How Does Sponge Filter Work

So you lot've already made several important decisions with respect to your fish keeping hobby - yous've chosen your aquarium and fish; positioned the aquarium in a location that will provide maximum comfort to the fish and yous're now reaping the relaxing rewards of an at domicile or office aquarium.

Just are you keeping on top of the fundamental ways in which y'all tin continue your tank make clean and your fish happy? One such way to reach this is through the use of a sponge filter. Many aquarium owners are non aware of how a sponge filter works or sometimes even of their existence. At Aquacadabra, we're here to share our knowledge and ensure a happy feel for both yous and your fish family.

Sponge filters have actually been in beingness more than or less since aquarium keeping began, and although they aren't perfect for every type of tank, at that place are many situations in which they are a great solution to keeping your tank make clean and salubrious.

What is a sponge filter?

Aquarium sponge filters are i of the well-nigh price effective and easy to utilise filters. But despite their low toll they are surprisingly a very constructive tool to clean the water of your aquarium. The most basic sponge filter is made up of iii components: a piece of cream that sits within the tank; an air pump that sits exterior of the tank; and some airline tubing to connect them together. Sponges tin come in a diverseness of shapes, sizes and pore sizes to conform your detail type of tank.

Bio Sponge Filter, Aquacadabra, £6.49

How does a sponge filter work?

A sponge filter will initially provide mechanical filtration - this is where the filter physically separates and removes whatsoever waste and solids. And and so once it has developed and grown bacterial colonies, it volition provide biological filtration also - beneficial bacteria will help to detoxify and purify the water. Although often seen every bit the best filter to use for beginner level, this isn't really the case as there are many pros to using them at all fish keeping levels.

The water filter procedure starts with the powered sponge filter air pump creating suction to enforce the water through the sponge to remove solid waste matter and ammonia from the tank. As fish waste material releases a lot of ammonia, it is mortiferous even in modest quantities to both fish and plants. The biological filter, by having beneficial ammonia swallow bacteria, will help to break down the ammonia into nitrite which in turn will break downward the nitrite into nitrate. Ammonia is however harmful to fish, but nitrate less and then, so the process as a whole offers a condom and healthy environment for your fish family.

How to gear up a sponge filter

If you're gear up to purchase a sponge filter for your aquarium, you lot'll want to know how to set information technology up. Here is the set-upwardly process in five elementary steps:

Before you lot start, make sure you lot have all the necessary components of the filter that we previously mentioned - the sponge, air pump and airline tubing. You tin can also apply an air rock, also known every bit an aquarium bubbler, ordinarily fabricated up of porous rock or limewood and which will efficiently diffuse air in the water and eliminate whatsoever noise. Diffusing large bubbles into smaller bubbles will assist to oxygenate the water better, plus it looks amend too!
You should attach the airline to the nipple at the superlative of the lift tube.
If using an airstone, attach the airline to the second nipple at the bottom role of the top of the lift tube. You tin then plug the air stone into the airline.
Next, install the check valve with the air pump on the side that the air goes through. The bank check valve is all-time placed upwardly past the rim of the tank.
Finally you can plug the filter into the air pump - merely brand sure that the air pump is pumping air through the sponge filter along with the water.

How to clean a fish tank filter sponge

One of the key benefits to using a fish tank filter sponge is the easy maintenance of them. Y'all should aim to clean the sponge filter regularly, ideally between ane and four weeks. They go visually muddy, then it's quite easy to be able to see when they need a make clean. Past removing some of the aquarium water into a saucepan, you volition exist able to remove the filter and squeeze the sponge for a few minutes until you accept released all of the dirt and debris. Be sure to utilise the existing aquarium h2o for this process equally it will ensure the original beneficial bacteria will remain and y'all don't need to outset the procedure again to grow back the beneficial bacteria needed for biological filtration.

As you can run into, learning how to use an aquarium sponge filter is a unproblematic and effective process that isn't going to toll you very much money. It'due south a tool worth looking into if you oasis't already.

At Aquacadabra, nosotros're one of the original specialist online aquatic retailers and have ane of the largest selections of aquarium filters and filtration equipment in the UK. Browse our full range of sponge filter products and full range of fish tank filters to assist equip your aquarium for everything yous need for a good for you fish tank with a happy fish family unit.