Dual sponge filter vs single sponge filter?

[Aquarium guy person]

Hi, I’m setting up a fry tank and was looking for a sponge filter online and I saw some dual sponge filters. Can you guys tell me the difference between the 2 what I think is it’s more surface area and you don’t have to clean both at the same time

 

[Byron]

Two sponges will be more surface area, double in fact, than one sponge (of the same size). I have a single sponge in my 10g tank as that is more than adequate and it takes up less space. I have dual sponge filters in my 20g, 29g, and depending upon the fish I have used this in my 40g as well.

I clean my sponge filters under the tap at every water change, whether one or two sponges. Once a tank is established, this is not a concern, and a clean sponge will do a better job of mechanical filtration.

 

[Fishmanic]

I clean my sponge filters under the tap at every water change, whether one or two sponges. Once a tank is established, this is not a concern, and a clean sponge will do a better job of mechanical filtration.

Why are you cleaning with tap water? I clean them in tank water....soak up tank water that was put in a large bowl, squeeze out thoroughly into the sink and repeat this two more times.

 

[Byron]

Why are you cleaning with tap water? I clean them in tank water....soak up tank water that was put in a large bowl, squeeze out thoroughly into the sink and repeat this two more times.

There are a couple reasons. Primarily, you can do a better job or rinsing under the tap, and the loss of "bacteria" is non-existant, or minimal, or not an issue since there are more bacteria in the substrate of an established tank than in the filter. A newly-set-up tank, you can be cautious and rinse in a bucket though I am not certain this will have any benefit. Secondarily, tap water is not likely to kill the nitrifying bacteria, they are more resilient than we used to think, though chloramine may have more of an impact than chlorine.

 

[AbbeysDad]

Sponge filters are great at biological filtration. But very poor at mechanical filtration. Even having said that, many large fishrooms run on air driven sponge or box filters. As Byron points out, the dual sponge filters provide more area for the beneficial bacteria colony(ies) to populate. He is also correct that the filter/filter media is less important in the established tank as it's simply an on-going myth that BB only lives in filters. As a matter of fact, the water velocity through many,if not most filters, is so great that the beneficial biology efficiency is quite reduced. In reality (and many wish to debate it) there's far more BB in the substrate than any filter (talk about surface area!). This is why Byron can clean his sponge filters under the kitchen faucet and never see an ammonia spike in his tanks. Then too, he has some pretty awesome planted tanks and all those plants are hungry for ammonia as their nitrogen source.

(I was typing as @Byron responded to @Fishmanic)

 

[seangee]

I contine to recommend new users use tank water - but yes my filter sponges are all rinsed under the tap.

 

[FishGuest5123]

I use dual sponge filters but clean them in tank water in a bucket.

 

[Aquarium guy person]

Is a ribbed sponge better than normal round ones?

 

[Fishmanic]

Is a ribbed sponge better than normal round ones?

While the ribbed sponge would have more surface area than a regular one, I don't think it will make much of a difference in beneficial bacteria that builds up on it. As Bryon stated, you have bb on your substrate.

 

[seangee]

It makes no difference. The surface area in sponge is enormous. Its not just the parts we think of as being the outside - every hole in the sponge is a surface area, that's why its so effective as filter media.

 

[Barry Tetra]

I dont use sponge filter because its always smelly.

 

[Colin_T]

I dont use sponge filter because its always smelly.

If the filter sponge smells bad, it needs to be cleaned more often and you need to add less fish food.

Established filters should be cleaned at least once a month and every 2 weeks is better. However, do not clean new filters for the first 6-8 weeks. This allows the filter bacteria a chance to settle in properly and stick to the filter media. Two weeks after the filters have finished cycling, you can start to clean the filter.

Filter media/ materials should be washed in a bucket of tank water and re-used. The exception to this is carbon (black granules), which doesn't need to be used unless you have heavy metals or chemicals in the water.

 

[AmandaN]

The new aquarium co-op high flow sponge filters are the best on the market. You never have to clean them (for the most part) and they are super effective. I highly advise!

 

[Byron]

The new aquarium co-op high flow sponge filters are the best on the market. You never have to clean them (for the most part) and they are super effective. I highly advise!

Do they actually suggest these almost never need cleaning? This is not possible, all filters clog as detritus collects, and the only way to remove it is by rinsing/cleaning the media in clean water.

 

[Essjay]

The only sponge filters I could find on that site say they are made from coarse sponge which is easier to clean and they don't get clogged up with debris. They don't say anything about never cleaning them.