quick setup tool. I cut some sponge material that is thin and layer this onto a sponge filter base. After being run for a time the sponge layers become colonized with bb. I can either move the entire sponge filter into a new tank or peel a layer of the sponge to use as a seed of bb.
To Fred from Ontario, I am quite comfortable knowing that you do not follow my advice. Feel free to run your tanks any way you wish and good luck. Brings to mind a line from a song "southern man don't need him around anyway".
Honestly, you don't want your sponge filter(s) serving as mechanical filtration. They'll do it (and clog and need to be cleaned) but dedicated (primarily) mechanical filtration is much better.
I run (as the only filtration) an air-driven box filter and sponge filter on most of the tanks in my fishroom. Running lots of air through the boxes both keeps the sponges and the tanks cleaner.
Matt
I run (as the only filtration) an air-driven box filter and sponge filter on most of the tanks in my fishroom. Running lots of air through the boxes both keeps the sponges and the tanks cleaner.
Matt
Great post aclockworkorange.
I worked at a LFS (left 2016) and all the freshwater tanks were equipped with air driven sponge filters. Tanks ranged from 25 to 90 gallons. All were plumbed to a single piston driven air pump. The shop has a back-up generator. A 2 pump system would make the system essentially failsafe. By any standard, tanks were over stocked.
Sponges were cleaned by squeezing them out when out flow slowed. Tanks received regular water changes via gravel washing.
Simple, effective and low maintenance what's not to like?
I worked at a LFS (left 2016) and all the freshwater tanks were equipped with air driven sponge filters. Tanks ranged from 25 to 90 gallons. All were plumbed to a single piston driven air pump. The shop has a back-up generator. A 2 pump system would make the system essentially failsafe. By any standard, tanks were over stocked.
Sponges were cleaned by squeezing them out when out flow slowed. Tanks received regular water changes via gravel washing.
Simple, effective and low maintenance what's not to like?
I use an Over head Filter for my main tank, but for my grow-out tanks and breeding tanks, I used sponge filters. But, I don't use ready made sponge filter, I DIY my filters. That way I get to choose the bio media and best design for optimum bio filtration.
I don't rely on sponge filter for mechanical filtration, I vacuum the poops and other debris daily using my DIY vacuum using an air pump. Its easier to vacuum because the poops and debris are sucked in around the sponge.
Sponge filter are cheap, easy to maintain, economical, and a very good bio-filter if design well. Most of my sponge filter are made with recycled plastic bottles filled with ceramic rings with holes in the bottom and the top portion.
I don't rely on sponge filter for mechanical filtration, I vacuum the poops and other debris daily using my DIY vacuum using an air pump. Its easier to vacuum because the poops and debris are sucked in around the sponge.
Sponge filter are cheap, easy to maintain, economical, and a very good bio-filter if design well. Most of my sponge filter are made with recycled plastic bottles filled with ceramic rings with holes in the bottom and the top portion.
40 gallon breeder and 2 fancy goldfish, could a sponge filter work for this? I know goldfish are extra messy and need extra clean water, would two filters help? And what if I added in live plants to the mix? I really really like the idea of a sponge filter as the only filtration source, its just feels right to me. But could I make it work with the set up I have?
It could work for you provided you do gravel vacuuming along with your weekly water changes. All I have on my 55g goldfish tank is a large sponge bubbler and an AquaClear70 HOB. I've got 3 fancies and a comet. The comet is about 6-7" and the fancies about large meatball sized LOL. I never got why people say goldfish are so messy. They are absolutely no messier than any other similarly sized fish. In fact, in my goldy tank, I find very little debris in the gravel when I stir it up duing WWCs.
Thanks for the input! I also plan on doing a sand bottom, do you think this adds any effect to the filter setup?
