Is my sponge filter really enough? Questions on sponge filters.

HI all. I have 1 sponge filter rated for up to 10 gallons on my 10 gallon tank (1 betta and 5 neon tetras). The air pump I'm pretty sure is only rated for 5 gallons. I have giant goldfish in another tank and am used to over filtering with HOB filters and frankly I am not sure about this sponge filter. Should I add another filter just in case?

More questions I had about sponge filters is does their effectiveness decrease when they have a weaker air pump? Also I am not sure how I should go about cleaning them without getting rid of their bb. Mine is covered in hair algae...

 

In my humble opinion sponge filters are great for aerating the water and holding a great deal of bacteria but I don't think you can beat a HOB filter in a tank this size for pulling detritus out of the tank and also housing a lot of bacteria.

Lately it has been said that over cleaning a sponge removes too much bacteria and will cause a cycle to crash but that hasn't been my experience. Keep in mind though the sponges that I clean well when cleaning aren't the only thing keeping my cycle strong. Bacteria grows on all the surfaces in our tanks so cleaning the sponges well shouldn't cause a crash.

 

I agree, I just can't see how a sponge filter would clean the tank as good as an hob, bI weekly I replace the sponge in one of my hob’s, I use a big roll off amazon and cut it to size.

 

I agree, I just can't see how a sponge filter would clean the tank as good as an hob, bI weekly I replace the sponge in one of my hob’s, I use a big roll off amazon and cut it to size.

I am curious as to why you are replacing your sponge. I use poly-fill in my HOB to help polish the water. I remove and replace it a couple of times a week but sponges shouldn't have to be replaced. I don't rely on the poly-fill for holding bacteria so replacing it isn't a problem. Sponges should last for years though.

 

It’s not really a sponge, it clogs up fast and I don’t use it to grow bb, I have ceramic rings and a bio scrubber in their also
Aqua-Flo 12" Pond & Aquarium Filter Media, 72" (6 Feet) Long x 1" Thick (Green/White) Amazon.com: Aqua-Flo 12" Pond & Aquarium Filter Media, 72" (6 Feet) Long x 1" Thick (Green/White): Garden & Outdoor

 

It’s not really a sponge, it clogs up fast and I don’t use it to grow bb, I have ceramic rings and a bio scrubber in their also
Aqua-Flo 12" Pond & Aquarium Filter Media, 72" (6 Feet) Long x 1" Thick (Green/White) Amazon.com: Aqua-Flo 12" Pond & Aquarium Filter Media, 72" (6 Feet) Long x 1" Thick (Green/White): Garden & Outdoor

Gotcha I have some of that filter material too and used it for a while. It seems poly-fill works better for me.

The only reason I questioned you was when You said you replace your sponge someone new to the hobby may think it necessary. By discussing it they will understand what we are talking about.

 

Gotcha I have some of that filter material too and used it for a while. It seems poly-fill works better for me.

The only reason I questioned you was when You said you replace your sponge someone new to the hobby may think it necessary. By discussing it they will understand what we are talking about.

Do you find the poly fill clears your water up? My water has never really been 100% Crystal clear with this stuff

 

Do you find the poly fill clears your water up? My water has never really been 100% Crystal clear with this stuff

It does help to keep it looking good. You just have to keep on top of replacing it. It is cheap enough to replace daily if needed.

 

Yes polyfill removes the most out of your water. It should be the first thing your water goes through. Everything gets stuck in the polyfill and slowly breaks down and than flows in your sponges and biomedia to be eaten by your bacteria. Some use fine sponges for this but polyfill does the job . I also clean my polyfill in tank water and reuse it for months.

 

HI all. I have 1 sponge filter rated for up to 10 gallons on my 10 gallon tank (1 betta and 5 neon tetras). The air pump I'm pretty sure is only rated for 5 gallons. I have giant goldfish in another tank and am used to over filtering with HOB filters and frankly I am not sure about this sponge filter. Should I add another filter just in case?

More questions I had about sponge filters is does their effectiveness decrease when they have a weaker air pump? Also I am not sure how I should go about cleaning them without getting rid of their bb. Mine is covered in hair algae...

Hello el...

Tank filters can't keep the tank water clean. Only large, frequent water changes can. Your filter is essentially just moving the water's surface and mixing oxygen into the tank water. That's it. You can keep your current filter and gradually increase the amount of water you change. A 10 gallon tank needs half the water changed a couple of times a week. The more aggressive water change routine will reduce the algae too. Do this routine consistently and you'll have no tank problems.

Old

 

Yes polyfill removes the most out of your water. It should be the first thing your water goes through. Everything gets stuck in the polyfill and slowly breaks down and than flows in your sponges and biomedia to be eaten by your bacteria. Some use fine sponges for this but polyfill does the job . I also clean my polyfill in tank water and reuse it for months.

I actually clean mine before tossing it. That water is really good for my house plants. Who needs miracle grow when they have this really rich stuff

 

As to your sponge filter. It works with the volume of air pulling water through it. So if your air pump is only good for 5 gal it’s not enough. Like everything else more is better. So an air pump for 20 would be even better. Yes you should rinse your sponge every other week and you should have 2 sponges. So your cleaning a different one weekly.

 

Hello el...

Tank filters can't keep the tank water clean. Only large, frequent water changes can. Your filter is essentially just moving the water's surface and mixing oxygen into the tank water. That's it. You can keep your current filter and gradually increase the amount of water you change. A 10 gallon tank needs half the water changed a couple of times a week. The more aggressive water change routine will reduce the algae too. Do this routine consistently and you'll have no tank problems.

Old

This is very helpful, thank you. I do 50% water changes once a week. I think I will start doing it maybe twice a week now. I was also considering getting shrimp to help with the algae. I think eventually I will get another small HOB filter.

 

This is very helpful, thank you. I do 50% water changes once a week. I think I will start doing it maybe twice a week now. I was also considering getting shrimp to help with the algae. I think eventually I will get another small HOB filter.

In my humble opinion one can't do too many water changes. Although I don't know that twice a week is necessary in your case but it shouldn't be a problem. One Betta and 5 little neon tetras shouldn't have a very high bio-load.

I change out 6 gallons of water in my 10 gallon pleco grow out tank every other day but then I have a LOT of little plecos in there and they poop a LOT.

 

Hello el...

Tank filters can't keep the tank water clean. Only large, frequent water changes can. Your filter is essentially just moving the water's surface and mixing oxygen into the tank water. That's it. You can keep your current filter and gradually increase the amount of water you change. A 10 gallon tank needs half the water changed a couple of times a week. The more aggressive water change routine will reduce the algae too. Do this routine consistently and you'll have no tank problems.

Old

That seems a little excessive for 6 little fishes.

 

Here is an alternate view. I only use sponge filters and/or diy bubble filters ( uplift tube in jar full of floss and filter media) in my 7 tanks and stopped using hobs except for running occasional polisher or carbon. Yes- even in my goldfish tank. My nitrate is now under control (lower flow allows denitrifying bacteria to grow). The shrimp snails and fish love to pick the sponge clean so I don’t have to. I only do aprox 10 percent water change once a month or when algae gets to be an issue I might do 50%.

 

Here is an alternate view. I only use sponge filters and/or diy bubble filters ( uplift tube in jar full of floss and filter media) in my 7 tanks and stopped using hobs except for running occasional polisher or carbon. Yes- even in my goldfish tank. My nitrate is now under control (lower flow allows denitrifying bacteria to grow). The shrimp snails and fish love to pick the sponge clean so I don’t have to. I only do aprox 10 percent water change once a month or when algae gets to be an issue I might do 50%.

Do you use a specific sponge filter or air pump?

 

Check out this experiment this person did a while back:
Aquarium

He tested a sponge filter, and he found out that just a regular, less than $10sponge filter was able to process a massive amount of 70ppm ammonia in 24 hours, somethig which he claims no other filtration method managed to do.

From the experimen, for those who don't wanna read:

The most effective filter medium in the degradation of ammonia (nitrification) has proved to be an ordinary foam filter called sponge filter. It managed to break down an incredible 3.15 grams of pure ammonia (70 ppm) in a 12G (45ℓ) aquarium in 24h.
For an idea: This amount of ammonia is produced by more than 10 kg of adult Neon Tetras in 24 hours.

Sponge filters seem to be the absolute best when it comes to biological filtration, but are near useless when pulling particulate matter. The best of both worlds would be to have an intake sponge in a canister/hang on back.

As for cleaning them, just do it when you do a water change. Grab some of the water in a big container, and do several squishes to your sponge, that's all I do with my sponge filters/intakes. The bacteria you remove (minimal) when doing this will quickly reestablish in your tank, bacteria multiply exponentially.


I use sponges as the sole fitlration method in both my 5 gallon shrimp tank and my 20 gallon molly fry nursery. This one is severely overstocked, with near 20 molly juveniles + 20 mystery snail. 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites with only the sponge filter. Of course, nitrates build up super fast, but I've been doing 50% water changes every 3 days (giving away my molly juveniles soon,)

 

I use a 20 gallon sponge filter in my 10 gallon and its my cleanest tank tbh. Granted, its a nano tank with all low bioload fish, so could make the difference.

 

I use a 10 gallon sponge filter for my 6 gallon betta tank and it does the job fine. Although tbh the kuhlis suck up probably more water and algae than the filter does.

 

Do you use a specific sponge filter or air pump?

No. They are pretty much all the same