Does a Sponge Filter actually works???

[Kitiara]

I have found that with sponges they need regular cleaning as they get clogged and that reduces their ability to suck up debris (like a full vaccum cleaner) It would depend on the number of fish and how messy they are as to how frequently you need to clean your filter sponge. For cleaning, rinse the sponge with some tank water (outside the tank of course

 

[Scorponok]

WTH are you talking about?

I read once upon a time that sponge can trap anoxic bacteria if it's clogged so much that the water movement is really slow. Anoxic bacteria, of course, consumes nitrate and turns it into nitrogen gas. But I can't find the sites at the moment. Maybe other people here know more what I am talking about.

 

[X24]

sponge filters aren't too terribly loud. i have 2 running in my bedroom and its just kinda a little background noise...of course i fall to sleep easier with the tv running...

 

[bigspizz]

I read once upon a time that sponge can trap anoxic bacteria if it's clogged so much that the water movement is really slow. Anoxic bacteria, of course, consumes nitrate and turns it into nitrogen gas. But I can't find the sites at the moment. Maybe other people here know more what I am talking about.

I am going to color code this for added fun.....



when you read "once upon a time" that should be your first clue that it is a fairy tale.....And wth kind of bacteria are you talking about? That is the second time you butchered the word.....



Clean clogged equipment. Even if it adds a good touch to your tank.




Please define anoxic bacteria for us......




And you never will.......




No.

 

[Mystix212]

Bravo Rico.

Lets nail it down. A sponge filter has next to no suction capabilities to even make a floating leaf go off course if it was floating near the sponge. This strain of filters is purely biological and nothing else. A strong powerhead connected to the sponge can create suction but you should have something else that is designed to collect the mech.

 

[ccdoido38]

WTH are you talking about?

that's what i'm always wondering about his posts

 

[Bderick67]

Please define anoxic bacteria for us

From http://books.google.com/books?id=k0...ts=IyloUNAXsV&sig=ERD3mVCsYpqwXO2enT0TYIpJMlw

6.5.2 Aerobic and Anaerobic bacteria

Aerobic bacteria, now commonly called oxic bacteria, require oxygen as an electron receptor.
Anaerobic bacteria, or anoxic bacteria function only in the complete absence of moleculer oxygen.

Not sure about the sponge filter supporting anoxic bacteria though

 

[gomezladdams]

I hope they work,I have about 70 of them lol!
And sure squeeze one thats been in a tank awile and tell me its not filtering out gunk.

 

[johnny_1993]

holds nothing over half a millimitre yeah squeeze one it will be dirty as.

i have some in the shed and only one quiet one in house
too noisy

 

[Bderick67]

I read once upon a time that sponge can trap anoxic bacteria if it's clogged so much that the water movement is really slow. Anoxic bacteria, of course, consumes nitrate and turns it into nitrogen gas. But I can't find the sites at the moment. Maybe other people here know more what I am talking about.

Well as crazy as it sounds I did find this I'm never gonna clean my filters again

From: http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/Llambi_Water4.html
Making Nitrogen Gas
Bacteria in the genera Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Alcaligines drive the final step in the nitrogen cycle. These bacteria convert nitrate into nitrogen gas, which then escapes into the atmosphere. However, these bacteria only perform this reaction in certain conditions. When these bacteria grow in an area where oxygen is readily available (aerobic), they utilize the available oxygen to break down sugars. However, when these bacteria find themselves in an area of low or no oxygen (anaerobic or anoxic); they actually utilize nitrates (notice the oxygen molecules in NO3) to break down sugars. Those of us who have ventured into maintaining coral reef aquariums can provide such an anaerobic environment by using a deep sand-bed of at least three inches where the bacteria colonizing the bottom layer are starved of oxygen. You can actually see bubbles of nitrogen gas rising from the bottom layers of sand. Those of us who stay on the fresh side of things can duplicate this phenomenon by not cleaning our sponges (as in sponge filter sponges). What? Not clean our sponge filters? That’s right! Now notice I didn’t say stop cleaning your aquarium altogether. However, in theory, if you allow your sponge filter, ceramic beads, biowheel, etc. to become clogged with bacterial growth, so that the inner layers are starved of oxygen; you will then be able to complete the nitrogen cycle in your very own aquarium. Although the deep sandbed in reef aquariums allows for substantially more nitrification to occur than in a clogged sponge filter, we “reefers” still have to take extra measures, including good ole water changes, to keep nitrates to a minimum, so use this tip as an insurance policy not a magic snake-oil.