I've got this and that and wondering if I can make this

[ThePBM]

Alrighty. I have:

It is a 79gph (adjustable) submersible water pump. the intake is pretty much the entire face where you see the knob. the output is that spout on the top side. (I have several of these from lighted water fountains I've made for my dorm room decorations.)

&

It is a Dirt Magnet sponge filter, 25gal model. I am currently using this properly with an air pump, as directed. Air hose connects to that X you see in the middle of the sponge, clear plastic tube to the left of the sponge is fitted onto the O around the X, so the air pipe is inside the tube. Air bubbles move water.

I'm not exactly ecstatic about the performance of this sponge filter, as I can see tiny debris landing on the sponge, go over the edge, and fall right to the bottom of my tank, without any inclination of sticking to the sponge due to suction.

I was wondering if I could fit my water pump to the top of the clear plastic tube, when connected to the sponge filter. It would basically replace the airlift with a suction. I would obviously not run the pump at full 79gph.
I can probably rig this up with clear plastic sheeting and glue (hot glue gun), which leads me to ask- is glue from a hot glue gun aquarium safe?

Any suggestions or concerns would be appreciated before i go forth with this idea. TIA.

 

[Mystix212]

Just do it normally, or hook up 2-3 sponge filters to this one pump. You get 3 surfaces for filters, plus a bonus 80G/ph pump. so really its 4 filtration devices.

 

[ThePBM]

what do you mean by "just do it normally" ?

 

[Mystix212]

Have the 1 sponge connected to the pump. Im thinking it will greatly reduce the output though.

 

[fishdance]

If you have gravel then put the sponge under the gravel/substrate. In effect you will be creating a small undergravel filter in addition to the sponge. Advantage of this is the gravel will prefilter the sponge which will otherwise get clogged too fast if attached to a powerhead. (You wont need to clean the sponge as often and you will have a bigger-more effective filter both mechanically and biologically). Disadvantage is the gravel is a little harder to clean than a sponge so you will need to gravel clean during water changes.

 

[Mystix212]

Just use you're syphon. I think the under-gravel way will prove much more effective then if it wass to be above.