Sponge filters

[BettaMania]

how do they work

and are they any good?

 

[Gunnie]

I love sponge filters. They are inexpensive, provide great biological filtration, help airate your water, they are easy to clean, and they don't kill your fry. You hook up the filter to an air hose which is connected on the other end to an air pump. The air comes out of the hose and creates bubbles which cause water to be sucked through the sponge. Some people only use sponge filters in their tanks. It's a great way to go when you are on a budget!

 

[Dwarfs]

They are great for fry or in small (5 or less IMO) tanks

 

[shrimpster97]

ya they are good. they are also called Bio-Filters (biological) i have a small one in my 30 gallon with convicts.

 

[noelberg]

IMO they're the best filter for fish that don't like much surface movement ... of course that ultimately depends on the air pump you hook up to it.

I have mine in a 10G, so i slightly disagree with you dwarfs. but there isn't much of a need for a sponge filter in a larger tank, unless you are raising fry or killies or bettas. or for added filtration

however sponge filters are antequated, and in larger aquariums overall water quality is better with a HOB or canister

 

[Dwarfs]

I just remembered that one of our ten gallons ran on a sponge for years And our 15 gallon also has one

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Great for fry and biological filtration. Along with aeration. One drawback: no mechanical filtration.