Sponge Filters

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Terraphyte Tank Guy

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MFK Member
Feb 2, 2018
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Hello MFK...

Have several larger tanks that are open because I'm growing large house plants in them. I have a fairly substantial fish load in the tanks to keep the house plants fed. The house plants are roughly the size of basketballs and am wondering if a dual sponge filter and a couple of air stones will be enough to keep the tank water aerated and the fish healthy. I'm going 50 percent water changes every other week too. Could really use some input. Am not able to post any photos yet, because I haven't posted enough.

Thanks!

TTG
 
Terraphyte Tank Guy said:
Hello MFK...

Have several larger tanks that are open because I'm growing large house plants in them. I have a fairly substantial fish load in the tanks to keep the house plants fed. The house plants are roughly the size of basketballs and am wondering if a dual sponge filter and a couple of air stones will be enough to keep the tank water aerated and the fish healthy. I'm going 50 percent water changes every other week too. Could really use some input. Am not able to post any photos yet, because I haven't posted enough.

Thanks!

TTG
Click to expand...

Can you share the size of the tank? That will heavily impact the efficiency (or lack there of) plant filtration.
 
In short yes sponges are awesome and that may just work. I run some pretty hardcore filtration and yet still use sponges. You can’t beat the polishing and bio support
 
JK47 said:
Can you share the size of the tank? That will heavily impact the efficiency (or lack there of) plant filtration.
Click to expand...

JK...

Actually, I use the house plants in all my tanks. The smallest is 20 G and the largest is 60. I have multiple plants in some tanks and with this much natural filtration, I use only one dual sponge filter. In the tanks with smaller plants, I use two duals. Some of the plants have gotten fairly large. I just like the sponges over other mechanical filtration, because they're so much easier to clean and I don't have to buy and replace the filter media. As soon as I get enough posts in, I'll send some photos. The Aglaonema house plants really do a good job of filtering the tank water.

TTG
 
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So more on this house plant filtration thing, if I may. These tanks are running well with the plants and water changes are 50 percent or more every two weeks. Have the sponge filters running, but have noticed the sponges need to be removed and squeezed out every couple of days, so they can do a least a minimal job of mixing oxygen into the tank water. I have extra air stones running too. I haven't noticed any difference in the fish, so am thinking the sponges are doing their job. Here's a picture of one of the tanks.

TTG

WP_20161106_14_49_09_Pro.jpg
 
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ive experimented with overhead planter sumps but never had the idea to rig a sponge as a prefilter. what all plants are you using? i just had pothos in mine. do you see a big reduction in nitrates with the plants?
 
Backfromthedead said:
ive experimented with overhead planter sumps but never had the idea to rig a sponge as a prefilter. what all plants are you using? i just had pothos in mine. do you see a big reduction in nitrates with the plants?
Click to expand...

Joe...

Yes. I've noticed quite a difference in the nitrogen levels in the water. There's no trace of either ammonia or nitrite and the nitrates are consistently in the 20 ppm range. It seems like the larger the plants get, the lower the nitrate level. I used Pothos and Nephthytis, but the root sytems on these was too small and didn't have much of an impact on nitrogen levels in the tank water. These are different species of Aglaonema. The roots are long and thick and use the nutrients from the dissolved fish waste as fast as the fish produce it. I'm thinking with a couple of good sized air pumps and air stones, I can do away with even the sponge filters.

TTG
 
Well, welcome to MFK. 20180203_045518.jpg
The midnight raider, I have thought about planting a overhead sump. It seam like the best plants, are toxic to cats.
 
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