ayen

Is a power filter really needed?
Can I use only a HUGE sponge filter instead of a power filter?
It's a 14gallon tank, planted, having 2 angelfish.

armadillo

Hi Ayen. All I can say is that I tried a sponge filter, and it was also really quite big, and that was only for a 5G, and the tank was in a right state. So in my experience, that filtration system has not been satisfactory. But you may have more luck?

ayen

Hi Armadillo, thank you for sharing~
I have another 10gallon tank holding 2 angelfish, and with a HUUUUUUUUUGE sponge filter, I really mean it, HUUUUUUUUUGE, LOL It's for up to 80 gallon.
Here is the story, a month ago, I had a Whisper 10i filter in that 10g, literally, it sucked the waste in and pooped it back out! So I decided to add a sponge filter in there to provide biological filtration, and this was my first time using sponge filter.
I read that the more surface area, the better biological filtration. Since that 10g is not planted and bare bottom, no decor in there at all, so I was like, why not put a HUGE one in there, have more surface area, and maybe it could act like a hiding place for the 2 angel.
Guess what, this Lustar Hydro Sponge for up to 80g rocks! I added Stress Zyme reguarly, and I got nitrate reading after 3 weeks!

Yesterday, my 14g's power filter broke down...and I don't have any spare filter, and I'm going to get one today, so I'm wondering if it's really okay to run the tank with only a sponge filter. If yes, then I will get a sponge filter for the 14g, just not as HUGE as the one I'm using in the 10g because this 14g is planted, not much space left

armadillo

he he he, mine was just quite big, not huuuuuge, LOL.

Then I don't know if it's enough, sorry. I hope someone can answer.

sgould

A sponge filter will give you very nice biological filtration, but not much in the way of mechanical. I'd use one in a quarantine tank or a breeding tank, but I would want something more for a "normal" display tank.

sirdarksol

It depends on a number of things. If your fish produce a lot of solid waste, a sponge filter may not be the greatest choice, because sgould is right, they don't provide the greatest mechanical filtration.
Not every tank has mechanical filtration, though. There are people who use plants as their only filters, and their tanks can be beautiful.

darkwolf29a

I use a lot of sponge filters. In fact, when I set up my 55 again, I'm gong to be using a canister and a sponge filter. I'm a huge fan of over filteration, so that's what I'm going to try.

I use a lot of sponge filters though, since they are so easy to clean and if you are keeping up with your water changes...you should be fine with just a sponge.

ayen

I do water change twice a week at least, if the reading is not okay or a lot of waste or the water looks unpleasant, than I will do additional water change.
When I have the tank bare bottom, I always keep the bottom no waste as possible.
And I don't see the water quality is different from other tanks that I have a power filter on.
Like you said, I think if I do regular water change, there's no need to have a power filter to do the mechanical part, BUT, I am now wondering if the Chemical part is really important to have?
I read a post by Armadillo, she said her tank was planted, she didn't have no chemical filtration at all because the chemical media would take out all the nutrient that plants needed, which makes a lot of sense to me.

sirdarksol

Chemical is only important if your water has problems to begin with. BettaCouple stopped using AC in their aquariums, and I never change the charcoal in my filters.

jsalemi

Chemical is also needed after you finish meds in the tank to take them out. Otherwise, it's not really needed all the time unless you have a lot of added chemicals in your tap water that you want to filter out.

Someone here pointed out a Seachem product called Renew that does chemical filtration, but doesn't adversly affect plants.

sirdarksol

Thank you, jsalemi, I forgot to mention meds.