Tropical Fish Forums

[JTF]

I will starting up my 1st FW tank soon and am considering using a sponge filter. Why you ask? cheap;doesn't take up much room; easy to maintain, & saves on buying expensive filters so the money can be use on other things like lighting etc? Is a sponge filter sufficient for any tank from 20 - 33 gallon tank for filtration?

[fishlover888]

You need to do water changes more often than the regular filter. I'm not sure it can handle big fish load or not without the frequent water changes.
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125 g discus tank 13 discus, 5 Sterbai cory, 3 clown loaches, 1 Albino BN pH 6.3 50% WC x2/wk
2 g nano tank 3 Danio, pH 7.6 80% WC/ 2 days

[tayler]

what fish did u plan on keeping

[fish_guru]

SPONGE FILTER!

They are great for any size tank and any occupants. I have one running in my tank and it works like a treat. But in saying so they do need weekly squeezes in a bucket of tank water. I would maybe get 2 of these
http://www.aquariumguys.com/hydrosponge2.html

and I would get a powerful air pump(S) to drive them. Weekly water changes are a must and good vacuums of the gravel bed will keep your fish nice and healthy.

Good things about sponge filters are that they are cheap
They are easy yo use
They can be relied on
They can be cleaned easily
They are a great base for useful bacteria to grow on
The provide a refuge for fry and food

So I would recommend a sponge filter.

[Bob]

I would turn this around.

Filters are fishes friends, they allow us to stock at far higher levels than we used to BF (Before filters) and the stocking levels we carry now are based on good filtration.

Lights and other things are not needed by fish, they would be happy with just enough light to see where thay are going (OK it's different in a planted tank).

From a fishes point of view get the best filter you can afford, and worry about the lights later on.

Bob

[JTF]