Sponge Filters - Who All Using Them?

[julielynn47]

I have been seeing some videos on the virtues of sponge filters.  I honestly didn't know what these were.
I was looking for something to put on the intake of my HOB filter in the 10 gallon. I was afraid the shrimp, that I plan to put in the tank, might have babies, and then they would get sucked up the intake.   What I found when I went starting looking around were "sponge filters"...that supposedly take the place of HOB and canister filters.  
 
The concept looked really good. The biological filtration would be a plus. I thought that I might get one of those for each of my tanks.  Then I started wondering... how do these provide water movement?  I assume they must provide it in some fashion.   It just seems to me that surely it can't be enough.
 
So if any of you use them instead of HOB's or canisters I would be really interested in knowing how they work for you.   Any suggestions and/or opinions?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

[BettaBettas]

I used to use 1, for my smaller 5G before I knew what to do with it, sponge filters are no mistake invention lemme tell ya' that right now! lol, yea there good depending on what type you get, but they should all be fine really.

 

[MarchHare]

Switched over to a Sponge filter on my 5.5 gallon Betta tank some weeks ago.
Marcus is the better for it.
No longer pushed around by the current of a HOB, he displays himself more frequently. Swims around the tank more gracefully.
I got the "Mini" for the 5.5 and recently ordered a #1 for a 10 that will be set up as an invert tank.
I purchased from American Aquarium Products.
www.Americanaquariumproducts.com 
Don't know if this link will work or not, but you can find a representation of how the filter works on their site.
Cheers!

 

[Essjay]

I too changed my betta's internal for a sponge filter earlier this year - I cycled it first in my quarantine tank as I couldn't see a way to attach the media from the internal to it. And Like MarchHare's betta, mine seems much better with a sponge filter.
 
The shop where I bought it one of the few I trust. I was recommended to get the type with a weighted base (like those in MarchHare's link) rather than the kind that attach to the side of the tank with suckers. If the suckers come unstuck, the sponge floats and the filter doesn't work properly.
I did find the pump created too much current though so I bought an air line splitter/manifold with two outlets with taps; one outlet has airline to the filter attached to it, the other isn't connected to anything and I just open the tap to allow air escape to the room, reducing the amount of air going into the tank.

 

[AbbeysDad]

I converted my Aquaclear 70 filters to use only sponge/bio-sponge* as the media so it's a HOB/sponge filter. I also use a Fluval sponge pre-filter on the inlet tube to prevent fry from being pulled in.
 
* I used to buy into the notion that we had to have special/expensive bio-media as a beneficial bacteria platform...but in reality, sponge material is every bit as good, is inexpensive, cleans easily, and lasts nearly forever!

 

[DomH]

So sponge filters work by using a air pump to pump air for the bottom of it to the top of the tank. This concept pulls water up with it creating a suction. The create great surface agitation but too much if you dont have a top. I have them in all my tanks besides my show tank.


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[LyraGuppi]

I have them in all three of my tanks. The two in the betta tank are dialed down to create very still water, but the community tank and shellie tank have good water movement. I got mine from americanaquariumproducts.com .

 

[Byron]

I use a dual sponge filter (two cylindrical sponges) in my smaller tanks, the largest of which is a 40g three feet in length.  I would not use anything else but a single sponge filter in tanks as small as 10g or less.
 
Sponge filters provide superb mechanical and good biological filtration.  They do not produce a lot of water current, which is beneficial for many fish we keep.  For those that need water flow, there are other options.

 

[**sarahp**]

I too changed my betta's internal for a sponge filter earlier this year.

Can I ask what sort you bought? I'm also in the UK and planning a Betta tank so am looking for ideas!

 

[julielynn47]

Wow!  So I guess a lot of people really like them.  I will have to check them out more seriously because I would like to have one for my shrimp tank

 

[Essjay]

 

I too changed my betta's internal for a sponge filter earlier this year.

Can I ask what sort you bought? I'm also in the UK and planning a Betta tank so am looking for ideas!
 

 
The filter part is an Aqua One FilterAir 30 http/www.fishpetsreptiles.co.uk/aqua-one-parts/aqua-one-air-pumps-and-parts/aqua-one-air-pumps/aqua-one-air-filters-spares/aqua-one-air-driven-filter-30?gclid=CNzcls24_84CFccV0wodTswLYw - the shop I went to sold these so I didn't get it from an on-line shop.
 
I also bought a JBL ProSilent a50 pump which turned out not to be all that silent; even suspended by a piece of string from a hook in the bottom of the kitchen wall unit it is still loud enough to hear upstairs. If you decide to get a sponge filter, ask advice on quiet air pumps before buying. Some pumps come with air line tubing, some don't so you have to buy it separately. Make sure you also get a one-way valve to stop the risk of water sucking back up the tubing into the pump - the pumps that come with tubing may or may not include a valve.
 
My pump is rated for 10 to 50 litre tanks - mine holds 26 litres water, I measured it in - but the water flow from the filter was a bit strong for a betta. If your pump proves to a bit too powerful, you just need an airline splitter (aka airline manifold) with taps. One outlet is attached to nothing and I just adjust the tap on that one to bleed air off to the room to get the flow right in the tank.

 

[NickAu]

I use one of these in my 18 gallon Betta tank.
http/www.ebay.com.au/itm/XY-2822-Large-Aquarium-Shrimp-Fish-Tank-Double-Biological-Sponge-Bio-Filter-/201586760681?hash=item2eef81dbe9:g:7ekAAOSwcvdXO91g

 

[**sarahp**]

 

 

I too changed my betta's internal for a sponge filter earlier this year.

Can I ask what sort you bought? I'm also in the UK and planning a Betta tank so am looking for ideas!
 

 
The filter part is an Aqua One FilterAir 30 http/www.fishpetsreptiles.co.uk/aqua-one-parts/aqua-one-air-pumps-and-parts/aqua-one-air-pumps/aqua-one-air-filters-spares/aqua-one-air-driven-filter-30?gclid=CNzcls24_84CFccV0wodTswLYw - the shop I went to sold these so I didn't get it from an on-line shop.
 


 
Thanks for that - I'll check it out! 

 

[AbbeysDad]

I use one of these in my 18 gallon Betta tank.
http/www.ebay.com.au/itm/XY-2822-Large-Aquarium-Shrimp-Fish-Tank-Double-Biological-Sponge-Bio-Filter-/201586760681?hash=item2eef81dbe9:g:7ekAAOSwcvdXO91g

Check this out on Amazon....
https/www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0056XVF82/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1