Sponge filter woes.

[MaloK]

I have a couple of hygger's medium sponge filters running.

And for some odd reason one of them has started to just act on it's own. Instead of the nice gloo, gloo... It sounds like a sick camel on vodka. Bllwwwaa.. blaw... pwlaww.

I cleaned it twice and there no changes... They are all the same and runs perfect except this one... It has "666" in it's serial number...

I called it Christine.

 

[Archerfish]

It's like Christine the '58 Plymouth Fury! Does your filter look like this below? If so, check where the rigid airline tube joins the uplift socket. They are prone to debris being trapped in that area. Also, check the same area to ensure that the rigid airline tube isn't jammed into the socket too hard which can block flow. First try pulling the tube out very slightly and see if that helps.

 

[MaloK]

I have one like that and there's no problem so far.

The one that is causing problems is the medium sized.

And yeah one of the problem I find is the pipe that brings air in the coupler tends to block air flow if pushed too deep.

But if I don't push it deep enough it looses air at the junction.

So I might get it back on the operation table next cleanup.

 

[Burleson]

I would take it apart and make sure no tubes are clogged up and then make sure you put it together tightly
I had a similar problem and that’s what I did and it fixed it

 

[MaloK]

Last time I soaked it in bleach and vinegar after.

Pressure cleaned and also, I have a good set of tubing brushes... And brought it to "new" state.

It's still doing it and I checked everything, loll.. It doesn't collaborate anymore.

 

[Burleson]

Interesting if you can’t fix it might be best to get a new one unless you are ok with the sound but if it continues to get worse and unusable I advise you to get a new one

 

[MaloK]

Yes I admit that I have some running for months without problems.

I might just try to swap the filter for a new one... That I have already in stock... And keep only the sponge.

For for the life of me... Side by side with a new one... I can't find what is causing it.

 

[Magnum Man]

can't offer much advice, on that style... I prefer the "old fashioned" kind...

Amazon.com : AQUANEAT Aquarium Bio Sponge Filter Breeding Fry Betta Shrimp Nano Fish Tank,3pcs (Middle up to 20Gal) : Pet Supplies

Amazon.com : AQUANEAT Aquarium Bio Sponge Filter Breeding Fry Betta Shrimp Nano Fish Tank,3pcs (Middle up to 20Gal) : Pet Supplies

www.amazon.com

these are the last I've bought... I have the large, in big tanks, like my 65 gallon Tilapia breeding tank, has 2 of the large in it & the 20 gallon size, are in my 10 gallon shrimp and live bearer yanks... I have 10 of them, all together in various tanks, and the only issue I've had, is a breeding pair of large Tilapia took one apart... ( I was able to put it back together, & placed it in a different location, & that never happened again

 

[Archerfish]

I use both types. The one @Magnum Man is excellent. But, a few years ago I discovered the one below (or one just like it) since they change names etc. It is small but search and you will find larger ones. I have even connected their base to a larger filter. Works great and no clogging or binding. I use both this type and the 'old fashioned' types together. Wow!

Amazon.com

 

[MaloK]

Yes, I know both and the Boxes...

I chose this form factor because it's a lot better at keeping lids clean, the water return is horizontal. And really creates a flow that standard sponges cant, I can see the general movement in tanks, that a vertical sponge could never create.

Besides this evil one, I found them a lot more powerful than the standard boxes or sponges.

The problem could also come from the sponge density, but there's noting in view besides the original.

 

[MaloK]

So this morning Christine was really mad and sounding a little like that.



Decided to rip it off right away before anything else (even the coffee).

First thing I did is deface the serial number of it's 666, sprinkled it with holy water... Re drilled the air diffuser and also made lateral holes to prevent clogging in the air admission, cut a check in the input tube to prevent it to block the coupler, used cable shrink to make a gasket on the air tube at the coupler junction... Last chance before "Take a hammer and wack real hard !" solution.

Wow !!!

Got it !!! It's better than new now. I love them they are really good at keeping your water gases saturation very high and the surface exempt of any film buildup.

I'm calmly typing this at the moment in my living room back to it's nice faint water fall sound.

Last week I have been cranking the radio up to mask it, loll. Enough is enough.

 

[Archerfish]

That's wonderful news! And Christine is back in Hollywood!!
I made an extension for my filter and it vents very quietly now. Used a lawn sprinkler fitting (elbow) on top. So happy you don't need a hammer.

 

[MaloK]

The bigger ones like you posted in #2 are excellent and I have none of this nonsense ever happened with those.

And I found out that you can use a cigar tube cork to block one of the inputs and use only one sponge on smaller setups without any modifications.

I was about to try that if all failed... But it's a lot larger and would have been another game to fit in.