Replacing Hob With Sponge Filter In 45 Gallon Planted?

Hello,

My order of plants will be arriving in a couple of days, so while reading up on natural planted aquariums, the general recommendation is to use a sponge filter.

I have a 24 inch tall aqueon 45 gallon with a aqueon 50 filter. The aqueon hob filter was super cheap and really the cartridge filter media is under $1 each, which is super cheap too (compare that just to say for example a daily starbucks). I do not have co2 (will be using some liquid co2 (seachem excel)) and tetra air pump with a 7 or 8 inch single air stone under the fine gravel.

Does anybody use just a sponge filter for their sole filtration? If so how's it working compared to hob? Single or double sponge? With or without powerhead? Photos PLEASE so I can see your setup.

Thanks in advance

 

You will need about 9-10 sponge filters to filter a 45 gallon though...

 

Hello,

My order of plants will be arriving in a couple of days, so while reading up on natural planted aquariums, the general recommendation is to use a sponge filter.

I have a 24 inch tall aqueon 45 gallon with a aqueon 50 filter. The aqueon hob filter was super cheap and really the cartridge filter media is under $1 each, which is super cheap too (compare that just to say for example a daily starbucks). I do not have co2 (will be using some liquid co2 (seachem excel)) and tetra air pump with a 7 or 8 inch single air stone under the fine gravel.

Does anybody use just a sponge filter for their sole filtration? If so how's it working compared to hob? Single or double sponge? With or without powerhead? Photos PLEASE so I can see your setup.

Thanks in advance

Hello van...

I have a 60 gallon tank and use a couple of dual sponge filters. I change a lot of tank water, so I don't need much filtration other than to mix oxygen into the water. Filters don't do much to keep the tank water clean, so you should be changing most of it every week or so.

Anyway, a couple of dual sponge filters will work fine, as long you keep the tank water free of dissolved fish waste.

Old

 

The two main reasons that I am checking into replacing a hob with sponge filters is that it seems like a calmer tank if two things are being replaced by 1 (hob + 8" airstone replaced by stacked sponges that work as both airstone and filtration).

Second reason is that I'm guessing that the carbon in the hob cartridge filter is going to remove the majority of the seachem flourish and flourish excel.

Am I correct that the carbon in the hob cartridge filter is going to remove the seachem flourish and flourish excel?

 

"good" carbon would remove the feritilizers... but the HOB filter cartridges for the Whisper filters, anyway, has pretty bad (chunky) carbon... so... it'll probably "fill up" pretty quickly and become ineffective.

you can just cut open the cartridge and pull out the carbon if you're worried (I'm assumig you have the "all in one" cartridges). or just get regular media (Biomax, matrix, etc.) and use that instead of replaceable cartridges... or get another HOB if HOBs are working for you. (Thinking Aquaclear or TIdal)

 

Everybody everywhere speaks highly of the aquaclear filter, so that is what I purchased at first. We did not like it, and was able to return it. We like the aqueon much, much better. Never checked out tidal yet.

I have used an exacto to cut open the top of a cartridge before and remove the carbon. I was guessing that it would absorb the fertilizers, but I also thought since most use carbon, perhaps the companies have developed fertilizers that don't get absorbed by the carbon.

Perhaps under gravel tabs "stay" in the tank better then...