Connect Sponge Filter Output Into Hob Imput?

Hello all!

My Sponge Filter output is the same size as my HOB intake. I am wondering if the bubbles will have enough power to push water all the way into my HOB if I were to connect the two pieces.

This would leave me with only one outflow, instead of two, and less current for my very picky betta.

My end goal, is to use the Sponge Filter as my filtration, and I want to turn The HOB into an algae scrubber eventually. But I would like it to be all one system, and not two if possible.

Water would flow in the Sponge Filter, up the Sponge Filter outtake into the HOB, through some mechanical filtration and through the algae scrubber part, and back into the tank.

 

The bubbles may not work to push water through the HOB, but you could use the HOB motor to pull water through the sponge and then ensure its regularly serviced to avoid buildup/impede flow.

 

The bubbles may not work to push water through the HOB, but you could use the HOB motor to pull water through the sponge and then ensure its regularly serviced to avoid buildup/impede flow.

Thanks!!! I don't know how I missed this... I guess I just needed somebody to point out the obvious!

After a little bit more reading from this morning, I am thinking this might not be the best idea because the sponge filters don't make a very good mechanical filtration? Any imput on that?

 

HI KI'm Beesley

I had the tube of my sponge filter right below the hang on back filter, and it made a loud rattling noise, and tiny bubbles came out of the waterfall.

 

Thanks!!! I don't know how I missed this... I guess I just needed somebody to point out the obvious!

After a little bit more reading from this morning, I am thinking this might not be the best idea because the sponge filters don't make a very good mechanical filtration? Any imput on that?

Any filter can be mechanical per se. Its just we tend to use mechanical to filter out the finer particles, and help ensure the water stays clear for our viewing pleasure...

A small bit of wool or floss in the HOB would be amazing for mechanical, while the sponge would be mainly biological- and good at trapping the larger particles.

 

Any filter can be mechanical per se. Its just we tend to use mechanical to filter out the finer particles, and help ensure the water stays clear for our viewing pleasure...

A small bit of wool or floss in the HOB would be amazing for mechanical, while the sponge would be mainly biological- and good at trapping the larger particles.

If I put my Sponge Filter out take into my hob intake, the large particles will never be allowed to reach the filter floss...... too big to go through the sponge.

 

If I put my Sponge Filter out take into my hob intake, the large particles will never be allowed to reach the filter floss...... too big to go through the sponge.

Yep, but the floss in freshwater aquarium tends to be used more for fine particles, not large ones....

 

Sponges are both excellent mechanical and biological filters.

That said, if you can join together the lift tube of the sponge filter and the intake of the HOB, that would be excellent (air line disconnected of course).

The sponge will trap the larger and medium sized muck and colonize beneficial bacteria.

Like ausieJJdude advised, If you put filter floss in the hob, that will catch all the small and fine muck that slipped through the sponge.

When you discard and replace the filter floss, you won't jack up the nitrogen cycle.

 

Sponges are both excellent mechanical and biological filters.

That said, if you can join together the lift tube of the sponge filter and the intake of the HOB, that would be excellent (air line disconnected of course).

The sponge will trap the larger and medium sized muck and colonize beneficial bacteria.

Like ausieJJdude advised, If you put filter floss in the hob, that will catch all the small and fine muck that slipped through the sponge.

When you discard and replace the filter floss, you won't jack up the nitrogen cycle.

Sounds like a perfect setup, next large waterchange or two I'm gonna go for this.

The sponges that came with my sponge filter, is very dense... I feel like big things can't even get through. What type of sponge should I be using?