Sponge-filter only tank: 6 foot

[ClaustrophobicTurtle]

Hey guys im buildig a 6 foot tank next week.

Would it be possible to filter a 6x3x2 with only sponge filters?

How many would i need?

Thanks!

 

[Justin David]

Yes its possible. How many, depends on stocking. Id say if u go with the standard sponge filter size, #4 I believe, u'd need anywhere from 4-9

 

[ClaustrophobicTurtle]

Yes its possible. How many, depends on stocking. Id say if u go with the standard sponge filter size, #4 I believe, u'd need anywhere from 4-9

1 x male Dovii. At the moment 7inches

 

[Justin David]

Id go with 6 personally. You could probably get away with 3, but that wouldnt be much water circulation in a 125, plus the fish will grow.

 

[ClaustrophobicTurtle]

Id go with 6 personally. You could probably get away with 3, but that wouldnt be much water circulation in a 125, plus the fish will grow.

I already have 2 fluval powerheads for the water movement

A sponge only set up would make it so easy to keep on top of maintenance! Clean one at a time

 

[FreshyFresh]

You need enough to house adequate beneficial bacteria for your bio load, the rest is up to how much and how often you want to gravel vac and change water imo.

 

[jaws7777]

I already have 2 fluval powerheads for the water movement

A sponge only set up would make it so easy to keep on top of maintenance! Clean one at a time

Only way to know for sure would be to consistently test your water. I have been thinking of this myself. I want to do something with my 75 gal low cost low maintenance

 

[xraycer]

JasonsPlecosCichlids

 

[nzafi]

You best bet is a hmf filter which is a sponge filter on steroids. Google it and you'll get the info. I'm about to convert my 180g to hmf. Jasongonefishing has some good posts about his multiple hmf setups.

 

[skjl47]

Hello; You could run the tank with no filtration at all as far as what is doable. The beneficial bacteria (bb) will colonize surfaces in the tank as far as that goes. I have run tanks for a time with only bubble stones.

The sponge filters do get loaded over time with fine detritus but it is my understanding they function mainly to generate a bit of circulation, to become surfaces for the bb to live on and perhaps the greater to agitate/aerate the water with the bubbles.

Mechanical filtration can be the done with the water change in that the siphon can pick up the detritus.

If you do not plan to have a gravel or sand substrate then the sponge filters do work and as you say can be cleaned in sequence. As you have power heads there will already be circulation.

With substrate you could use the undergravel filters (UGF). I started out with them over 50 years ago and used them for decades. I did not know there was criticism of them until the last few years. I set up two tanks with them in the last couple of years to see if I can find any of the things that are supposed to be a negative.
A big help with running them is the type of siphon which has a flexable tube and a bigger diameter hard tube on the end. You can dig that down into the gravel and really get the detritus out.

Short answer is that sponge filters do work.