Slowing Filter Output With A Sponge

[Rynofasho]

I have a 10 gallon tank with a Marineland Penguin 100 and that little #29### makes quite a current in the tank. In order to slow the filter output, I was going to take a piece of sponge pad and cut it to fit the filter output and attach it in with a rubber band.

My question is would it make more sense to use a fine sponge or one with larger holes? I cant decide which would work better - it seems like a fine sponge would work better up until it saturated and then it wouldn't do too much to slow the water since since the water doesnt have to keep changing directions as it would through a more porous sponge.

And the other thought like I just said is that with a sponge that is more coarse, the water will constantly be redirected as it moves through the sponge which will slow it down more.

I suppose I could always run a science project, but which makes more logical sense to you?

 

[Ludwig Venter]

I can more or less picture what you're trying to say here, and in my opinion, I would use the sponge with larger holes and wait for it to be restricted to the extent that it will reduce the flow. In this way, you'll have a greater number of natural cycling activators which will contribute to natural conditions a lot faster. When cleaning it, however..... do not do a thourough cleaning... squeeze it 4 or 5 times, and put it back..... to prevent starting from scratch every time.....

 

[mattvillas]

I had a different first thought about what you are trying to do. In my mind, at least, I would think you would have to slow down the input instead of the output.

I have a penguin 350, two actually, and I can only picture that if I added extra sponges to slow the output that the water would build up and find the easiest way out.. either above the sponge or even spilling out the sides of the filter onto the floor. I would think that no matter what you did to try to slow the output, the intake is still going to bring in the same amount of water and the water is going to have to go somewhere.

I have put some sponges in my filter but only to add places for the bacteria to grow. I haven't noticed much of a difference of output. One thing I have been thinking of doing is adding something right where the filtered water hits the surface of the tank water; which might be something to think about. It won't reduce the output, but it could help spread it out so that it wouldn't all flow in one direction causing a "current."

 

[Rynofasho]

Ok, Ill think about that too. I saw some jimmy rigged half cut soda bottle that you put in front of it to redirect it which I may try too, although I know I'm going to need an airstone or something since ill be killing all the surface agitation.

I have 3 Honey Gouramis in there now and I cant even really feed them because they take a few minutes to calm down when I come in (skittish little guys) and the filter current annihilates all the food before they even touch it. I've been feeding them with the filter off now. In the end, a Betta is going in there though, so I for SURE need to slow it down.

 

[mattvillas]

Let me know whatever it is that you do. As far as your feeding problems, I know what you mean. I just recently got the second filter so it had made feeding a little tougher. Before with only one filter, one half of the tank's surface was more calm, but now that I have a filter on each side, the surface is always moving and the flakes go whirling a little.

So I happened to go into Petsmart yesterday during my lunch break (any excuse to look to see if they have a new type of platy that I do not already have)and I noticed how they were feeding the fish. Instead of just sprinkling flakes on the surface, they had a different approach. They put a bunch of flakes into a large cup/bottle and mixed with water. Then she had like a turkey baster (a large eye dropper), would suck it in and then inject the flake/water mix into the tanks. Instead of the flakes just floating at the surface, they were kinda suspended in the water. And the part that surprised me is that they all didn't sink right away.

So I went home and tried it, but without the large syringe thing because I didn't have one. I took an empty cup, filled it with tank water, added the amount that I'd normally feed them, mixed it around a little with an utensil, and just poured the mix into the tank. The fish actually seemed to enjoy it a little better. Instead of having to swim to the surface or wait for the flakes to drop; now the flakes are kinda all around them and they can munch on all that they can get to. I guess this can eventually train them that they do not have to wait at the top to be fed. I've only tried this once so far, but did notice that since they are not at the top; they were more likely to find whatever food had sunk to the bottom so that I wouldn't have to worry about it going to waste.

 

[Rynofasho]

Sounds pretty cool -- I sometimes just stink my had under the surface a bit and crumple them up because the Danios are often too crazy for the Rasboras to be able to get in there. The Danios have no problems eating freeze dried bloodworms out of my fingers. Fearless little guys!

 

[codheadjohn]

I had a different first thought about what you are trying to do. In my mind, at least, I would think you would have to slow down the input instead of the output.

I have a penguin 350, two actually, and I can only picture that if I added extra sponges to slow the output that the water would build up and find the easiest way out.. either above the sponge or even spilling out the sides of the filter onto the floor. I would think that no matter what you did to try to slow the output, the intake is still going to bring in the same amount of water and the water is going to have to go somewhere.

I have put some sponges in my filter but only to add places for the bacteria to grow. I haven't noticed much of a difference of output. One thing I have been thinking of doing is adding something right where the filtered water hits the surface of the tank water; which might be something to think about. It won't reduce the output, but it could help spread it out so that it wouldn't all flow in one direction causing a "current."

Restricting either will work. The fine sponge would have more material in the way so would create more of a blockage