Sponge Filters

[unspoken930]

I hear alot of talk about how good sponge filters are for small tanks, or hospital tanks, ext. and I cant find them ANYWHERE.... first i went to petco (the best place for fish around me) and they dont have them, but they have under gravel filters, which i understand arent near as good. Then i went to the actual fish store right up the road, where the people are really rude and know absolutely nothing (this one girl told me bottom feeders dont count in stocking, and none of them know about fishless cycling) and they didnt have any and the man who owns it told me sarcasticly "walmart is 50 yards away, go check there if you want such a simple filter that does no good" so i immediatly left there. I then went to 3 petsmarts in my area, and none of them carry sponge filters, but they have the undergravel filters. Finally, i went to probably 6 little tiney pet shops around me, and none have sponge filters....WHERE HAVE THEY GONE!!! i dont want to order offline, becuase shipping is sooo much more then two sponge filters for only 5 dollars.

Does ANYONE else have this problem, or am i the only one?

 

[Chri$]

Well i've never had any problems finding sponge filters, but i live in the UK

 

[b.c.f.c]

i find sponge filters are every were in the uk , im sure you will find one soon enough

 

[Ferris]

The Fluval + range of internal sponge filters are fairly cheap and should be readily available in the UK and US.

 

[nate9]

i dont know about you guys but i think i smell a troller or maybe thats just fear

 

[Scootie]

I also smell a troller

See, this is what gives fish forums a bad reputation

Shame on you

 

[unspoken930]

are you saying im trolling? i was just asking a question if youve seen them...

 

[4ftguppy]

i dont know about you guys but i think i smell a troller or maybe thats just fear

what does that mean please (sorry to be thick!)

 

[wodesorel]

I'm begining to think that they're a myth here in the US. I've never seen one, and I've been looking for a long time. My guess is that the stores only keep in stock what sells - and since most of the people these days buying fish don't a have clue what they're doing, they don't need "specialty" items like sponge filters.

Of course, they might be labeled as something different here, and we just don't know what to look for.

Good luck finding them!

 

[unspoken930]

I'm begining to think that they're a myth here in the US. I've never seen one, and I've been looking for a long time. My guess is that the stores only keep in stock what sells - and since most of the people these days buying fish don't a have clue what they're doing, they don't need "specialty" items like sponge filters.

Of course, they might be labeled as something different here, and we just don't know what to look for.

Good luck finding them!

I guess, but youd think that the specialty aquatics store would carry them.... I think its funny that they were so rude about it. They guy at PetCo was really nice about it and said to look around and if i couldnt find them, hed order them for me.

Though, it would be funny if they were labeled as something else and we just didnt know it, but youd think we see a picture on the packageing... who knows.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Go here- cheapest I have found them
http/www.kensfish.com/ati.html

 

[Anamagus]

I never buy them I use creativity and make my own funky ones they are really neat.

Container(safe Plastic)
Bubbler
air stone
Drill

Im sure you can think of something!
I think they have it here in the DIY section!

Good Luck!

P.S You can also use a powerhead instead!

 

[unspoken930]

Ive tried that kind, anamagus, but it didnt work very well for some reason, therewas hardley any current to it, and in a 2.5 gallon tank, there were 2 deadspots.... I guess ill just have to break down and buy one online. Thanks for your replies

 

[starrynightxxi]

nate9, you seem to think everybody's a troll. whatever made you think this was a post from one? It was a perfectly reasonable question...

i've seen fluvals here and there but i wasn't really aware that those were sponge filters. the only place i've seen actual sponge filters (the guy sells them and uses them in all his display tanks) is at the fish store I go to, http/alloddballaquatics.com/. It's in pittsburgh, but he ships if you're interested. otherwise, you may have to try aquabid.

 

[Inchworm]

Please do not jump to conclusions and call other members names. It's not at all polite. If you think something posted is questionable, please just PM a mod.

As a matter of fact, unspoken930 has asked a very legitimate question. Here in the US they are specialty items and are not usually carried by the chain stores. Until I joined this forum, I had never heard about them, but now I use them in my fry tanks. They work well for that purpose, but clog too easily (IMHO) to use in heavily stocked tanks.

Your best bet, unspoken930, is to ask the owner of an independent lfs to special order some for you. This is the kind I use:

http/www.petsforum.com/ATI/atb100.htm

They are powered by an air pump like box filters would be. If you are feeling creative, here's some information about making one yourself:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...l=sponge+filter

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=111348&hl=