Can a sponge filter be used with a HOB?

I keep seeing that sponge filters are the best filter you can get or something like that and someone else told me I should set one up. My question is don't sponge filters need to be used with canister filters? Can a sponge filter work with a HOB filter and if so how do you set one up to a HOB filter? Super confused about this type of filtration and there's no YouTube videos that properly explain things.

 

AquaClear HOB filters all have big sponges in them. In other HOB brands, take out the filter cartridge from the media box & replace with Fluval replacement foam sponges. Petsmart sells them. Cut to size.

 

If you are taking about the air powered sponge filters, it is not a bad idea to use one with a HOB.

A sponge filter in your main tank can be used to set up another tank. They require hardly any maintenance, rarely get clogged, cannot lose prime or any other problems that can take out a HOB.

 

AquaClear HOB filters all have big sponges in them. In other HOB brands, take out the filter cartridge from the media box & replace with Fluval replacement foam sponges. Petsmart sells them. Cut to size.

Yes, I have a sponge already in my top fin filter.

If you are taking about the air powered sponge filters, it is not a bad idea to use one with a HOB.

A sponge filter in your main tank can be used to set up another tank. They require hardly any maintenance, rarely get clogged, cannot lose prime or any other problems that can take out a HOB.

This sounds like what I want. How do I set one of these up? This also sounds like a great idea because I want to be able to take the sponge filter from my display tank and use it in a quarantine tank incase any fish need to be quarantined at a moments notice. This way I will still have my HOB running on my display and then I have an instantly cycled quarantine tank safe for a sick fish being treated. If you could tell me how to set one of these up that would be great because this sounds like what I was looking for and I can't find anything helpful anywhere else.

 

This channel is one of the handful of YouTube channels I actually subscribe to. The host Jason is also a Biology professor and a fish breeder. Lots of great info and content on his channel.

 

This channel is one of the handful of YouTube channels I actually subscribe to. The host Jason is also a Biology professor and a fish breeder. Lots of great info and content on his channel.

Thanks so much. I watched the video, very helpful. I have a question that I didn't see answered in the video though. So the sponge filter is connected to an air pump, that's great I have a dual air pump with an adjustable air flow nob. However, what i'm wondering is if an air pump pushes air out of it to create bubbles that rise to the surface, how would this suck in water through the sponge filter? I'm so confused still about how the water gets sucked through the sponge and out the top when the airline tubing is pushing air outwards. Wouldn't this cause water to move away from the sponge and not into the sponge?

 

However, what i'm wondering is if an air pump pushes air out of it to create bubbles that rise to the surface, how would this suck in water through the sponge filter? I'm so confused still about how the water gets sucked through the sponge and out the top when the airline tubing is pushing air outwards. Wouldn't this cause water to move away from the sponge and not into the sponge?

Just watch more videos...

 

Thanks so much. I watched the video, very helpful. I have a question that I didn't see answered in the video though. So the sponge filter is connected to an air pump, that's great I have a dual air pump with an adjustable air flow nob. However, what i'm wondering is if an air pump pushes air out of it to create bubbles that rise to the surface, how would this suck in water through the sponge filter? I'm so confused still about how the water gets sucked through the sponge and out the top when the airline tubing is pushing air outwards. Wouldn't this cause water to move away from the sponge and not into the sponge?

It's magic. I've never questioned how they work. I just know that they do. I run 2 dual sponge filters along with 2 HOB filters in my 55 gallon tank. When I need to set up another tank for whatever reason I just pull one or two sponges and replace them with new ones. My sponge filters are attached to the back of my tank with suction cups so are easy to put behind plants. Lots of sponge filters tend to be eyesores but thankfully they can be hidden behind decor.

 

aidanfish2002 , you're thinking about it backwards. You mentioned not understanding why water enters the sponge filter when "airline tubing is pushing air outwards". Air rises up the lift tube. It doesn't push air outwards.

The rising mixture of air and water up the liftube basically sucks in tank water from the bottom, subsequently through the sponge media.

I'm not sure why you think water would move away from sponge filter. If that were to happen, water would have to enter the top of the lift tube and travel downward then out the bottom of the sponge.

Sponge filters work because the airstone creates a mixture of air bubbles and water that has less density than just water. This less dense mixture of air and water rises upward and out the tube because the lift tube is vertical and its the only way the for it to escape.

As the less dense mixture of air and water rises upward, something has to displace the volume of area. Water from the tank that has more density than the air/water mixture that rises up the lift tube, enters the sponge filter and continuously gets drawn into the lift tube.

The tank water enters the sponge and displaces the upward rising less dense mixture if air/water at the bottom of the lift tube. As more of the air/water mixture rises upward and out of the lift tube, more tank water enters the filter and again enters the lift tube and rises again after it gets mixed with air.

This is a continuous cycle, thus the lift tube creates a constant flow of water through the sponge filter.

Here is a demo of a huge air lift...

 

aidanfish2002 , you're thinking about it backwards. You mentioned not understanding why water enters the sponge filter when "airline tubing is pushing air outwards". Air rises up the lift tube. It doesn't push air outwards.

The rising mixture of air and water up the liftube basically sucks in tank water from the bottom, subsequently through the sponge media.

I'm not sure why you think water would move away from sponge filter. If that were to happen, water would have to enter the top of the lift tube and travel downward then out the bottom of the sponge.

Sponge filters work because the airstone creates a mixture of air bubbles and water that has less density than just water. This less dense mixture of air and water rises upward and out the tube because the lift tube is vertical and its the only way the for it to escape.

As the less dense mixture of air and water rises upward, something has to displace the volume of area. Water from the tank that has more density than the air/water mixture that rises up the lift tube, enters the sponge filter and continuously gets drawn into the lift tube.

The tank water enters the sponge and displaces the upward rising less dense mixture if air/water at the bottom of the lift tube. As more of the air/water mixture rises upward and out of the lift tube, more tank water enters the filter and again enters the lift tube and rises again after it gets mixed with air.

This is a continuous cycle, thus the lift tube creates a constant flow of water through the sponge filter.



Here is a demo of a huge air lift...

Okay, I see now. Thanks for explaining, very helpful. This type of filtration sounds awesome, I will definitely be setting one up.