Post by Carl on Sept 19, 2019 12:23:51 GMT -5
I've updated the "Sponge Filtration" article once again
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/sponge_filtration.html
Here is an excerpt:
"Please note that many sponge filters and even patent design infringing "knock offs" made by a variety of brands (such as Hagen, SF-XY, XY-380, AquaTop) are NOT made of the same patented sponge material as ATI's patented Hydro sponges. This includes both the coarse and fine sponge material.
Thus these do not perform nitrification at the same level, as my tests confirmed in the 1990s, often by a LARGE margin due to a much more porous design that simply traps more debris and allows more bacterial colonization.
As well, these patented sponges have a micro design that does not collapse on itself as readily as other designs. Please read further for a more in depth explanation of this.
These lower end sponge filters (generally Chinse made) also degrade much quicker, as many users can attest to.
In fact in tests using the Chinese knock offs such as the XY-380 & Hikari commonly sold via Amazon, using very similar bio load aquariums, I found the amount of organic debris during the same time period to be almost double for the patented AAP Hydro Sponge Filter, thus demonstrating a MUCH higher capacity!!
What is noteworthy is that it is easy to have anything made in China as a knock off of the patent design (I know as I too have done business with China and know full well of the poor ethics they practice in manufacturing), as China does not care about patents and while the design might be very similar (other than changing the color to green as per the newest knock off to hit the market), the fact remains the sponge material is a much less effective material as China will cut corners here.
What is unfortunate of late is so much is based on marketing such as YouTube videos, so you get people believing anything they see in these videos without question, such as that a more coarse material is generally the better choice when in fact in depth tests show that this is not necessarily true and in fact the AAP/ATI standard sponge is often a better choice even in larger aquariums, or better yet a combination or AAP Combo Sponge filter which utilizes the best of both.
The bottom line is there is a reason for the patent and why send money to China (even if marketed by an American retailer) when you do not need to since the best is made in the USA?"
Carl
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/sponge_filtration.html
Here is an excerpt:
"Please note that many sponge filters and even patent design infringing "knock offs" made by a variety of brands (such as Hagen, SF-XY, XY-380, AquaTop) are NOT made of the same patented sponge material as ATI's patented Hydro sponges. This includes both the coarse and fine sponge material.
Thus these do not perform nitrification at the same level, as my tests confirmed in the 1990s, often by a LARGE margin due to a much more porous design that simply traps more debris and allows more bacterial colonization.
As well, these patented sponges have a micro design that does not collapse on itself as readily as other designs. Please read further for a more in depth explanation of this.
These lower end sponge filters (generally Chinse made) also degrade much quicker, as many users can attest to.
In fact in tests using the Chinese knock offs such as the XY-380 & Hikari commonly sold via Amazon, using very similar bio load aquariums, I found the amount of organic debris during the same time period to be almost double for the patented AAP Hydro Sponge Filter, thus demonstrating a MUCH higher capacity!!
What is noteworthy is that it is easy to have anything made in China as a knock off of the patent design (I know as I too have done business with China and know full well of the poor ethics they practice in manufacturing), as China does not care about patents and while the design might be very similar (other than changing the color to green as per the newest knock off to hit the market), the fact remains the sponge material is a much less effective material as China will cut corners here.
What is unfortunate of late is so much is based on marketing such as YouTube videos, so you get people believing anything they see in these videos without question, such as that a more coarse material is generally the better choice when in fact in depth tests show that this is not necessarily true and in fact the AAP/ATI standard sponge is often a better choice even in larger aquariums, or better yet a combination or AAP Combo Sponge filter which utilizes the best of both.
The bottom line is there is a reason for the patent and why send money to China (even if marketed by an American retailer) when you do not need to since the best is made in the USA?"
Carl