Sponge Filter Vs. Hob Filter

I was thinking of going with a sponge filter for my 10gal. My tank is maxed as far as stocking goes, so I want to make sure if I make the switch I'm not going to be losing any filtration capacity.

My Marineland Penguin 100b HOB is equal to a Hydro Sponge 2 according to Aqua Advisor. So do I simply pick a sponge filter that is rated for a similar gallon size and it's as easy as that?

What do I have to consider about air pump capacity?

Lastly... currently I have charcoal in my replaceable filter and a bio wheel in my HOB. Will I be missing anything or need to supplement to make up for not having charcoal or
a biowheel? I assume the sponge will do it's own thing as far as bacteria... meaning it replaces the bio wheel... but what about the charcoal?

Any advice, comments, or corrections of my thoughts?

Thanks.

 

Why are you wanting to stop using a HOB and switch to a sponge filter?

I would not worry about the carbon at all.

When you say the tank is maxed out, how do you have it stocked?

For any style of filter, many hobbyists select one that is rated for 1-3 sizes larger than the tank it is going into.

So for example I would get a sponge filter rated for a 20 gallon tank and not a 10g.

On my 10 gallon tank, I have both a Top Fin Silenstream 20 filter and an ATI Hydro Sponge II filter.

If you're going to run a sponge filter, a larger air pump will cause the sponge filter to generate more lift and will flow more water through it.

Fluval Q1 air pumps have dual outlets and can be found for around $18. They are rated for about 124lpm per outlet.

If you want to stop using the Penguin and switch to only a sponge filter, I would run both for a few weeks, so the beneficial bacteria has time to colonize on the sponge before removing the Penguin.

Otherwise, you will lose your nitrogen cycle.

 

Why are you wanting to stop using a HOB and switch to a sponge filter?

I would not worry about the carbon at all.

When you say the tank is maxed out, how do you have it stocked?

For any style of filter, many hobbyists select one that is rated for 1-3 sizes larger than the tank it is going into.

So for example I would get a sponge filter rated for a 20 gallon tank and not a 10g.

On my 10 gallon tank, I have both a Top Fin Silenstream 20 filter and an ATI Hydro Sponge II filter.

If you're going to run a sponge filter, a larger air pump will cause the sponge filter to generate more lift and will flow more water through it.

Fluval Q1 air pumps have dual outlets and can be found for around $18. They are rated for about 124lpm per outlet.

If you want to stop using the Penguin and switch to only a sponge filter, I would run both for a few weeks, so the beneficial bacteria has time to colonize on the sponge before removing the Penguin.

Otherwise, you will lose your nitrogen cycle.

Just mainly for purposes of power outage. If you lose power for a few minutes and lose the prime on an HOB it will not start up when power comes back without assistance to prime it. Right?

But when the sponge filter is in, the abundance of good bacteria in the sponge stays IN the tank and the air will start as soon as the power comes back on. My theory anyway.

The winters in the area I live in typically are rough and the wind/snow/ice causes a lot of branches and trees to come down. So it's not uncommon to have the electricity go out for a min or two or 30 at times. Also a little less common, but we have lost it for a few hours here and there.

It's more about saving my fish in case of an outage than anything else.

If the air pump I would have to get is obnoxiously loud than I'd probably look into a battery backup pack type of deal. This is in my livingroom right next to the couch. I have already have the need to turn the tv up 2-3 extra clicks or so. Haha.

My HOB is rated for 20gal (tank is 10gal) and I'd be looking at a sponge rated for 20gal. My knowledge stops there... as I don't know what to look for in an air pump to provide the pull to make that amount filtration happen. I'm sure I can read a bit about them, but experiences from others should provide me with more ideas than I can find by reading about air pump ratings.

I'll see if I can link to my aqua advisor so you can see my fish that I am stocking and numbers.

For quick reference my stocking is at 110% and filtration is 106% per aqua advisor based on my community of fish.

 

my experience the HOB filter shouldn't lose its prime if it does there is something wrong with it.. why not add I sponge filter and use both.. the advantage to that is if you want to start a new tank you can pull it out and use it and have a instant cycle.

 

Just mainly for purposes of power outage. If you lose power for a few minutes and lose the prime on an HOB it will not start up when power comes back without assistance to prime it. Right?

But when the sponge filter is in, the abundance of good bacteria in the sponge stays IN the tank and the air will start as soon as the power comes back on. My theory anyway.

The winters in the area I live in typically are rough and the wind/snow/ice causes a lot of branches and trees to come down. So it's not uncommon to have the electricity go out for a min or two or 30 at times. Also a little less common, but we have lost it for a few hours here and there.

It's more about saving my fish in case of an outage than anything else.

If the air pump I would have to get is obnoxiously loud than I'd probably look into a battery backup pack type of deal. This is in my livingroom right next to the couch. I have already have the need to turn the tv up 2-3 extra clicks or so. Haha.

My HOB is rated for 20gal (tank is 10gal) and I'd be looking at a sponge rated for 20gal. My knowledge stops there... as I don't know what to look for in an air pump to provide the pull to make that amount filtration happen. I'm sure I can read a bit about them, but experiences from others should provide me with more ideas than I can find by reading about air pump ratings.

I'll see if I can link to my aqua advisor so you can see my fish that I am stocking and numbers.

For quick reference my stocking is at 110% and filtration is 106% per aqua advisor based on my community of fish.

Here's the tank info. It's a nano.

And before anyone make suggestions/comments about the Betta... he has been fine with all inhabitants. He only gives short chase on occasion to the yellow shrimp and scarlet badis. No nipping or REAL aggression by anyone in the tank.

Also, I know that it would be better to have more cories and it's better to keep same species of cory together, but I didn't know at the time I bought them (one of the first fish I got... over 3 months ago). I would seem that I can't add another right now. The three amigos are happy though... so I see no need to add to their clan unless I upgrade to a bigger tank down the road or get a 2nd tank.

Thanks everybody!

my experience the HOB filter shouldn't lose its prime if it does there is something wrong with it.. why not add I sponge filter and use both.. the advantage to that is if you want to start a new tank you can pull it out and use it and have a instant cycle.

Good to know. It's one of those things that I just thought of and kind of got worried about.

I like the idea, but not sure about for this particular tank since it's only 10gal.

My thoughts...
I assume if I add a 20gal rated sponge AND keep the HOB it will make too much current for my Betta.

With my prefilter sponge AND a sponge filter I'm thinking I'd be taking too much space for my liking in a 10gal.

 

I use a SunSun HW 603B canister filter on my 10 gallon and it works well. Gives you more room in the tank for goodies. And you can pack the filter with your choice of media, including Purigen, which is essential in my view.

 

I use a SunSun HW 603B canister filter on my 10 gallon and it works well. Gives you more room in the tank for goodies. And you can pack the filter with your choice of media, including Purigen, which is essential in my view.

How is the noise level on canister filtration. New to the hobby... so sorry about the dumb questions. Lol

 

I own a Hydor 600 canister and it is virtually silent, especially being inside a cabinet. I can't speak for other brands though.

Also, Dr. Foster and Smith's website has 20% sale going on with code " 4UXTRA20 " .

If your wanted an adjustable flow hang on back filter, the Aquaclear 20 goes down to $20.80 with the code.

That qualifies the order for free S&H.

All Aquaclear filters have adjustable flow.

The AC20 uses 6 watts of power and the flow can be adjusted from 33gph minimum to 100gph max. The adjustable flow may be beneficial to your Betta.

When they are unplugged they do not lose prime.

I own 4 AC models. There are 2x AC30's on my 20 gallon and they are practically silent. I only hear the water flowing.

They also have the Fusion 400 air pump on sale for $8 and the Tetra Whisper 40 for $8.80 with that code. That would run a sponge filter for you.

 

I own a Hydor 600 canister and it is virtually silent, especially being inside a cabinet. I can't speak for other brands though.

Also, Dr. Foster and Smith's website has 20% sale going on with code " 4UXTRA20 " .

If your wanted an adjustable flow hang on back filter, the Aquaclear 20 goes down to $20.80 with the code.

That qualifies the order for free S&H.

All Aquaclear filters have adjustable flow.

The AC20 uses 6 watts of power and the flow can be adjusted from 33gph minimum to 100gph max. The adjustable flow may be beneficial to your Betta.

When they are unplugged they do not lose prime.

I own 4 AC models. There are 2x AC30's on my 20 gallon and they are practically silent. I only hear the water flowing.

They also have the Fusion 400 air pump on sale for $8 and the Tetra Whisper 40 for $8.80 with that code. That would run a sponge filter for you.

I love this site! Thanks a lot for your input.

 

How is the noise level on canister filtration. New to the hobby... so sorry about the dumb questions. Lol

That's an important question! I have two and they are barely audible.
Generally canisters are quieter than HOBs, which is one of the things I like about them.
There's a lot of information on the Forum on different kinds. The SunSun products tend to be less expensive than some of the others, although there has been some discussion on here about the quality.

 

I would keep the HOB you already have. I used the marineland penguin 150, woo and 350 in an area with frequent power outages with no problem. I only had to prime after a water change when the filter drained due to low water levels.

I would add a sponge filter. Redundancy is good in case something breaks.

You can buy a battery backup pump for it in case of extended power outages (could be 3-4) days where I lived.

And you can move a sponge filter to jump start a cycle in a new tank (or quarantine tank).

I wouldn't think a canister would be a wise investment in anything less than a 40 gallon.

 

I would keep the HOB you already have. I used the marineland penguin 150, woo and 350 in an area with frequent power outages with no problem. I only had to prime after a water change when the filter drained due to low water levels.

I would add a sponge filter. Redundancy is good in case something breaks.

You can buy a battery backup pump for it in case of extended power outages (could be 3-4) days where I lived.

And you can move a sponge filter to jump start a cycle in a new tank (or quarantine tank).

I wouldn't think a canister would be a wise investment in anything less than a 40 gallon.

I am thinking that's what I'll do.

After being reassured on the prime of the HOB by several people I feel a lot better about it. Makes perfect sense that it would only lose prime if it was air bound from a water change dropping it below the intake.

 

Since this post we have lost power twice this winter. The HOB has not lost prime like I initially was worried about, which is good.

I have now found that the real thing to worry about is the temperature falling. Probably worthy of a new thread, but what do you guys/gals use in case of an outage? Battery backup similar to the ones offices use for their computers and servers?

 

I can't help for long power outages but I have had short ones 2-3hrs and all I do is wrap my tanks in blankets and wait it out but I have water ready to be heated up on the gas stove and but in water bottles of needed them I can float the bottles or but them against the tank to transfer the heat.. for filter I have a battery operated air pump that I hook to the sponge filter I keep running in there for my hospital tank..

 

I have been using a sponge filter in my tank for about 3 months but my water is just never staying crystal clear. Is it ok if I switch over to a hang on filter or can I not because it may disrupt my beneficial bacteria?

 

I have been using a sponge filter in my tank for about 3 months but my water is just never staying crystal clear. Is it ok if I switch over to a hang on filter or can I not because it may disrupt my beneficial bacteria?

Leave the sponge filter running and just add an HoB and keep them both running. What size tank? Pics? Good to have both running that way if you need to set up another tank you can drop the sponge filter into the new tank and you will basically have an instant cycled tank.

 

Croeso welcome to fishlore
Add the hang on the back while keeping the sponge filter going and leave them run together for s month to get it seeded o

 

I'm in the middle of changing my sponge filters for hobs on my shrimp tanks so I can get full cycle

 

I have been using a sponge filter in my tank for about 3 months but my water is just never staying crystal clear. Is it ok if I switch over to a hang on filter or can I not because it may disrupt my beneficial bacteria?

Hello Sam...

Sponge filters are the best for attracting and holding the tiny particles that can make the water hazy. I would add a second sponge filter and install it on the opposite side of the tank. Even with the added cost of a small air pump to run the sponge, it's still cheaper than an HOB. HOBs don't aerate the tank water as well as a sponge filter, because the water fall effect won't agitate the water as well as a sponge filter that pushes the water bubbles to the surface and the waterfall can really beat up a small fish that swims into or near it. The added benefit of the sponge is, you never need to buy and replace filter media.

Pretty simple,

Old

 

Leave the sponge filter running and just add an HoB and keep them both running. What size tank? Pics? Good to have both running that way if you need to set up another tank you can drop the sponge filter into the new tank and you will basically have an instant cycled tank.

It is a 10 gallon cube with a betta

 

It is a 10 gallon cube with a betta

You could add an AquaClear 20 and bump it down to the lowest flow setting to be sure your betta doesn't get thrown around from the flow and you can also baffle the return side with a plastic bottle to lessen the flow as well as a prefilter sponge. Good luck!!

 

Another alternative is to put a power head onto the sponge

 

Personally, I'd go with an internal filter like Dennerle's corner filter or Fluval's nano underwater filter, instead of a HOB that you may or may not have to adjust for the fish. I say buy the correct filter that's already suitable to the fish's needs.

 

It looks like "why not both?" has been covered.
I'm a fan of over filtration and just loving more filters.

 

Two filters for a single betta in a 10 gallon would be redundant.

 

Two filters for a single betta in a 10 gallon would be redundant.

Overkill is its own reward.