Sponge filters and air flow reduction with sponge

[Divinityinlove]

Hi, I'd like to reduce the airflow on the outlet of a filter by attaching some sponge to the outlet. This seems the simplest way (if equally easy but better idea, please suggest)...

I'm just curious what the best method is to attach the sponge. Are rubber bands aquasafe?

Second part: to add an additional sponge filter, I'm unsure which specification to search for, size wise, to ensure adequate filtering for a 50 litre. All amazon and eBay sponge filter products are sized small-large but don't really state how many litres they're affective for.

Furthermore, I'm now building and lining a 3ft x 3ft outdoor pond and am curious how many (or what size) sponge filters could be adequate?

I will use rocks and other surface filtration, but what's the best way to ensure it stays clean with mechanical filtration as well?

Thanks alot for all tips.

 

[Colin_T]

Most air pumps have a small screw in the side that holds the air chamber inside the pump. If you loosen the screw a small amount, it reduce the amount of air going into the tank.

You can also buy a plastic or metal T-piece and tap. Cut the airline about 4 inches from the outlet of the pump and insert the T-piece. Run the air line to the filter like normal but add a 12 inch length of airline to the 3rd piece of the T-piece. Put the tap on the end of the 12 inch length of hose and use the tap to regulate how much air goes into the tank.

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You can use any size sponge filter for virtually any size tank or pond. It comes down more to how many fish are in the tank/ pond and how much waste they produce. If you have lots of fish, then use a bigger filter. If you only have a couple of small fish, then a small sponge is fine.

If you want to use a sponge in the pond, get something about 6 inches long x 4 inches wide & high, or something similar to that.

You can use undergravel filters in ponds. I used a plastic tray about 16 inches long x 12 inches wide. I put an undergravel filter plate in the tray and covered it with gravel. The filter was run from a normal air pump and I used a gravel cleaner to clean the gravel and drain water out of the ponds every week or two.

 

[Divinityinlove]

Most air pumps have a small screw in the side that holds the air chamber inside the pump. If you loosen the screw a small amount, it reduce the amount of air going into the tank.

You can also buy a plastic or metal T-piece and tap. Cut the airline about 4 inches from the outlet of the pump and insert the T-piece. Run the air line to the filter like normal but add a 12 inch length of airline to the 3rd piece of the T-piece. Put the tap on the end of the 12 inch length of hose and use the tap to regulate how much air goes into the tank.

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You can use any size sponge filter for virtually any size tank or pond. It comes down more to how many fish are in the tank/ pond and how much waste they produce. If you have lots of fish, then use a bigger filter. If you only have a couple of small fish, then a small sponge is fine.

If you want to use a sponge in the pond, get something about 6 inches long x 4 inches wide & high, or something similar to that.

You can use undergravel filters in ponds. I used a plastic tray about 16 inches long x 12 inches wide. I put an undergravel filter plate in the tray and covered it with gravel. The filter was run from a normal air pump and I used a gravel cleaner to clean the gravel and drain water out of the ponds every week or two.

Regarding attaching a piece of sponge to filter, I meant to a submersible filter outlet such as fluval U3.