Sponge Filters

[Terraphyte Tank Guy]

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

Attac

Well, welcome to MFK. View attachment 1298009
The midnight raider, I have thought about planting a overhead sump. It seam like the best plants, are toxic to cats.

mark...

I use Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen) in my tanks and our 6 cats leave them alone. My wife keeps a "plant room" with several different plants, which the cats nibble on every so often. Nice photo.

TTG

 

[Terraphyte Tank Guy]

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

Attac

Well, welcome to MFK. View attachment 1298009
The midnight raider, I have thought about planting a overhead sump. It seam like the best plants, are toxic to cats.

mark...

I use Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen) in my tanks and our 6 cats leave them alone. My wife keeps a "plant room" with several different plants, which the cats nibble on every so often. Nice photo.

TTG

 

[markstrimaran]

Might have to check it out.

 

[FreshyFresh]

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

You can absolutely use sponge bubbler filters as your only filtration source. I'd skip the air stones completely unless you just like the looks of the bubbles. My take is, if you're running an air line into your tank, it might as well be "powering" a filter. That alone produces bubbles.

You don't need bubbles for aeration for most tank configurations. Surface movement alone aerates the water.

 

[Terraphyte Tank Guy]

You can absolutely use sponge bubbler filters as your only filtration source. I'd skip the air stones completely unless you just like the looks of the bubbles. My take is, if you're running an air line into your tank, it might as well be "powering" a filter. That alone produces bubbles.

You don't need bubbles for aeration for most tank configurations. Surface movement alone aerates the water.

Thanks for the reply. I like the no filter idea and am working in the house plants as a filter replacement. I needed the air stones to move the water and provide a steady source of oxygen to the roots of the house plants. I've increased the bio load and the plants have gotten somewhat larger. Attached is a pic of one of the tanks.

TTG

 

[Backfromthedead]

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

cool I'll have to try aglaonema. my pothos planter was working well but i was hoping for near deletion of all nitrates in that tank. soon i may be trying a larger one than before plumbed into two 75g tanks. i love the looks and functionality of the planter sump.