Do sponge filters work as regular filters? The sponge sits on top of this base. But it also houses the beneficial All air pumps make noise, possible more noise than a HOB but definitely more noise any than canister filters that I have heard. How Does a Sponge Filter Work? I'll keep that type in mind if the sponge doesn't work out. Thanks to both of you for such in depth descriptions! A sponge filter uses bubbles of air from an external air pump, or an integral water pump to draw water through the sponge. Micro flora and fauna grow on the sponge and provide a small amount of food for young fry and adult fish. Sponge filters are precisely what the name implies, a sponge through which the aquarium water is drawn. The sponge filters are designed to have a simple operation, but still effective. When the pump is turned on the bubbles formed by the airline in the bottom of the filter great a draw/ suction (a power head could be added instead of an air pump to get a much greater draw). I usually base the size on a few things. I'm just trying to throw the knowledge I have in the area out there so you can put it with the information you have to hopefully come up with the best answers. In absorption, the substance you want to remove (let’s say water) is absorbed into the structure of the absorbent (like a sponge), but it doesn’t become a part of the absorbent on a molecular level. There is probably some type of mathematical equation to figure out the right size, but some common sense decisisons based on those things above usually works for me. Currently it hold a single male betta (he patrols that tank like a true king) once the betta is moves however i am torn between a few stocking options. How do sponge filters work? As the air is pumped, and the air bubbles naturally rises to the surface, water is forced through the sponge material. Do sponge filters work as regular filters? The fish in my room die like a few days later. That way the sponge always has some good bacteria. What you have technically isn't a sponge filter but a pre-filter. wow - that sounds so high tech for a little sponge... lol. They work great for biological filtration ( a place for bacteria to live) Using a betta divider isn't really a good idea. I'm so sick of HOB filters and want a nice alternative. @Mike I'm aware it's not advised to divide tanks for male bettas, which is why I'm getting a solid barrier with silicone sealant so it will be more like two separate tanks that just happen to be attached, both will have their own filters and heaters as well Both of my boys are rather passive but I still don't want to stress them if I have a way around it. 3. It comes with the divider, 2 sponge filters, an air pump, tubing, and air flow valve and return check valve. Whenever a helpful result is detected, the system will add it to the list immediately. I see that pop up with some frequency here on this site. If you connect it to an air pump, how does the garbage get sucked INTO the sponge? Relevance. How do I put my check valve into my air pump? This forces water to be drawn through the foam sponge. But how do activated charcoal filters work to eliminate odors and remove impurities from water? Then I'd build it based around those things. Keeping a planted goldfish tank; which live plants work best with goldfish? Thanks for the idea though! 2. Finding the right sponge. obviously. Fish of the Month, Pet of the Month and more! The Fluval filters are my favorite. Will a diy air pump sponge filter reduce nitrates? All the information I have ever seen has said that they release hormones which can be detected in the water if in the same tank (using the same water even if divided) unless I'm picturing the setup wrong in my head which is entirely possible. What size would I need for my 40 gallon? As water is drawn out through the lift tube or pump, it is replaced by water entering the sponge. Most sponge gutter guards consist of an open-cell polyurethane insert or an insert made of foam. It consists of an air pump, airline tubing, and the sponge filter itself. This foam or sponge acts as a trap by intending to filter any large debris out of the water that flows down the gutter. We go over how they work and how we use them. Sponge filters are the most simple and usually the most affordable type of aquarium filter. The old needs to seed the new. I'm ordering a really nice divider package. Clearly I don't specialize in Bettas, so I'm always open to learning more if my information is miguided. 4. How Do Best Sponge Filters Work? As far as stocking goes a filter is a filter you have enough or you don't.A few fish like the slow current that sponge filters make. I am not positive about this but this is what I got from reading about them. A new sponge filter will not clean the water straight away, as with other filters the sponges require seeding first (building up a colony of beneficial bacteria).There are several ways to do this. Fish of the Month, Pet of the Month. Let me know what the betta company says about the hormones in the water and seeing through the divider at each other. 1. While it may not look like much, these four parts actually form a very effective filter. The above sponge is unsuitable for DIY filters. By entering this site you declare Transferring bacteria from one media ( sponge pad fabric)to another is just the same still takes about 3 weeks. i think what itzme said is quite accurate,... it creattes a vaccum which sucks in the water then pushes it out, all you have to do is hook it to an air pump, place it in the tank and plug it in! 2-fish type (ie: cichlids/ oscars) I'd be interested to know if they feel that information is wrong. After 1 month, you need to take those filter media from the old filter and put them in a filter mesh bag and put it next to the sponge filter and run that together for a few weeks. I haven't decided on whether I want to add a snail per side or give shrimp a chance. Do I need to consider my tank stocking when getting a a sponge filter? I also show how they clarify water quality and what they look like. I'm making plans to turn my 10g into a divided 5 for my bettas, Dog and Jovi. Also, double check with the company you are using that specializes in Bettas. How do you size them for your tank? So I can rinse off one sponge in my pwc water, then in a few weeks I clean the other. The sponge filter has 2 sponges on it. you read and agreed to the, How to make an effective DIY sponge filter for your aquarium. An air pump with some airline at connected from the top of the liftube to the bottom. The holes drilled into the lift tube allow for that "draw" to pull water from the tank through the sponge into the lift tube where the bubble will exit trough the top. Sponge filters work by having aquarium water drawn through the porous sponge material in which debris from the water column is trapped mechanically. Strainer and bulls eye . They can be built easily as DIY projects or purchased fairly inexpensively depending on size. 1 decade ago. The tank will be a sealed 10 gallon with one betta per side. This forces water to be drawn through the foam sponge. One filter per 20 gallons my be enough when clean just like any filter the manufacturer rate filters when clean not when ready to be cleaned ( full of gunk) Depending of this size of the pump you may be able to run more sponges ? Lv 7. What is a sponge filter, and how does it work? Lift tube . Update: oh uhhhhh ok. Answer Save. I bought enough xy-2836 Aquarium sponge filters for... Is a sponge filter a good choice for a goldfish? JavaScript is disabled. Due to advancing technology some people don't really use them anymore, but they are still a great filter. Weighted base . This action filters the fish tank. What is required to set them up? Sponge filters work by sucking water in and up as the air rises up the tube in the middle. We use ATI sponge filters with air stones installed for better performance. okay, but how does it work in your tank? Contests including the Tank of the Month, Sounds good Bailee keep us posted how it all works out. The fish in the living room don't die. Or am I totally misunderstanding the concept? Update: im attatching the sponge to teh filter intake. I can't decide on goldfish (probably a pair of ryukins) if I get goldfish I will probably purchase another canister because of the bioload, the other things I've thought about are a dwarf crayfish tank, a WCM tank, or a live bearer tank. do sponge filters realy work i have a 10 gallon tank so how does it work do u just put a sponge insead of filter cartrage in filter plz help oh and how often do i have to changwe it and how. You do hook them up to an air pump then just place on the bottom of the tank. It covers mechanical as the sponge with catch debris. Thoughts on Sponge Filters as ONLY filter for tank, Replacing filter cartridge with foam or sponge. ( not meat only or live food only fish ) They're found in vacuum cleaners, ovens, air purifiers, trash cans and even water filters. Sponge filters work by sucking water in and up as the air rises up the tube in the middle. Hey Bailee8jane, I get how canister and HOBs work but how does a sponge filter work? An aquarium sponge filter is basically a tube (called a lift tube) inserted into a square or round sponge of some kind - or really into any safe porous filtering material - (called a ’sponge’). They work great for biological filtration (a place for bacteria to live) They do not remove any poop from the water just like a HOB or canister filter poop is still in the water you still have to vacuum the bottom of the tank often. I can't really explain HOW a sponge filter works, but I can tell you they DO work! You are using an out of date browser. This provides mechanical filtration, and once the sponge has matured and grown bacterial colonies, it provides biological filtration as well. Reasons Why The One Inch Per Gallon Rule Does Not Work. Note that this is different from absorption. I tried but the air wont go t... Top Fin 20 Power Filter doesn't work and it's loud, How to make your own sponge filter for your aquarium. will it work? Then, you put an air hose and air stone down into the tube and the rising air bubbles from the air stone push water up through the tube. The best sponge filter relies on the air pump that would be bought separately to work. This can stress them out. A sponge filter is a type of filter that uses a sponge and an air pump to draw aquarium water through the porous sponges. The sponge covers 2 of three bases in terms of your filtration. How Do Sponge Filters Work Details. Use Prime as your water conditioner and Stability and/or Tetra Safestart Plus as your beneficial bacteria blend. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Keep me posted on what you decide to do. You must log in or register to reply here. As for the other tank, it's 40 gallon breeder. Honestly can be a powerhouse. what do you hook it up to? I'm not trying to discourage you at all, so please don't think that. I have a glass jar and s... Can I replace a power filter with a sponge filter on a 29 gallon tank, HELP THERES WHITE THINGS ON MY SPONGE FILTER. Can someone explain to me the dynamics of a sponge filter? They do not remove any poop from the water just like a HOB or canister filter poop is still in the water you still have to vacuum the bottom of the tank often. Find out with this guide to activated charcoal filters. One thing to add to that. 4-expected waste production Welcome: Introduce Yourself & Learn More About TFF, Tank of the Month, 1-tank size Answer Save. Bacteria we all work so hard to establish. How a sponge filter works diagram With a good air pump attached, bubbles rise up the lift tube and out into your tank. There is a lift tube that has holes drilled near the bottom where the sponge will be attached. In this video I show how sponge filters work. How a sponge filter works diagram With a good air pump attached, bubbles rise up the lift tube and out into your tank. Also, if the divider is see through and they can see each other that too can be stressful for them. The system has given 20 helpful results for the search "how do sponge filters work". Great for smaller tanks, fry rearing tanks where you dont want a lot of current, or a backup filter … These are the recommended solutions for your problem, selecting from sources of help. Sponge filters are one of the most popular filters used in fish stores, fish rooms, and breeding tanks because they’re so reliable and easy to use. I run sponge filters and HOB and internal filters in all tanks except the one nano tank but even the that has a HOB and two sponges.Yes I over filter lol. As water passes through the sponge, it catches and traps debris, such as fish poop, uneaten food and decaying plants, filtering it from the water. Foam sponge . I have a sponge filter in a tank that's in my room and I have another tank in the living room with a regular filter. Every thing is in the divider package as you wrote .You will have to have a power point to plug in the pump 3 Answers. The air passes creates suction, that makes the water pass through it, as it would a regular filter sponge. topaz. 4 Answers. It is viscose, too soft, and will collapse. I put fish in both the tanks the same day. Relevance. The sponge filter is reminiscent of the old school box filters. A sponge filter is a simple devise that mechanically filters your water. Check out our step-by-step instructions to help you get started with your first sponge filter. I'm thinking of getting a sponge filter for a supplement bio filter in my 30 gallon The check valve should be mounted at the highest point in the set up ( top of the tank) or one can mount the pump above the water line .These instructions most probably are in the package? But beginners often have many questions on how they work, how to set one up, and how to keep them clean. The biggest trick is finding a good sponge as not all sponge is created equal. When I set up both of the tanks. Sponge filter problems. Or am I totally misunderstanding the concept? Sponge gutter guards are a do-it-yourself product and can be found at most home improvement stores. The air tubing will then be placed at the center of your sponge filter as part of the setup. Could you use normal kitchen sponge as a filter baffle? Also, very frequently they get over, under, or around the divider. copperhead. As water passes through the sponge, it catches and traps debris, such as fish poop, uneaten food and decaying plants, filtering it from the water. (Image By Johan (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons. Potential erratic swimming in betta fish? Activated charcoal filters are modern marvels. The fish will be stressed as they smell the hormones released by other male Bettas. Throughout history, sea sponges have been used for a myriad of applications—from padding Roman Centurion helmets to early canteens to municipal water filters—even contraceptives. The latest ones have updated on 12th January 2021. For very large aquariums, two or more outside power filters or canister filters … 3-Number of fish Undergravel filters or sponge filters provide the most efficient biological filtration, but if such units are impractical or unavailable, using an outside power filter for biological filtration will work. Favorite Answer. We are a family friendly community with an incredible resource of information for fish owners and enthusiast alike. If the sponge filter doesn't seem to do the trick I'll look into something else with an adjustable flow rate. I've never had a sponge filter before and just wanted to check it out. The package I'm looking at is provided by a small business that specializes in bettas. I have a sponge filter in a tank... Unplugged the filter to do water change, Now it doesnt work. Sponges come in a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as pore sizes. Sponge filters are a great form of filtration. Carbon air filters remove pollutants from the air with a process known as adsorption. FishForums.net is one of the internet's oldest and premier Tropical Fish and Aquarium forums! Check out the FishForums.net Monthly At this time, aerobic bacteria living in the pores feed on nitrogenous wastes such as ammonia and … It actually doesN't shoot the air through the sponge, the sponge just acts as a bacteria zone. Lv 7. If you connect it to an air pump, how does the garbage get sucked INTO the sponge? Can someone explain to me the dynamics of a sponge filter? Favourite answer. I’ve seen a number of DIY designs for sponge filters. Within about 20minutes of getting rid of the filter (and another one I tried) his color all came back so I know he needs something pretty light. Mostly used by the advanced hobbyist who know the secret of these awesome filters. Sponge filters aren't as effective as a power filters, but they do work. 1 decade ago. weighted so it does not float and instead sits on the bottom of the tank. Hi bailee8jane, It may not display this or other websites correctly. To consider my tank stocking when getting a a sponge filter, and once the sponge and air... Experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding that pop up with some at... Implies, a sponge filter, and the air bubbles naturally rises to the immediately! Enough xy-2836 aquarium sponge filters with air stones installed for better performance them anymore, they... To eliminate odors and remove impurities from water never had a sponge through which the water. Three bases in terms of your filtration as a bacteria zone that the. Feel that information is miguided is see through and they can be found most... 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Like much, these four parts actually form a very effective filter integral water pump to draw water the. That mechanically filters your water tank... Unplugged the filter to do the trick 'll. Divider, 2 sponge filters work '' separately to work reasons Why the one Inch per gallon does... Is viscose, too soft, and once the sponge material, the has!, how to make an effective DIY sponge filter a good choice for better... Getting a a sponge filter before and just wanted to check it out can rinse off sponge... Which debris from the top of the setup your first sponge filter in a tank... Unplugged the to. Guide to activated charcoal filters work by sucking water in and up as the sponge work and how does garbage. Sources of help really a good sponge as not all sponge is created equal more...