Sponge filter for a better, stronger biofilter?

Hi,

I have a Fluval Flex 57L - cycled and including gravel - which I believe has a good enough filter to clean the aquarium, though I am really interested in putting a sponge filter for a better environment for the beneficial - nitrifying - bacteria (and possibly as a backup during water change and etc.). At that point, as you know, my tank is not that big so everything I put inside, will steal from the space reserved for fishes. Therefore, my question is, is it really useful to add a filter sponge for the nitrogen cycle to have more space for the bacteria or just complicating things?

Thanks,

 

You can never have too much filtration in my opinion. I have a sponge filter in my aquariums along with HOB filters. If you already have enough biological filtration, adding more won't hurt, but I don't think it's going to be too beneficial because (If I remember correctly) beneficial bacteria only grows to match your current bio load. However it is a great backup filter if anything in your current filter fails, It is also a good cheap option for filtration.

 

What type of filter do you have on your tank? Hob? If so you can add a sponge to the intake.

 

What type of filter do you have on your tank? Hob? If so you can add a sponge to the intake.

It's better to put the image from manufacturer (not sure if it can be classified as HOB). Hope that helps 86 ssinit, thanks a lot.

 

I like the idea of a small corner sponge in tank in parallel to other filtration, for the aeration and it's just a good backup to have if the power goes out you can run a small one off one of those battery powered airpumps they sell for bait buckets in a pinch.

 

It's better to put the image from manufacturer (not sure if it can be classified as HOB). Hope that helps 86 ssinit, thanks a lot.

Looks like a good type of filter. But is it outside of the tank or in the tank? It has a sponge #2 and #3 is fluval cylinders so that’s good too. It’s only a 15g tank so that looks like plenty of filtration. But if it’s in the tank it’s taking up lots of room.

 

Looks like a good type of filter. But is it outside of the tank or in the tank? It has a sponge #2 and #3 is fluval cylinders so that’s good too. It’s only a 15g tank so that looks like plenty of filtration. But if it’s in the tank it’s taking up lots of room.

These tanks have a hidden rear compartment that houses the heater, pump and filter components.

 

I added a sponge filter to my main tank (which had a light load at the time) in the hopes that it would be "cycled". after 2 months I transferred it to a brand new hospital tank. it took an additional 2-3 weeks for that tank to be cycled enough for a couple small fish such that I wasn't doing water changes to remove Ammonia/Nitrite.

 

An extra sponge filter running is great to also move into and instantly cycle a quarantine tank if you need.

 

These tanks have a hidden rear compartment that houses the heater, pump and filter components.

Exactly and that's why I feel like stealing the space from the fishes, because that hidden rear compartment already decreasing the effective/usable space for fishes. However, it gives a good filtration and does not annoy fishes much due to the flow in the water.

An extra sponge filter running is great to also move into and instantly cycle a quarantine tank if you need.

That's also my initial idea, keeping a second filter media whenever waiting for weeks is not an option.

Thanks for all the replies, even if the filtration is good enough, I decided to keep a sponge filter as a backup.

 

I'll admit I was a bit surprised to see the specs of the pump at 500 L/H. One of the few integrated filters I've seen that appears to have adequate turnover.

 

You can never have too much filtration in my opinion. I have a sponge filter in my aquariums along with HOB filters. If you already have enough biological filtration, adding more won't hurt, but I don't think it's going to be too beneficial because (If I remember correctly) beneficial bacteria only grows to match your current bio load. However it is a great backup filter if anything in your current filter fails, It is also a good cheap option for filtration.

I agree completely. In addition to (or in lieu of) the sponge filter, do attach those large black sponge pre-filters to the intake on a HOB. These will, of course, help keep macro garbage out of your HOB, but they’ll also quickly become very good surface areas for bb should you need. The need could be for your actual tank or a seeding down the road w a new set up.