Post by Carl on Apr 20, 2021 16:01:13 GMT -5
I've updated the only truly experience backed article available for free on the subject of sponge filter use in aquarium.
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/sponge_filtration.html
Here is an excerpt:
"Sponge filtration is an often overlooked type of filtration for both large and small freshwater tanks and bowls, and even ponds or marine aquariums. Many aquarists look past these filters because of their simplicity, but therein lies their quality.
I have professional used these filters for my aquarium maintenance business for 40 plus years with excellent results in freshwater, saltwater and ponds.
It is also noteworthy that the concept is not new, dating back at least to the early 1960s with the Lustar or Hamburger Mattenfilter Sponges.
(The picture to the left is a Hydro Sponge #1 in a 6 x 6 x 6 Betta tank.)
Unfortunately a large number of lower quality Chinese made sponge filters (many violating patents for design too) have flooded the market in part due to snake oil salespersons on YouTube and elsewhere often promoting only the coarse sponge over the fine sponge when in fact professional experience over the decades shows that in 2/3s of aquarium the fine is the better choice or better a combination of the two.
This has led to many otherwise knowledgeable aquarium keepers to point out that a negative is that sponge filters lose their load of trapped particulates upon removal when in fact this is rarely true when the proper quality USA made sponge is mated to the aquarium to the aquarium it will filter."