A number of people have asked where you can purchase sponge filters. Here is an affiliate link: bit.ly/2CH8Uiz Want to learn more about filtration? Check out these awesome videos! Everything You Need to Know About Sponge Filters: ua-cam.com/video/yQSI-3rUsIs/v-deo.html Matten FIlter vs Sponge FIlter: ua-cam.com/video/u3LI1O6pod8/v-deo.html UGF vs Sponge Filter: ua-cam.com/video/M2z_AVRxPm4/v-deo.html HOB vs Canister Filter: ua-cam.com/video/j36LGWY3j9A/v-deo.html If you want to see more behind the scenes stuff, exclusive videos and support the channel consider becoming a member! ua-cam.com/channels/YVN7EN0ALL6CE4U7NpMUTA.htmljoin Also, our new shirts can be found at: www.primetimeaquatics.com/merch For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics
I’m planning on getting a 10 gallon tank just for a few fish, nothing more. What hang on the back filter would you recommend? I’m overwhelmed by all the brands, etc.
Hi Prime time Aquatics, i have a 3 gallons tank with just 1 betta and medium size of java fern plant. im currently using sponge filter. i used to clean it once a week like removing 40% of the water. i hate to see some waste at the bottom of the tank. do you recommend to hAve HOB in this case? im not really sure how is the minimum water flow that can be adjusted on HOB. please advise
My husband bought me a goldfish 5 years ago, we now have 17 tanks and breeding fish is now my hobby. I use sponge filters in all of my tanks with the exception of a few show tanks we have in our dining room and living room in which case I use both. It’s easy to “hide” sponge filters in planted tanks and the benefits they offer are priceless.
I have recently learned of sponge filters and now run a small sponge filter along with my hang-on filter. I have a 75 gallon African Cichlid tank and seemed to always have an ammonia issue. Was never terrible, but higher than I wanted. I also used to have a slightly cloudy bacteria bloom. Since I have ran both filters, both issues have been eliminated. The sponge filter has definitely added an additional benefit for the tank. Thanks for the video.
Hi, Thanks for this video. I'm getting back into tanks, AND researching all the different types of filtration etc. I am a retired zoo keeper, AND really enjoy breeding animals. To prevent fry from being sucked up, I guess the sponge would be best, then use HOB on larger tanks, or combine. You explained this so great....! Cause it gets confusing. I'm 69 yrs young LOL, but technology is going very fast....even in the aquarium world. Keep up the GREAT videos, IM a new subscriber....All the Best....Ron Shook
I just got my first sponge filter and am so happy. The water is much clearer and fish seem to like it with the amount of air bubbles. The problem with hang on the back filters is the amount of maintenance and expense. Right now I only have two tanks, a 15 and a 37. My fifty gallon is not at the time set up but will soon and will get a sponge filter for it. I think the look of the sponge is not pleasing but can be dressed up with plants, real, and some nicely placed rocks and or wood. I really appreciate your helpful video.
Okay, I thought I had enough channels to follow. Silly me. Great video! No bias, just the facts. New subscriber. Like just now. Thank you, because I am on disability, I have to rub the face off of every penny I spend. Y'all helped me make the right decision for my Bettas I will be getting. Bless you!
Great video. As somebody who’s used Marineland Emperor filters for about 20 years, I’ve been slowly switching to sponges on my smaller tanks and as second filters to my larger tanks. I will say, the Tetra whisper air pumps are the QUIETEST, they don’t run off your stand, and would highly recommend those for sponge filters.
I just put a $2 sponge on the intake of my aquaclear. It keeps the crap from going up into the filter and clogging it, plus it helps filter out a lot of the gross stuff so the media in my hob doesnt get clogged up and i dont have to clean it out as often.
Thanks for sharing this information. I've been using both types of filtration together for years and it has worked out great. I use AquaClear HOTB filters as I like being able to swap out any media I choose to use in these filters. Sponge filters are great too, I use them in all of my tanks. One added benefit of a sponge filter is if you have a power outage you can simply hook them up to a battery operated air pump. This will have many benefits, it helps keep beneficial bacteria going along with adding air to your tank plus the bubbles will create some surface agitation so your tank remains nicely oxygenated. Sponge filters are cheap and very beneficial !
That's a great point I forgot to mention - there are battery-powered pumps and if someone is using a larger pump for multiple tanks it would be possible to hook that up to a generator if the power goes out!
Your videos are fantastic. I really appreciate the preparation and editing - great cadence and smooth, logical progression. A real pleasure to listen to. I run H.O.B. on my carnivore tank for (as you mentioned) better mechanical filtration. Otherwise, sponge, every time.
Wow! What an excellent and precise explanation between the pros and cons of both sponge filters vs power filters. Very informative and the presentation was easy to understand. Thank you!
IMO, HOBs are the better choice. Not only do they look better and do not take a lot of space inside the tank but they are also very customisable and provide a good flow in the tank. And as you mentioned, there really is no comparison when it comes to chemical and mechanical filteration. HOB for the win!!!
Thanks!! You just helped me a lot!! with the better perfection of water clarity with hang on back filters. Basically I almost went fully sponges and thereby determined to ditch my hob filter! But water beauty is really at top of my list with aquatic design. Thanks you saved me trips and having to find out myself. Kudos ! keep it up.
I've used AquaClear HOB for more than 10yrs, absolutely prefer them the best, I often times run with undersized or no carbon depending on my tank and add more sponger or biological matter to the filter. I also keep live plants in my tanks to help keep the tank going well. I definitely see the upside in the sponge filter though now. I would only use it in the case where I would be running multiples of tanks and HOB would be a huge investment.
I attached a sponge filter to the intake of my AquaClear, and eliminated the sponge from inside. My nitrates are well in check, and now I have room in it for other media of my choice. Plus, with the piece of trimmed flat floss I placed into it, my water has never been more clear.
I needed this tonight. As I look to add a tank or two I now know that I want to stick to the hang on the back filters. Had thought about sponge for the cost, but I like crystal clear water. Thank you Jason and a great job as usual. Not many explain things in the same detail that you do.
Sponge filter fish trap solution... buy long pieces of lift tube and cut to match water water level of tank. Nosey small plecos, loaches, etc., won't be swimming down the the tube. PLUS, the longer the bubbles confined in the tube, the more pull of water up and hence through sponge. If you're old enough, think about the under gravel filters that used to be standard. You did not see the lift tubes be only 1/3rd up the water column. Finally, use a small piece of airline tube on the bottom of the airline attachment piece, to hang a noclog airstone inside the sponge. More bubbles rushing up the tube, pulling more water through the sponge and more water circulation. Just a few hacks I use on my sponge filters and I combo sponge/hob filter my tanks. Except a 10g with a single male beta which gets a sponge only and some Pothos cuttings using nitrates up. Speaking of plants, I vacuum gravel into a 5g bucket, rinse out sponges (and rinse HOB filter pads), then fill milk jugs and save for house plants. Summer... tank water goes to container plants outside, roses and/or veggies. Plants will love you for it AND no other fertilizer required. Organic, recycled, goodness. I know of a guy who took a cannabis from seed to harvest outside in a 3 gal container on nothing but aquarium water and it was rather astounding.
I have never clogs in all my sponge filters - like the way it breaks up some of the bubbles. I know a few people who use lift tubes and then use an elbow at the top. Just haven't felt like doing that yet. : -) Thanks for sharing!
I use an elbow on my lift tubes to direct the current of water towards some taller plants. One large sponge filter (modified) and a aqua clear 110 on a 75gallon... I love it
You could effect greater flow by using a powerhead instead, which would cause greater surface agitation--the one thing that increases oxygenation. That's all the bubbles from air stones do, and the discharge from hang-on-back and canister filters do it too. Also: Try attaching the sponge to the hang-on-back or canister filter's inlet like I did. It prevents fish from being suctioned into the filter's intake, and increases the the amount of bio-filtration, which really bring down nitrates in the tank.
if you make it so its near water level, when you have evaporation going on, that up lift pipe is going to be out of the water. the whole point of that sponge filter besides cleaning the water. is also to oxygenate the water also.
I use a simple rule in my home, display tank(s) get hidden HOB or cannisters. All other , sponge filters which are great for production and breeding. Excellent video, thanks
HOB filters work great. I recommend changing out the cartridges and insert your own media, filter floss etc. Also a sponge on the intake hot-rods the filter extending the time between maintenance
I certaintly prefer hob because it is so customizable and the returning of the water is so peaceful in my opinion. I also like on a hob you can keep some pothos in the filtering compartment, that does wonders for the tank and look really cool.
Good video! It is noteworthy in my experiments with sponge filters over the last few decades that not all sponge material is the same. Many of the Chinese models hold only about ¼ to 1/3 the organics of the better sponge material such as the AAP Hydro Sponge Filters. Also as per mechanical filtration the AAP Hydro Sponge Combo filter utilize both the fine and coarse sponge filter media and provide better over all mechanical filtration and bio filtration without clogging. These sponge combos with the PRO and standard media will easily go head to head with most HOB filters. Even the PRO Hydro Sponge Filter by itself will do better when there is more larger organics in the water column with large fish such as Oscars (although these are not as good by themselves with small particulates)
Have you tried using a sponge attached to the hang-on-back's intake? It's the best of both. Not only does it keep the nitrates down, but allows eliminating any sponge used inside of the hang-on-back, making room for more of whatever media you choose!
Also I use the Marineland brand with the bio-wheel. They work great. The filters that go into the back of the filters have charcoal in them. After that wears out I remove the blue filter material and replace it with no woven filter pad by sizing and gluing it on with hot glue. To clean it all one has to do is to spray a high pressure source of water and it will clear the pores in it. It really keeps the water clear. I use a variety of sizes of filter pads to replace the blue on the original, from 50 to 300 microns.
I use a hang on back filter smaller than you’re example,and I found it was inadequate so I moved a double heeded sponge filter into my 11l nano tank and the water quality is a lot better
Use sponge filter and use nylon over tube so no fish can go into tube. Same with over intakes of filters. Not only does it cover the larger holes fish can enter in; it also holds algae and beneficial bacteria as well
Nice presentation. I use a canister filter on my 75g Cichlid tank, hob filters on my 55g Angelfish tank and on my 29g quarantine tank. I use sponge filters on my breeding tanks. All are very useful. I like that you didn't beat up or put down either of the options as they are all practical depending on your setups.
This video and the previous one comparing canisters were so helpful! I am upgrading to a 65 gal and was concerned that I may need to change my filtration habit (I've used only HOBs and really like them), but I see that I don't really have to go to canister. I think I will stick to what I'm most comfortable with for now, the HOBs. I'd rather feel confident in what I am doing with a new tank, then anxious and unsure. Thanks again!
Very cool video.i agree to use Spong filters if you have lots of tanks. But for me in my small fishroom.only Aquaclear 70, or 110. You allso get mutch more water movement compared to a Spong.the Aquaclears come w a Spong inside plus bio media & carbon.or whatever your heart desires.
Love your videos! Simple, to the point and very informative. I can't wait to get another tank lol. I'm trying out aquaponics for the first time.. I'm a gardener/plant collector in florida and I love the beautiful life that you can create underwater. So peaceful and shows you how much beauty is really out there
Good segment. Currently have 5 tanks from 65 gallons to 150 and am a canister fan. Looking to add 10 more up to 20 gallons each and will probably use sponge thanks to your segment.
I have a 125 gal and I use 2 double stacked Hydro-Sponge IV Pro filters but instead of air I use 2 Aqua Clear 402 Powerheads the sponges are stacked beside each other with the power head outlet pointing at the respective front corner. This method does present the problem of hiding the filters but I use a lot of driftwood and plants, and a java fern as attached itself to one of the powerheads hiding it completely. It is the best of both worlds, sponge and back filter.
Just ordered my first sponge filter to complement my Cascade 1000 canister in my 75 gallon. I love the option of chemical filtration when wanted or needed
I use sponges, HOBs, and a canister. The main thing with HOBs, in my opinion, is to avoid the cartridge based ones. I swapped out my marinelands for aquaclears for that reason.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Brand new sub, and I was just given the "go ahead" for my upcoming birthday to get another, larger tank (50 gal or so). This was very informative. I am using HOB filters in my existing two 10s and one 20 and love them. I was basically unaware of sponge filters so when I ran across this video I immediately watched it. I don't plan to do any breeding, so will stick with the HOBs for the reasons you stated - mainly look better, and keep the water crystal clear. I'm using Fluval and have no problems keeping them maintained. I will be following this channel for sure. The more information I gather, the better. Again, thank you!
Prime Time Aquatics I'm sure I will, still debating what fish to buy. My eyes go to the expensive and needs more care but when I decide I will share pic.
I have my aquaclear hob's filled with bio-sponge material (and often a coarse sponge pre-filter on the intake tube, making them HOB sponge filters. :-)
This keeps fry from getting sucked into the filter, but also reduces the need to clean the filter quite so often. Doesn’t eliminate it. Just clean the sponge every water change.
Gosh I love all your videos so informative. Thank you for teaching us that are new to fish keeping and to some novelists always can learn something new.
I love sponge filters, especially for people who are just getting started because they are dead nuts simple. There isn’t many things you can say “get this, put it in your tank and your fish will do better” and sponge filters are one of them. I keep one running in my sump at all times in case I need to quickly set up a tank for whatever reason, their utility as an instant cycle filter is awesome. My experience with hang on back filters is not the same. They rattle, gurgle, slurp, splash, they have expensive cartridges that always seem to get clogged up whenever you don’t have spares, necessitating a trip to the fish store to buy another, breaking them down and cleaning them is a chore. I would rather having that sponge filter working in a corner with a few bits of val in front of it than a hang on back. You take it out, you squeeze it in some tank water, you put it back. Simple and easy.
ALT KNIGHT people bitching about the prices in Australia is a common sight these days. Is there something wrong with your country like bad policy that promotes higher prices or just retards selling for higher than MSRP because they can? I mean they are made in China and you're closer so it has to be some kind of import policy affecting prices or something like that.
Do you use them together? (i.e.: The sponge attached to the intake of the hang-on-back) I do, and between the two--plus room for more media of my choice--the water has never been better.😊
Great video. I personally use hob filters and canisters, but I resently got a breeding pair of angel fish and was looking for another type of filtration. Sponge filters was the answer. They are good for the fry and allow a tube for the angels to lay there eggs on.
I remember back in the 80s under gravel filters were really popular. They are great as long as the fish aren't digging. Unfortunately for me I keep a lot of cichlids, which makes them less viable. They do create a TON of surface area in tanks where no digging occurs!
Hello. Very interesting. Thank you for putting the text up on the screen suggesting squeezing the sponge 'over a bucket', If you hadn't I would have squeezed it over my head whilst dancing the Fandango! 😁 lol. I don't know why 'hang on back' filters arn't used here in the U.K, I've never seen any but if I had to use only one I would use them over a sponge as I do my external pumps because they get rid of solid waste & save space in the Aquarium.
I use both. Living in Florida where hurricanes can cause extended power outages, I have a backup battery powered pump to connect to my sponge filter if need be. An airstone placed inside the sponge filter will quiet down the bubbling action.
Great video. Personally, I like HOB filters best (Aqua clear). I also have a question, what camera did you use to record this video with? The quality is fantastic!
Hey! I use an AquaClear too, and here's something I did to improve on it AND allow room in it for improvement: Using a piece of clear polyvinyl non-braided hose, I attached a sponge filter to the intake of my hang-on-back. Hardest part was inserting the hose into the lift-tube on the sponge, but even that was easy. Now my nitrates are always in check, and I was able to eliminate the sponge from inside of the hang-on-back, allowing more room for whatever media I choose!😊
I use both hang on backs and sponge filters and love them both. I have taken the lift tubes off of my sponge filters to avoid nosy plecos getting stuck and I haven't noticed any difference in the performance of the filter honestly. I also have pre filter sponges on my hobs. It may not be a popular opinion but I'm honestly a big fan of the Aqueon Quietflow HOB. Super quiet and really affordable. I have two of them and both work excellent.
Thanks so much for this information. Very informative. I think sponge filters were so new to many of us we were hesitant to use. As it relates to cosmetics, I think an HOB is great however for utility purposes for breeding, I definitely think sponge is ideal.
Try the two together: a full-size sponge filter attached to the intake of hang-on-back. Eliminate whatever sponge was designed for the hang-on-back, insert a piece of floss in it's place and add whatever media you choose to hang-on-back. Your water will never be better.😉
Thank You, we are designing a fish room right now and the debate was over: Canister filters (our bigger tanks will stay with them), HOB filters, and as a last thought I saw this video and I was like well what about sponge filters? Well in short you came up with the answer. Use a large compressor, build PVC lines and drop lines from each one in to a tank. I remember as a kid (not about to say what decade lol) we had these clear box filters that had carbon, a tank floss, and not sure what else and they did the job well. This is back when a water change was "Oh the tank is getting low I should ad water" days. I think what I may do look at some DIY videos figure out what I should use for a great filtration design a clear plexi box and build it all based on that. I will need to do 30 of them so getting it right the first time is the most important part. lol Thank You again for the video and I subscribed and I will get to my happy hunting so I can start designing now.
I think what the subject really is about is how anyone can run a multi-dollar business of selling multi-numbered fishes with the least amount of cost to your business expenses by running the bare amount of equipment to get by without losing a lot of fish before they go to market...IE it doesn't make sense to spend millions of dollars providing for a product when the product is only worth the fraction of the expense...Sooooo in a business setting yes sponge filters with a central air pump would be the best way to go expense-wise and pray the fish sells quickly but at home in an aquarium made for the fish to live in multiple filters would be the bomb diggity for that fish or fishes for several years to come. great vid Prime Time Aquatics and big thumbs up for the comparisons, for all you other people start out with what ye can afford and raise the bar more as time goes on, more is better but we are all not millionaires but would like to be, LOL. Fish More and Have More Tanks...Tanks Prime Time Aquatics.
Love your videos. I’ve wanted a fish tank for sometime, and your videos give me confidence that I can manage one. I’d love to have live plants in a nice little 20-29 gallon community tank.
For aquascape/planted tanks HOB for aesthetics. I don't see where a sponge has an advantage in regards to maintenance. Pulling a sponge from a tank can cause a cloud of detritus in the water. Using Aquarium co-ops method of putting the sponge in a fish bag before removal is more work and cumbersome. Otherwise agree with your other points.
I generally don't have too many issues with clouding up the tank just pulling the sponges out and right into a bucket (plus the water clears up within a couple hours). HOBs can be easy to maintain as well. : -)
someone recommended putting a plastic baggy inside the tank and enclosing the sponge before taking the whole thing out, sounded like a great idea even for pre filters
I was using an internal filter and a hob. I found they clogged up easier and faster even with the pre-filter sponge on intake for the hob. The flow rate gets altered once those filters are clogged. I replaced them all with sponge filters. I have not had any issues with the mechanical aspect of sponge filters. Most of the debris come in the form of either fish or snail poop and dead leaves from plants. Perfect food source for my shrimps. And the flow rate doesn't alter as much. My tank still stays relatively clean and clear compared to the internal and hob filters which have a hard time keeping the tank clear from debris due to them clogging up more quickly.
I 1st found a small sponge filter at the local fish shop and I was running an airstone anyways that I kept having to replace..Generally things like that seem overpriced in a fish store but it seemed fair and sounded like it worked well in the description so I figured why not,air stones are cheap but everything adds up.I could tell when I rinsed them in the water during tank changes they really did a lot besides adding air to the tank.The Tetra pump I got in some kit at some point got loud and weak so I ended up getting a pump off Amazon that could drive two of them.They are black so you barely see them with a dark background , even if they were grey I wouldn't mind because they work so well.Even after water changes my water is crystal clear in a very short time :)
I use sponge filters for all but one of my tanks (my nano reef) and ive used HOB’s from many different brands like tetra, aqueon, aqua clear, and marine land. But ive never had one last more than 5 years, so i tried sponge filters, and i love them! Ive been able to moddify them to some extent. So thats a big plus, and i have 2 large airpumps that have been with my dad for almost 10 years, and they haven’t failed on me yet. Compared to 1/2 of that by HOBs. Love the video!
I believe each have theyre purposes, I use a sponge in my 20g breeding tank to keep water movement lower allowing better conditions for egg fertilization and fry to handle better. i use two hang on the backs in my 80g community tank. and for the 10$ it costs (where I live at least) i buy the intake sponges for both because more places for good bacteria sounds good to me and it really saves on having to clean the inside of the hang on back
I'm actually running a bit of tubing into a hydroponic pump which connection to one of those air sponge filters and it does an absolute amazing job better than those hanging filters and even more better than one of those jet filters
🤔 All filters have their place it’s a matter of the aquarist/person using the appropriate filter for the given set up. I seen people use a couple of sponge filters on a over stocked African Cichlid 🐟or Central American 🐟tank and I have seen large hang on the back filters used on ten to 29 gallons in both cases those filters where not appropriate. New technology is great for the hobby but old school technology like sponges, box filters and under gravel filters are far from obsolete. I like to use a under gravel filter attached to a hand on the back filter to raise fry in a 29 gallon. I like to have coarse sponge filters attached to the intakes of most every hang on the back or canister filter I operate and I like to have at least one air driven sponge filter in each tank. Redundancy and consistency is key to being successful and having longevity in ones aquariums. A great 👍🏽 video per-usual.
I can't speak for sponge filters, but I can hang ons. I've used aquaclear, fluval c series, and the Seachem tidal. Aquaclear has a lot of in filter area for media, but a little loud in my experience. The fluval c series are basically a hang on wet dry filter due to the trickle plate. A nice design. The tidal filters have almost the same area as the aquaclear filters, but incorporate an internal pump (manufactured by Sicce) so you don't have to worry about power outages. Has a built-in surface skimmer as an added bonus.
I have a 75 gallon planted rainbow/angel tank. I was so worried when I got into the hobby that I wasn't going to have enough filtration. Started with a canister filter, then got an aquaclear 70 HOB, and then I got two sponge filters. Oh and every intake has a sponge on it. At first I was thinking that it was all way too much but it has allowed me to put tons of chemical/mechanical filtration in the canister filter and load up the HOB with bio filtration. It's total overkill but it cracks me up watching it all. Side note: I have a few different Aqueon quietflow HOB filters and they always start after a power outage. Obviously they don't have the media bin like an Aquaclear but you can still hot rod them really well.
honest and true great video! there is no doubt that a sponge filter will have better bio but h.ob. are great but i have ran whole systems on just sponge filters!
I like my hang on filter but they can be a hassle to clean, I've never been able to get in the pipe bends for example. I'm trying a sponge filter as they're highly recommended, and am considering placing a small aquaponic pot inside the HOB.
After being in the aquaculture/aquarium industry for 40+ years I agree with your assessment with one exception, your typical hob filter cannot, by design hold near the biological capacity of a sponge filter, especially if the hobbyist overloads the aquarium, whichthey usually do, and battery backup air pumps are an inexpensive alternative if needed.
Great video, I think it’s personal preference, example I prefer the aqua top 500uv canister because it comes with a 9 watt uv bulb in it and it kills about 90% of parasites n bacteria (their figures) but since I started using them I rarely have an ick outbreak, I also am a new convert to aqueon hang on back filters previous I used marineland the aqueon starts every single time my fish store guy, uses them on his koi tank n his oscar show tank
A number of people have asked where you can purchase sponge filters. Here is an affiliate link: bit.ly/2CH8Uiz
Want to learn more about filtration? Check out these awesome videos!
Everything You Need to Know About Sponge Filters: ua-cam.com/video/yQSI-3rUsIs/v-deo.html
Matten FIlter vs Sponge FIlter: ua-cam.com/video/u3LI1O6pod8/v-deo.html
UGF vs Sponge Filter: ua-cam.com/video/M2z_AVRxPm4/v-deo.html
HOB vs Canister Filter: ua-cam.com/video/j36LGWY3j9A/v-deo.html
If you want to see more behind the scenes stuff, exclusive videos and support the channel consider becoming a member! ua-cam.com/channels/YVN7EN0ALL6CE4U7NpMUTA.htmljoin
Also, our new shirts can be found at: www.primetimeaquatics.com/merch
For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics
I’m planning on getting a 10 gallon tank just for a few fish, nothing more. What hang on the back filter would you recommend? I’m overwhelmed by all the brands, etc.
Hi Prime time Aquatics, i have a 3 gallons tank with just 1 betta and medium size of java fern plant. im currently using sponge filter. i used
to clean it once a week like removing 40% of the water.
i hate to see some waste at the bottom of the tank. do you recommend to hAve HOB in this case? im not really sure how is the minimum water flow that can be adjusted on HOB.
please advise
My husband bought me a goldfish 5 years ago, we now have 17 tanks and breeding fish is now my hobby. I use sponge filters in all of my tanks with the exception of a few show tanks we have in our dining room and living room in which case I use both. It’s easy to “hide” sponge filters in planted tanks and the benefits they offer are priceless.
I have been wondering if sponge would work in my 55 gal ...just 2 small to med goldfish, does the sponge control nitrate well?
Sponge filters are probably the greatest and most unnoticed work horses ever!
use them both together , and you will have a lovely clean tank
Nice : -)
That’s how I have mine set up I love it.
Royal Coopah if add one to mine if the turtle leaves it alone
FACTS
So, you can use back and sponge in a 10 gal. .?
I use sponge filters in all my tanks except the really big ones. Great job explaining the differences and pro's & con's!
Thank You!
I use both: I like the flexibility with media that the Aquaclears give me, but, if I had a large fish room, I'd go with sponges and an air pump, too.
Very cool!
Nice video. I use both also.
Both is the way to go it’s a win win imo
On my big tank I use a canister, hob, and sponge filter. All 10 of my tanks use sponge filters
Do sponge filters keep water clean? How is that with only air?
I have recently learned of sponge filters and now run a small sponge filter along with my hang-on filter. I have a 75 gallon African Cichlid tank and seemed to always have an ammonia issue. Was never terrible, but higher than I wanted. I also used to have a slightly cloudy bacteria bloom. Since I have ran both filters, both issues have been eliminated. The sponge filter has definitely added an additional benefit for the tank. Thanks for the video.
Good to hear!
Thank you so much sir thanos of tankworld, i felt like i studied biology when i watch ur vids. Cool stuff everything
I am using both in my 20 gallon freshwater tank. Mainly because I wanted a great way to start my next tank in the future.
Hi, Thanks for this video. I'm getting back into tanks, AND researching all the different types of filtration etc. I am a retired zoo keeper, AND really enjoy breeding animals. To prevent fry from being sucked up, I guess the sponge would be best, then use HOB on larger tanks, or combine. You explained this so great....! Cause it gets confusing. I'm 69 yrs young LOL, but technology is going very fast....even in the aquarium world. Keep up the GREAT videos, IM a new subscriber....All the Best....Ron Shook
I just got my first sponge filter and am so happy. The water is much clearer and fish seem to like it with the amount of air bubbles. The problem with hang on the back filters is the amount of maintenance and expense. Right now I only have two tanks, a 15 and a 37. My fifty gallon is not at the time set up but will soon and will get a sponge filter for it. I think the look of the sponge is not pleasing but can be dressed up with plants, real, and some nicely placed rocks and or wood. I really appreciate your helpful video.
Appreciate you watching!
Okay, I thought I had enough channels to follow. Silly me. Great video! No bias, just the facts. New subscriber. Like just now. Thank you, because I am on disability, I have to rub the face off of every penny I spend. Y'all helped me make the right decision for my Bettas I will be getting. Bless you!
So glad you are here. Welcome! I hope your betta tank turns out awesome. : -)
Great video. As somebody who’s used Marineland Emperor filters for about 20 years, I’ve been slowly switching to sponges on my smaller tanks and as second filters to my larger tanks. I will say, the Tetra whisper air pumps are the QUIETEST, they don’t run off your stand, and would highly recommend those for sponge filters.
I just put a $2 sponge on the intake of my aquaclear. It keeps the crap from going up into the filter and clogging it, plus it helps filter out a lot of the gross stuff so the media in my hob doesnt get clogged up and i dont have to clean it out as often.
Also, the sponge filter will be full of beneficial bacteria. You have just doubled the ability of your filter
Great idea! I''ll give that a shot.
Are u still using this set up
Great idea, I might need to try this out.
Awesome idea!! Thanks so much for sharing, I'm definitely going to try that!!
Very impressed with the clarity with which you convey your knowledge.Much appreciated and warm greetings from New Zealand.
Thank you so much for watching!
I use them both in the same tank, they work well together, and I do put sponge around the intake of the hang on back filter.
Same. When I can...
Thanks for sharing this information. I've been using both types of filtration together for years and it has worked out great. I use AquaClear HOTB filters as I like being able to swap out any media I choose to use in these filters. Sponge filters are great too, I use them in all of my tanks. One added benefit of a sponge filter is if you have a power outage you can simply hook them up to a battery operated air pump. This will have many benefits, it helps keep beneficial bacteria going along with adding air to your tank plus the bubbles will create some surface agitation so your tank remains nicely oxygenated. Sponge filters are cheap and very beneficial !
That's a great point I forgot to mention - there are battery-powered pumps and if someone is using a larger pump for multiple tanks it would be possible to hook that up to a generator if the power goes out!
Your videos are fantastic. I really appreciate the preparation and editing - great cadence and smooth, logical progression. A real pleasure to listen to.
I run H.O.B. on my carnivore tank for (as you mentioned) better mechanical filtration. Otherwise, sponge, every time.
Thank you! Appreciate you watching.
Wow! What an excellent and precise explanation between the pros and cons of both sponge filters vs power filters. Very informative and the presentation was easy to understand. Thank you!
Thank you! Appreciate you watching!
IMO, HOBs are the better choice. Not only do they look better and do not take a lot of space inside the tank but they are also very customisable and provide a good flow in the tank. And as you mentioned, there really is no comparison when it comes to chemical and mechanical filteration. HOB for the win!!!
Thanks!! You just helped me a lot!! with the better perfection of water clarity with hang on back filters. Basically I almost went fully sponges and thereby determined to ditch my hob filter! But water beauty is really at top of my list with aquatic design. Thanks you saved me trips and having to find out myself. Kudos ! keep it up.
I've used AquaClear HOB for more than 10yrs, absolutely prefer them the best, I often times run with undersized or no carbon depending on my tank and add more sponger or biological matter to the filter. I also keep live plants in my tanks to help keep the tank going well. I definitely see the upside in the sponge filter though now. I would only use it in the case where I would be running multiples of tanks and HOB would be a huge investment.
Sounds like you have a nice set-up!
Prime Time Aquatics I'm down to only one tank currently, did a lot of moving in the last 5yrs. I've had up to 6 going at a time before.
Thanks!
I attached a sponge filter to the intake of my AquaClear, and eliminated the sponge from inside. My nitrates are well in check, and now I have room in it for other media of my choice. Plus, with the piece of trimmed flat floss I placed into it, my water has never been more clear.
I needed this tonight. As I look to add a tank or two I now know that I want to stick to the hang on the back filters. Had thought about sponge for the cost, but I like crystal clear water. Thank you Jason and a great job as usual. Not many explain things in the same detail that you do.
HOB are easier and don’t take up space in the tank. If I had a small number of tanks I probably wouldn’t have sponge filters.
Sponge filter fish trap solution... buy long pieces of lift tube and cut to match water water level of tank. Nosey small plecos, loaches, etc., won't be swimming down the the tube. PLUS, the longer the bubbles confined in the tube, the more pull of water up and hence through sponge. If you're old enough, think about the under gravel filters that used to be standard. You did not see the lift tubes be only 1/3rd up the water column. Finally, use a small piece of airline tube on the bottom of the airline attachment piece, to hang a noclog airstone inside the sponge. More bubbles rushing up the tube, pulling more water through the sponge and more water circulation.
Just a few hacks I use on my sponge filters and I combo sponge/hob filter my tanks. Except a 10g with a single male beta which gets a sponge only and some Pothos cuttings using nitrates up.
Speaking of plants, I vacuum gravel into a 5g bucket, rinse out sponges (and rinse HOB filter pads), then fill milk jugs and save for house plants. Summer... tank water goes to container plants outside, roses and/or veggies. Plants will love you for it AND no other fertilizer required. Organic, recycled, goodness. I know of a guy who took a cannabis from seed to harvest outside in a 3 gal container on nothing but aquarium water and it was rather astounding.
I have never clogs in all my sponge filters - like the way it breaks up some of the bubbles. I know a few people who use lift tubes and then use an elbow at the top. Just haven't felt like doing that yet. : -) Thanks for sharing!
I use an elbow on my lift tubes to direct the current of water towards some taller plants.
One large sponge filter (modified) and a aqua clear 110 on a 75gallon... I love it
8ftbed You just remove the clear tube. I do that to all mine and never have had issues with the millions of bn pleco fry or and other fish.
You could effect greater flow by using a powerhead instead, which would cause greater surface agitation--the one thing that increases oxygenation. That's all the bubbles from air stones do, and the discharge from hang-on-back and canister filters do it too.
Also: Try attaching the sponge to the hang-on-back or canister filter's inlet like I did. It prevents fish from being suctioned into the filter's intake, and increases the the amount of bio-filtration, which really bring down nitrates in the tank.
if you make it so its near water level, when you have evaporation going on, that up lift pipe is going to be out of the water. the whole point of that sponge filter besides cleaning the water. is also to oxygenate the water also.
I use a simple rule in my home, display tank(s) get hidden HOB or cannisters. All other , sponge filters which are great for production and breeding. Excellent video, thanks
Nice rule! : -)
HOB filters work great. I recommend changing out the cartridges and insert your own media, filter floss etc. Also a sponge on the intake hot-rods the filter extending the time between maintenance
Love your channel, when ever I have a fish question you always pop up!
I certaintly prefer hob because it is so customizable and the returning of the water is so peaceful in my opinion. I also like on a hob you can keep some pothos in the filtering compartment, that does wonders for the tank and look really cool.
That's a good point - we add the pothos as well. : -)
Do you have a social media?
Good video!
It is noteworthy in my experiments with sponge filters over the last few decades that not all sponge material is the same. Many of the Chinese models hold only about ¼ to 1/3 the organics of the better sponge material such as the AAP Hydro Sponge Filters.
Also as per mechanical filtration the AAP Hydro Sponge Combo filter utilize both the fine and coarse sponge filter media and provide better over all mechanical filtration and bio filtration without clogging. These sponge combos with the PRO and standard media will easily go head to head with most HOB filters. Even the PRO Hydro Sponge Filter by itself will do better when there is more larger organics in the water column with large fish such as Oscars (although these are not as good by themselves with small particulates)
Thanks for the info. I love hydro sponge filters!
Nice Video Jason. I use both, but because of economy in the fishroom, all of those tanks run on sponges and one central pump.
Very cool - thanks for sharing!
Have you tried using a sponge attached to the hang-on-back's intake? It's the best of both. Not only does it keep the nitrates down, but allows eliminating any sponge used inside of the hang-on-back, making room for more of whatever media you choose!
do you use a check valve on your hoses, cause that can really impede the air, but they are so necessary.
@@demonpride1975 Check valves not necessary if you put your air pump higher than your tank.
@@James-ye7rp i am aware of that.
Also I use the Marineland brand with the bio-wheel. They work great. The filters that go into the back of the filters have charcoal in them. After that wears out I remove the blue filter material and replace it with no woven filter pad by sizing and gluing it on with hot glue. To clean it all one has to do is to spray a high pressure source of water and it will clear the pores in it. It really keeps the water clear. I use a variety of sizes of filter pads to replace the blue on the original, from 50 to 300 microns.
I use a hang on back filter smaller than you’re example,and I found it was inadequate so I moved a double heeded sponge filter into my 11l nano tank and the water quality is a lot better
Perfect video was slightly confused by the two you've have cleared it up well
Thank you! Glad it helped. : -)
Use sponge filter and use nylon over tube so no fish can go into tube. Same with over intakes of filters. Not only does it cover the larger holes fish can enter in; it also holds algae and beneficial bacteria as well
Hi, are you using nylon hosiery women’s socks ? If so how do you tie them ? Don’t they get moldy? Thanks in advance @TJTherealdeal
Nice presentation. I use a canister filter on my 75g Cichlid tank, hob filters on my 55g Angelfish tank and on my 29g quarantine tank. I use sponge filters on my breeding tanks. All are very useful. I like that you didn't beat up or put down either of the options as they are all practical depending on your setups.
All of them have their place!
I have an Aquaclear 500 (they changed the name to 110 at some point) that has been running for 17+ years. It was $25 new. Now they are $75, lol
I watch a lot of your videos and you are an excellent teacher!
Thank you!
I use both, but really don't like the way the sponge looks in the tank. But then again I still use the old UG filters too.
This video and the previous one comparing canisters were so helpful! I am upgrading to a 65 gal and was concerned that I may need to change my filtration habit (I've used only HOBs and really like them), but I see that I don't really have to go to canister. I think I will stick to what I'm most comfortable with for now, the HOBs. I'd rather feel confident in what I am doing with a new tank, then anxious and unsure. Thanks again!
I have one canister and I hate it. Not because it does a bad job, but because it's a pain to clean.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Oh yes, that made my decision to stick to HOBs as well. 😂 Thanks for that honesty!
Very cool video.i agree to use Spong filters if you have lots of tanks. But for me in my small fishroom.only Aquaclear 70, or 110. You allso get mutch more water movement compared to a Spong.the Aquaclears come w a Spong inside plus bio media & carbon.or whatever your heart desires.
Very true. : -)
Love your videos! Simple, to the point and very informative. I can't wait to get another tank lol. I'm trying out aquaponics for the first time.. I'm a gardener/plant collector in florida and I love the beautiful life that you can create underwater. So peaceful and shows you how much beauty is really out there
Thanks for sharing this with is. I just invested in my first bio filter and I like it so much more than the regular hang on filters.
I think you are really going to like aquascaping too. It's such a natural fit. :-)
another outstanding video I think I have used every type of filtration out there at one point or another.
I agree - they all have their advantages!
Have you tired using them together? (I.e: A sponge attached to the intake of another filtration system)
Good segment. Currently have 5 tanks from 65 gallons to 150 and am a canister fan. Looking to add 10 more up to 20 gallons each and will probably use sponge thanks to your segment.
K Smith Ya, once you get that many tanks it starts making sense to use sponge filters. 😃
A lot of my tanks have both. The extra filtration from the sponge that is tied into aeration seems like to much of a win/win to skip.
I have a 125 gal and I use 2 double stacked Hydro-Sponge IV Pro filters but instead of air I use 2 Aqua Clear 402 Powerheads the sponges are stacked beside each other with the power head outlet pointing at the respective front corner. This method does present the problem of hiding the filters but I use a lot of driftwood and plants, and a java fern as attached itself to one of the powerheads hiding it completely. It is the best of both worlds, sponge and back filter.
Interesting set-up. I'm sure that provides a good deal more mechanical filtration too!
I've been using power heads with sponges on them as a supplemental source of filtration for years, they work really well.
Nice job - great info. Will be waiting for info on canister filters.
Just ordered my first sponge filter to complement my Cascade 1000 canister in my 75 gallon. I love the option of chemical filtration when wanted or needed
I use sponges, HOBs, and a canister. The main thing with HOBs, in my opinion, is to avoid the cartridge based ones. I swapped out my marinelands for aquaclears for that reason.
Cool! I usually buy floss and DIY the media. Thanks for watching!
Yep...and turn them off when doing water changes if you use sand, as once sand gets into the hob filter it becomes noisy as.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Brand new sub, and I was just given the "go ahead" for my upcoming birthday to get another, larger tank (50 gal or so). This was very informative. I am using HOB filters in my existing two 10s and one 20 and love them. I was basically unaware of sponge filters so when I ran across this video I immediately watched it. I don't plan to do any breeding, so will stick with the HOBs for the reasons you stated - mainly look better, and keep the water crystal clear. I'm using Fluval and have no problems keeping them maintained. I will be following this channel for sure. The more information I gather, the better. Again, thank you!
Awesome birthday gift! Happy birthday too! Ya, the HOB will work great.
very well explained we love the spongebob filters i like those better than the hangy backs thanks!
Excellent video and information, just bought my first 20 gallon aquarium and setting it up in my office. Thank you for your videos.
Very cool! I hope you enjoy it.
Prime Time Aquatics I'm sure I will, still debating what fish to buy. My eyes go to the expensive and needs more care but when I decide I will share pic.
I have my aquaclear hob's filled with bio-sponge material (and often a coarse sponge pre-filter on the intake tube, making them HOB sponge filters. :-)
thank you!! i’ve seen a few videos and was wondering if i could do the same thing with my hob. good to know :)
Thank you for explaining how sponge filters work. I'm currently planning my future 45-50 gallon puffer aquarium and this really helped!
Thank you for watching!
I've never tried sponge filter. I've used the whisper filter and hang on the back top fin. I have tanks with bettas
I currently have a 40 gallon tank with an aqua clear 30 and a roughly 20 gallon sponge filter and the combo of the two works amazing
Very cool!
Yeah man keep up the great vids they have all helped me and the woman become nice healthy fish keepers :)
put a sponge on the intake of a HoB :)
Good idea
I put a sponge on and switch the media to a sponge as well.
This keeps fry from getting sucked into the filter, but also reduces the need to clean the filter quite so often. Doesn’t eliminate it. Just clean the sponge every water change.
That's simple yet genius
How do you do that ??
Gosh I love all your videos so informative. Thank you for teaching us that are new to fish keeping and to some novelists always can learn something new.
Thank you! Appreciate you watching.
Great video man! I love sponge filters for extra filtration in a breeder/growout tank. It’s definitely a cheaper source of filtration👌🏻
For sure!
I love sponge filters, especially for people who are just getting started because they are dead nuts simple. There isn’t many things you can say “get this, put it in your tank and your fish will do better” and sponge filters are one of them. I keep one running in my sump at all times in case I need to quickly set up a tank for whatever reason, their utility as an instant cycle filter is awesome. My experience with hang on back filters is not the same. They rattle, gurgle, slurp, splash, they have expensive cartridges that always seem to get clogged up whenever you don’t have spares, necessitating a trip to the fish store to buy another, breaking them down and cleaning them is a chore.
I would rather having that sponge filter working in a corner with a few bits of val in front of it than a hang on back. You take it out, you squeeze it in some tank water, you put it back. Simple and easy.
Ya, it seems like a lot HOBs start to make a little noise as they age. Nice idea keeping the sponge filter in your sump.
Aquaclear 110's are $149 here...I use both sponges and HOB's..also like hamburg matten Filters.
Wow! Ya, sponge filters are definitely the way to go for you at those prices. : -)
Prime Time Aquatics 110s are over $200 here lol but people also charge like $200 for a 10g tank here in Australia as well lol
I'm planning on both types in my 55 for fancy goldfish. Can't lose!
ALT KNIGHT people bitching about the prices in Australia is a common sight these days. Is there something wrong with your country like bad policy that promotes higher prices or just retards selling for higher than MSRP because they can? I mean they are made in China and you're closer so it has to be some kind of import policy affecting prices or something like that.
Do you use them together? (i.e.: The sponge attached to the intake of the hang-on-back) I do, and between the two--plus room for more media of my choice--the water has never been better.😊
Great video. I personally use hob filters and canisters, but I resently got a breeding pair of angel fish and was looking for another type of filtration. Sponge filters was the answer. They are good for the fry and allow a tube for the angels to lay there eggs on.
They should work out very well!
Ive never used either one. I use under gravel filters and canisters.
I remember back in the 80s under gravel filters were really popular. They are great as long as the fish aren't digging. Unfortunately for me I keep a lot of cichlids, which makes them less viable. They do create a TON of surface area in tanks where no digging occurs!
Try adding a sponge filter to the intake of your canister. I did, and it makes quite a difference!
Hello.
Very interesting.
Thank you for putting the text up on the screen suggesting squeezing the sponge 'over a bucket', If you hadn't I would have squeezed it over my head whilst dancing the Fandango! 😁 lol.
I don't know why 'hang on back' filters arn't used here in the U.K, I've never seen any but if I had to use only one I would use them over a sponge as I do my external pumps because they get rid of solid waste & save space in the Aquarium.
Thanks a lot .helpful video i have a aquaclear filter and it's doing a great job but why not add a sponge filter .having both would be even better .
I use both. Living in Florida where hurricanes can cause extended power outages, I have a backup battery powered pump to connect to my sponge filter if need be. An airstone placed inside the sponge filter will quiet down the bubbling action.
Very smart idea!
Great video. Personally, I like HOB filters best (Aqua clear). I also have a question, what camera did you use to record this video with? The quality is fantastic!
Hi Aby - Thank you! We just switched over from using our phone to a Canon 80D - big difference. : -)
Prime Time Aquatics Thank you for the reply (:
BigSwamp504 #CTC I use Fluval and just looked up the Aquaclear. They are one and the same! LOL
Hey! I use an AquaClear too, and here's something I did to improve on it AND allow room in it for improvement:
Using a piece of clear polyvinyl non-braided hose, I attached a sponge filter to the intake of my hang-on-back. Hardest part was inserting the hose into the lift-tube on the sponge, but even that was easy. Now my nitrates are always in check, and I was able to eliminate the sponge from inside of the hang-on-back, allowing more room for whatever media I choose!😊
I have a Marina Slim fit filter that holds 2 types of cartridges. It is sleek and SUPER quiet. I hate most air pumps.
Thank you, very well put and completely unbiased.
tootie roe thank you!
Sponge all the way!
I use both hang on backs and sponge filters and love them both. I have taken the lift tubes off of my sponge filters to avoid nosy plecos getting stuck and I haven't noticed any difference in the performance of the filter honestly. I also have pre filter sponges on my hobs. It may not be a popular opinion but I'm honestly a big fan of the Aqueon Quietflow HOB. Super quiet and really affordable. I have two of them and both work excellent.
Appreciate you sharing your experience!
Prime Time Aquatics I appreciate the excellent content!
Thanos?
All the stones!
Lol. He does look like thanos
Thanks so much for this information. Very informative. I think sponge filters were so new to many of us we were hesitant to use. As it relates to cosmetics, I think an HOB is great however for utility purposes for breeding, I definitely think sponge is ideal.
Someday someone is going to make a decorative sponge filter. Haha
Try the two together: a full-size sponge filter attached to the intake of hang-on-back. Eliminate whatever sponge was designed for the hang-on-back, insert a piece of floss in it's place and add whatever media you choose to hang-on-back. Your water will never be better.😉
Thank You, we are designing a fish room right now and the debate was over: Canister filters (our bigger tanks will stay with them), HOB filters, and as a last thought I saw this video and I was like well what about sponge filters?
Well in short you came up with the answer. Use a large compressor, build PVC lines and drop lines from each one in to a tank. I remember as a kid (not about to say what decade lol) we had these clear box filters that had carbon, a tank floss, and not sure what else and they did the job well. This is back when a water change was "Oh the tank is getting low I should ad water" days. I think what I may do look at some DIY videos figure out what I should use for a great filtration design a clear plexi box and build it all based on that. I will need to do 30 of them so getting it right the first time is the most important part. lol
Thank You again for the video and I subscribed and I will get to my happy hunting so I can start designing now.
Neal Ranzoni Good to hear, thanks for watching!
I think what the subject really is about is how anyone can run a multi-dollar business of selling multi-numbered fishes with the least amount of cost to your business expenses by running the bare amount of equipment to get by without losing a lot of fish before they go to market...IE it doesn't make sense to spend millions of dollars providing for a product when the product is only worth the fraction of the expense...Sooooo in a business setting yes sponge filters with a central air pump would be the best way to go expense-wise and pray the fish sells quickly but at home in an aquarium made for the fish to live in multiple filters would be the bomb diggity for that fish or fishes for several years to come. great vid Prime Time Aquatics and big thumbs up for the comparisons, for all you other people start out with what ye can afford and raise the bar more as time goes on, more is better but we are all not millionaires but would like to be, LOL. Fish More and Have More Tanks...Tanks Prime Time Aquatics.
Thank you for the clarification on the two filters.
Thank you i’m going spongey 😂
Love your videos. I’ve wanted a fish tank for sometime, and your videos give me confidence that I can manage one. I’d love to have live plants in a nice little 20-29 gallon community tank.
Good luck!
For aquascape/planted tanks HOB for aesthetics. I don't see where a sponge has an advantage in regards to maintenance. Pulling a sponge from a tank can cause a cloud of detritus in the water. Using Aquarium co-ops method of putting the sponge in a fish bag before removal is more work and cumbersome. Otherwise agree with your other points.
I generally don't have too many issues with clouding up the tank just pulling the sponges out and right into a bucket (plus the water clears up within a couple hours). HOBs can be easy to maintain as well. : -)
someone recommended putting a plastic baggy inside the tank and enclosing the sponge before taking the whole thing out, sounded like a great idea even for pre filters
I was using an internal filter and a hob. I found they clogged up easier and faster even with the pre-filter sponge on intake for the hob. The flow rate gets altered once those filters are clogged. I replaced them all with sponge filters. I have not had any issues with the mechanical aspect of sponge filters. Most of the debris come in the form of either fish or snail poop and dead leaves from plants. Perfect food source for my shrimps. And the flow rate doesn't alter as much. My tank still stays relatively clean and clear compared to the internal and hob filters which have a hard time keeping the tank clear from debris due to them clogging up more quickly.
Excellent vid! Enjoyed watching! Thank you for sharing!
I 1st found a small sponge filter at the local fish shop and I was running an airstone anyways that I kept having to replace..Generally things like that seem overpriced in a fish store but it seemed fair and sounded like it worked well in the description so I figured why not,air stones are cheap but everything adds up.I could tell when I rinsed them in the water during tank changes they really did a lot besides adding air to the tank.The Tetra pump I got in some kit at some point got loud and weak so I ended up getting a pump off Amazon that could drive two of them.They are black so you barely see them with a dark background , even if they were grey I wouldn't mind because they work so well.Even after water changes my water is crystal clear in a very short time :)
There are also battery operated air pumps available as well. I live in hurricane country, always a handy tool to keep on hand.
For sure!
Respect from Indonesia.. Thankyou bro... 👍👍
Thank you!
Thank you for the awesome video! I learned a lot 👍
Nice job Jason, I use sponge filters for all my tanks!
Thank you!
Keep up the great work! Thank you for the videos and awesome content, editing, and thoughtfulness!!!
Thank you Dee! Glad you are part of our community. : -)
I use sponge filters for all but one of my tanks (my nano reef) and ive used HOB’s from many different brands like tetra, aqueon, aqua clear, and marine land. But ive never had one last more than 5 years, so i tried sponge filters, and i love them! Ive been able to moddify them to some extent. So thats a big plus, and i have 2 large airpumps that have been with my dad for almost 10 years, and they haven’t failed on me yet. Compared to 1/2 of that by HOBs. Love the video!
Thanks for sharing your experience! Glad to hear they are working out for you too. : -)
Very informative, thank you!
Lots to think about, good info as always..
Thank you!
I believe each have theyre purposes, I use a sponge in my 20g breeding tank to keep water movement lower allowing better conditions for egg fertilization and fry to handle better. i use two hang on the backs in my 80g community tank. and for the 10$ it costs (where I live at least) i buy the intake sponges for both because more places for good bacteria sounds good to me and it really saves on having to clean the inside of the hang on back
Nice set-ups!
Super helpful video. Thanks for your content
Thank you!
I'm actually running a bit of tubing into a hydroponic pump which connection to one of those air sponge filters and it does an absolute amazing job better than those hanging filters and even more better than one of those jet filters
🤔 All filters have their place it’s a matter of the aquarist/person using the appropriate filter for the given set up. I seen people use a couple of sponge filters on a over stocked African Cichlid 🐟or Central American 🐟tank and I have seen large hang on the back filters used on ten to 29 gallons in both cases those filters where not appropriate. New technology is great for the hobby but old school technology like sponges, box filters and under gravel filters are far from obsolete.
I like to use a under gravel filter attached to a hand on the back filter to raise fry in a 29 gallon. I like to have coarse sponge filters attached to the intakes of most every hang on the back or canister filter I operate and I like to have at least one air driven sponge filter in each tank. Redundancy and consistency is key to being successful and having longevity in ones aquariums.
A great 👍🏽 video per-usual.
I can't speak for sponge filters, but I can hang ons. I've used aquaclear, fluval c series, and the Seachem tidal. Aquaclear has a lot of in filter area for media, but a little loud in my experience. The fluval c series are basically a hang on wet dry filter due to the trickle plate. A nice design. The tidal filters have almost the same area as the aquaclear filters, but incorporate an internal pump (manufactured by Sicce) so you don't have to worry about power outages. Has a built-in surface skimmer as an added bonus.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
My pleasure. Subscribed.
I have a 75 gallon planted rainbow/angel tank. I was so worried when I got into the hobby that I wasn't going to have enough filtration. Started with a canister filter, then got an aquaclear 70 HOB, and then I got two sponge filters. Oh and every intake has a sponge on it. At first I was thinking that it was all way too much but it has allowed me to put tons of chemical/mechanical filtration in the canister filter and load up the HOB with bio filtration. It's total overkill but it cracks me up watching it all.
Side note: I have a few different Aqueon quietflow HOB filters and they always start after a power outage. Obviously they don't have the media bin like an Aquaclear but you can still hot rod them really well.
Hey - at least if one thing breaks you have back-ups! : -)
honest and true great video! there is no doubt that a sponge filter will have better bio but h.ob. are great but i have ran whole systems on just sponge filters!
I was at a couple large pet stores recently that ran exclusively sponge filters as well!
I like my hang on filter but they can be a hassle to clean, I've never been able to get in the pipe bends for example. I'm trying a sponge filter as they're highly recommended, and am considering placing a small aquaponic pot inside the HOB.
My bristlenose pleco used to lay eggs in the sponge filter tube. It would hang out in there often.
At least the eggs got plenty of oxygen. : -)
I needed this video, thanks!
After being in the aquaculture/aquarium industry for 40+ years I agree with your assessment with one exception, your typical hob filter cannot, by design hold near the biological capacity of a sponge filter, especially if the hobbyist overloads the aquarium, whichthey usually do, and battery backup air pumps are an inexpensive alternative if needed.
Great video, I think it’s personal preference, example I prefer the aqua top 500uv canister because it comes with a 9 watt uv bulb in it and it kills about 90% of parasites n bacteria (their figures) but since I started using them I rarely have an ick outbreak, I also am a new convert to aqueon hang on back filters previous I used marineland the aqueon starts every single time my fish store guy, uses them on his koi tank n his oscar show tank
Absolutely. They all work. Really depends on your needs.