Hydro-Sponge II is reducing water flow

[parker002]

I've been using the Hydro-Sponge II as a pre-filter on my Aqueon 55 HOB filters for several months.

Lately, they've REALLY started to impact the flow rates of the HOB filters. I've cleaned them and cleaned them and they seem to get clogged quicker and quicker.

What should I do?

[babygeige]

I would replace it with a new sponge. I had this happen to me too. After a while, no matter how much you rinse and clean them, they just don't flow through as well. I put a new sponge on it and had no more problems.

[goldenpuon]

I second what Babygeigecsaid. I have sponge filters too and after a while, they get too dirty to clean anymore and the sponge part of the filter needs to be changed.

[parker002]

Mine are sucking in on the sides they're so bad. I scrubbed them twice yesterday and it's down to a trickle again today.

How do I know what replacement sponges I need? I need to order replacement sponges from Carl but I threw the packaging away and I'm not sure what models I have - I think they are Hydro Sponge II's but I'm just not sure.

[Carl]

Parker; do you have the Hydro Sponge #2 or the Filter Max #2?

The Filter Max is better designed for use as a Pre-Filter.

Either way you can replace the #2 Filter Max or Hydro sponge with a Filter Max #3 replacement sponge which is a higher flow Sponge and does not suffer this problem as easily (even when dirty)

Carl

[parker002]

Aug 30, 2010 19:09:18 GMT -5 Carl said:

Parker; do you have the Hydro Sponge #2 or the Filter Max #2?

The Filter Max is better designed for use as a Pre-Filter.

Either way you can replace the #2 Filter Max or Hydro sponge with a Filter Max #3 replacement sponge which is a higher flow Sponge and does not suffer this problem as easily (even when dirty)

Carl

It's definitely Hydro Sponge rather than Filter Max. I just don't know which model. Could I tell by the dimensions of the sponge?

I've made some minor modifications to improve the functionality but would definitely be interested in "upgrading" if it is cost effective.

[Carl]

The Filter Max #2 and #3 are the same dimensions, as is the Hydro Sponge #2.

The replacement sponge for the Filter Max #3 is a patented reticulated high flow sponge, where as the #2 is a good sponge, with a lot of surface area, however it is not designed for high flow and bio loads.

Carl

[parker002]

What are the dimensions (vertical length and diameter preferably) of the Hydro Sponge #2? I will measure mine.

As far as my comment about cost-effectiveness, would I be better off getting a couple of Filter Max #3 sponges and continuing to use the assembly from the Hydro Sponge? Or should I just replace the entire things with the Filter Max #3's?

Two replacement sponges will be $2.89 each + shipping, whereas two of the Filter Max assemblies would be $8 more.

[Carl]

The dimensions are approximately 4” H x 2-3/4” W

As for cost effectiveness, this is a judgment call IMHO, however IMO I would rather use a regular Filter Max #3 as a pre-filter and save the Hydro Sponge #2 as a stand alone filter which would provide more filter redundancy

Carl

[parker002]

I already have 2 of the Aqueon 55 HOB filters, so I'm guessing the Hydro Sponge units would end up getting retired. I don't want to maintain that much filtration.

I guess my question is whether the Filter Max is worth the extra $4, considering how many modifications I've had to make to get the Hydro Sponges to work right. Is it going to fit onto the intake tube better and not fall off all the time? Those are things I constantly struggle with on the Hydro Sponges...

[Carl]

Since you are having these issues of the Hydro Sponge filter remaining attached, I would recommend the Filter Max, as this is what they are designed for, whereas the Hydro Sponge is designed as a stand alone filter (Although I too have connected these to filters)

Carl

[parker002]

Awesome. I went ahead and ordered two Filter Max #3 units and 2 replacement sponges.

Would you recommend attaching the Hydro Sponges as standalone filters (with an air line) given that I already have two Aqueon 55 HOB filters? It's pretty crowded in my tank right now.

[Carl]

If you have room for just one more filter, this would expand your filter redundancy, especially for bio filtration

Carl

[parker002]

I guess I will just have to wait until I receive the new filters and see how they fit in with everything else. Eventually, I think maybe what I'll do is get a small pump, a UV bypass, and use the Hydro sponges with that system.

[babygeige]

You are describing the exact problem I had with my dirty sponge. I couldn't figure out why the sponge was getting suck inward, and eventually just replaced it. That did the trick.

Good call going with the filter max. They come with a lot of different connectors, so you should be able to attached it to your HOB pretty easily. I'm sure you'll be very happy with it!

[parker002]

I got the Filter Max #3's today (THAT WAS FAST, THANKS CARL!). What a difference they make. My HOB filters haven't run this good since the day I got them. However, installing them was quite entertaining. I'm hoping someone can let me know if the way I did it is going to cause me issues.

First, in order to explain this, I need to put up a picture that has the adapters - I didn't have to make actual modifications this time but I did have to use ALL THREE adapters to get it to work.



The way the intake tube is designed on these Aqueons, there is an upper "sleeve" and a lower mesh-like "insert". The bottom end of the upper sleeve is slotted and flanged - the top of the lower tube is beveled. The lower tube slides inside and then "locks" allowing you to raise or lower it by slightly twisting it. These flanges and bevels mean that the upper intake tube is just a HAIR outside of standard size. That's actually why I had to modify my Hydro Sponge #2's - the pieces fit so loosely that they always fell apart and I had to replace the heavy bases with nylon plugs to keep them together.

Right off the bat, I found that the large end of the left-most adapter (the end closest to the bottom of the pic) and the flanged end of the right-most adapter (the end closest to the bottom of the pic) both fit snuggly over the end of the upper intake tube. AWESOME! Not quite.

As I mentioned previously, the end of the upper intake tube is SLOTTED as well as flanged which allows the lower tube to snap in, similar to driving a screw into a drywall anchor. Unfortunately, the slots themselves are about 150% deeper than either of the adapters, leaving 4 decent-sized gaps that would definitely leak.

Fortunately, the large end of the middle adapter (the end closest to the bottom of the pic) fit INSIDE the upper intake tube and by no small miracle, it actually SNAPPED INTO PLACE JUST LIKE THE FACTORY LOWER INSERT! Of course, it only snapped when pulling out on it - it slides upward when the rest of the sponge assembly is attached and placed in water.

So I inserted the large end of the middle adapter into the intake tube and pulled out on it, snapping it into place. I then put the right-most adapter, flanged end first, onto the end of the intake tube. By doing this, the flange on the right-most adapter is actually PINCHING the flanges on the intake tube, locking the middle adapter (inserted inside the intake tube) in place.

I then inserted the small end of the left-most adapter (the end pointing towards the top of the pic) into the smaller end of the middle adapter (the end pointing towards the top of the pic) until the large end of the left-most adapter was snug against the end of the right-most adapter. The two adapters don't couple but the inner coupling is moving the water so it's not a big deal.

From there, the large end of the left-most adapter fit onto an elbow and I was finished. Whew!

Unfortunately, because of the length of the upper intake tube, my tank wasn't deep enough to use both elbows and position the sponge vertically, so I have them situated horizontally with the capped end pointing squarely at the front of the tank. That leads me to my first question:

1) Is there anything wrong with what I did? Will I get good filtration with my sponges positioned like that?

With the sponges pointing out like that, I had to move (and remove) some decorations. I went ahead and cleaned the acrylic guards in my tank hoods and realized that the biggest contributor to my mineral deposits was my air pump.

Bubbles rise to the top of the water and then burst, spraying a fine mist of water on the underside of the acrylic guards This leads me to 2nd question:

2) I have two Aqueon 55's in a 55G tank and they're really churning out the water now. In addition, they both have an aerator attachment that sites in the outflow and creates some bubbles and churn. Do I really need air stones or is the above enough? I took them out for now but need to know if I should put them back in.

[parker002]

So I solved my issue #2.

I put the Hydro Sponge #2's back in and fed them with the lines I had used previously for the air stones.

So I have plenty of aeration now as well as additional filtration.

Pictures can be seen here.

[Carl]

For issue #1, my answer is rather non scientific and that is what ever works!

As long as the Pre-Filter is attached and the flow is not impeded, I do not see a problem.
I have used these attachments in many different configurations to achieve the goal of attaching the Filter Max.
I have also used Teflon tape wrapped around a part or intake tube to slightly expand the width for a more snug/secure fit.

Once, may years ago I even got a Filter Max to fit an Emperor Filter (which is the classic problem of getting a square peg to fit a round hole). This took a bit of Epoxy if I recall, but it worked.

Carl

[parker002]

Oh yeah, they're attached and snugly. They're working good and I have to say, I kind of enjoy using the Hydro Sponges now. They spray a fine mist of bubbles everywhere - really cool to see.