Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fishtank Filtration and Cycling => Topic started by: Matt on December 09, 2016, 06:10:18 AM

Title: Sponge filter in place of airstone
Post by: Matt on December 09, 2016, 06:10:18 AM
I have a small airstone in my tank powered by one of those silent nano pumps and was wondering whether if I got small air powered sponge filter which I could put over the end of this and hide it in some plants, I could feasibly increase my filtration in the tank/my stocking? Thoughts welcome  :wave:
Title: Re: Sponge filter in place of airstone
Post by: ColinB on December 09, 2016, 08:03:41 AM
Yep - that would grow more bacteria and increase filtration capacity. As for increasing stocking... that depends on space and if you're prepared to up the water changes (if necessary) to cope with the extra Nitrate production etc etc. (But I'm sure you knew that... ;D )
Title: Re: Sponge filter in place of airstone
Post by: Matt on December 09, 2016, 08:18:16 AM
Fab, those were my thoughts too... I have a few periods away from home each year of about 2 weeks in length so this is the worst case scenario regarding water changes but fortunately i am blessed with very low nitrates in my tap water (~2mg/l) so I think this should still be doable with a big change before and after  :fishy1:
Title: Re: Sponge filter in place of airstone
Post by: Sue on December 09, 2016, 09:06:10 AM
When I got the sponge filter for my betta's tank I went to the shop I trust the most. The chap said to get a sponge filter with a weighted base rather than the kind that stick to the glass with suckers. In your case it won't be the only filter so it isn't as critical, but the chap in the shop said he'd come across several cases where a sucker type had detached itself from the glass, floated and stopped working. If the sponge is only partly underwater it won't suck water through the whole thing.
Title: Re: Sponge filter in place of airstone
Post by: Matt on December 10, 2016, 06:35:52 AM
Thanks Sue, great tip as ill struggle to attach to glass where I'm planning to have it (in a rock, wood and java fern structure). I've found one with space for stones/biomedia in the bottom to weigh it down.  It's also a bit smaller which will help when hiding it.