What’s a aquarium sponge filter and what is it used for?A sponge filter is simple, but one of the most effective ways to provide filtration for aquarium water. It’s also a form of filtration, which is often overlooked by many aquarium keepers. This is due to the fact they are so simple and appear unnecessary. This article is based on successful use of these filters for over 30 years now.A sponge filter is a porous type of material, which draws water towards and through the sponge. As water passes through the sponge, larger debris is blocked from entering the sponge and only small particles will be let through. This is also the part of the debris, which contains good bacteria and is used within the aquarium to get and keep the water cycled. Because of the nature of how the porous material is designed, these sponge filters can hold a very large amount of this good bacteria.This good bacteria is known as aerobic bacteria, which lives in the pores material and feeds on nitogenous ammonia and nitrites waste suspended in the water.

ATI Sponge Filter videos at the end of this article.Water is pulled through the filter media one of two ways. If using an air pump on a sponge filter, the water is drawn into the filter by lift, which is caused by air bubbles floating up from the pump. These bubbles lift the water up and out of the lift tube attached to the filter. This is cause for a nice easy circulation around the filter.The sponge filter can also be used as a pre-filter on some type of a motorized filter like a hang-on-the-back. With this method of using the sponge, water is still drawn into the sponge via the HOB filter. The big difference between the two is flow rate and how the water tension around the filter is affected. The sponge being used as a pre-filter, will have more flow than a sponge ran by a air pump. Some filters need these sponge pre-filter to operate properly, so a sponge is a great option. Also, because the flow is greater, a different design of a sponge is needed. A sponge with larger pores is recommend.

Look for sponge filter advertised as a pre-filter.Sponge filter design has a big impact on flow and versatility, such as the modular design first patented by Lustar then sold to ATI and now used for the AAP/ATI Hydro Sponge. what's the best tropical fish tank filterAs well and even more important is the sponge material itself. betta fish tank amazonLong time aquarium professional Carl Strohmeyer performed tests years back and found a profound difference in the capacity of most sponge materials. fish tank vacuum pythonEven more recent tests involving how many times a sponge has to be rinsed before it runs clear have confirm this. aqua one aquarium sump

By far the clear winner is the AAP Hydro Sponge Filter, which means this filter can accumulate much more debris in mechanical filtration and has a much higher bio load than ANY OTHER Sponge filter on the market, well worth the couple more dollars these still American Made filters will cost over the imports [mostly from China].aqua one aquarium philippinesEach AAP Hydro Sponge and Filter Max sponge filter come in a variety of sizes, based on size of the tank. aquarium air pump capacityMake sure to find the size sponge needed for aquarium size and design. Having a larger sponge than what is recommended never hurts also.A air pump method of using a sponge filter would be best for:A power head method of using a sponge filter would be best for:Know the recommend flow rate for the type of aquarium being kept.

This will determine if a little flow from an air pump is needed or more flow from something like a power head or other filter is required.A pre-filter method of using a sponge filter would be best for:Please note, there are aquarium sponge filters on the market, which have patented designs. This is due to a ability of being able to collect and hold good micro bacteria better. As well the better patented sponge filters sponge and flow design allows for better water movement within the sponge filter and a higher capacity of mechanical debris filtration. This where differences will be seen in price and design.The best of the best are the patented AAP Hydro Sponge Filters, sold via authorized sellers such as American Aquarium Products.Our Recommended Product Resources: #Hydro Sponge Aquarium Filters from AAP #Filter Max Sponge Aquarium Pre-Filters from AAP #Hydro Pond/Sump Filters from AAPWhat are the pros and cons?Seeding Aquarium- Another major advantage.Another major advantage of a sponge filter, which deserves it’s own section, is the ability to use a sponge from an established to cycle a new aquariums.

A used sponge can be placed in a higher flow area of a new tank to speed up the process of cycling a new tank. With this method and the use of cycle aids, a new tank can be fully cycled in a matter of days.A new sponge can also be place right next to another sponge filter or in the substrate of the aquarium, which will seed it very quickly. This is excellent option if another sponge is needed quickly, for something like hospital tank.Make sure to have regular maintenance of sponge filters. Because of this large bio-load they can hold, they can become Nitrate factories. During weekly maintenance of the aquarium, rinse the sponge in de-chlorine water and squeeze it out. It’s best to have more than one filter in the aquarium, so you can rinse one, one week and the other the next. Cleaning any filters, this should be in mind. Only clean one filter at a time. After a few months of use from the sponge, replace it with a new one.As far as filters go, the sponge filter should be in every aquariums keepers tank.