The power of air

[bstewart]

I'm quickly changing my beliefs on proper filtration for my aquariums and wanted to get a "check" from fellow board members. I use to think the "ONLY" way to properly filter my aquariums with "High Speed, Low Drag" caniters or sumps. It is my belief that that was influenced by the "hype" comming off web sights that I now view as "trying to sell me something" or "masses of people not wanting to put time and effort into properly cleaning" the aquatic homes.

My environment stats:
Tanks: 55 - 75 gal
Fish: mbunas, frontosa's and (in near future) Discuss
Food: Omega One (Cichlid), soon to be Spirulina 20

That being said, I am trying to convert all my Cichlid tanks from canister and sumps into sponge filtration. I do however feel that seeing the high flow of water exiting the previous filtration tools gave me a sense of "warm fuzzy" that I was giving the best environment to the fish. I want to resist this notion and keep pressing with my plan for possible "pure" sponge filtration (and a better water change regiment) with a near future of UV.

Given my goal and desire to provide better husbandry to my fish, does it make sense going forward with this conversion that more air flow/pressure through the sponges will increase the filtration of the tanks? Or, am I just going back to that desire to see the "high flow" I am use too?

Equipment plan: Fusion 700, 2 EA Hydro-Sponge V (regulars and PRO's), Wonder Shells and 6500K CFL's.

[Carl]

This conversion would be fine.
Just make sure to not make this conversion too quick where by you loose bio filtration. Add one filter, give it some time, then remove an old one

Also while Sponge Filters are great for their simplicity, bio capacity, & even reasonably good mechanical filtration; they cannot be used as easily for chemical filtration (carbon, purigen, etc), nor for de-nitirification (if needed).
So keeping one filter that can do this is something I might suggest.

You can even take an internal power filter such as the www.americanaquariumproducts.com/ViaAqua302PowerFilter.html#HJ-952]SunSun HJ-952 and remove the sponges inside so as to allow for room to add www.americanaquariumproducts.com/NiroxProducts.html#carbon]carbon (in a www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Ammocarb.html#filter_bags filter bag), www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Seachem.html#purigen]purigen, or anything else.
The beauty of these or many other www.americanaquariumproducts.com/ViaAqua302PowerFilter.html internal power filters is the ease of change when compared to many canister filters

As a side note while I would certainly suggest the www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Spirulina20Food.html]Spirulina 20, the Omega One Cichlid is an excellent companion food. Or you could also try the excellent (& better) www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquaMaster.html#cichlid]AquaMasters Cichlid Diet when your Omega is finished.

Carl

[bstewart]

Got it! and thanks for the info on "Omega One Cichlid" being a good companion food. Im a big fan of Purigen and have a DIY container that holds the product sack and mounts to an air driven flow tube circulating water through it, only maintenance is bleaching when it turns a brown color.

[goldenpuon]

I have found that sponge filters work wonderfully. I have used them in tanks with guppies and for quarantine tanks. I have a 40 gallon fish tank with 8 goldfish I have had 7 years (too many goldfish for a 40 gallon I know) so I have a external filter running on it as well as a Hydro Sponge filter to deal with the high bioload. I have had this setup for several years now and it was worked very well.

Sponge filters are also great for housing beneificial bacteria that break down nitrite and ammonia (better than external filters). I hope that helps and good luck with your tank!

Renee