2007-02-14 10:07:49 · 9 answers · asked by ohsnapitscharity 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
No. That would likely end up killing your fish, as a regular sponge is not meanmt to be in fish tank filters.
2007-02-14 10:10:55 · answer #1 · answered by Episco 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes. The trick is to make sure it doesn't have any additives like anti-mold coating, and ensuring that it is porous enough to not get clogged every day.
The filter material used in sponge filters is very simple & there's no reason why you couldn't find a DIY material that is suitable with a little bit of research.
With the cost of aquarium designed pre-filters, at $5-15, I you should consider purchasing a commercial one if you don't have the time to invest in researching sponge brands for toxicity.
http://americanaquariumproducts.com/SpongeFilter.html
Most of the ATI Hydro-sponges will fit most filters. I use them on my tetra & magnum filters. I haven't found one that fits the goofy square pipe on the emperor series of filters though.
That page shows some of the models. I've never bought from there, but those are the products I reccommend.
In my experience, sponge filters are the single best filter you can add to an aquarium. They rapidly colonize aerobic bacteria, and I have had wonderful results from using them both to filter out crud before it reaches filter floss and to help with the bio-load of the tank. It doesn't matter if its a pre-filter to a power filter, or if its attached to a glass tube & an airline... its just a sponge with aquarium water being pulled through it. Either way, its the same mechanical action and it will give the same results.
2007-02-14 20:19:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
No. A sponge filter is a sponge through which you are forcing water through a reticulated sponge using an air pump or a powerhead.
BUT, you can put reticulated sponge at the bottom of a filter to trap debris and provide a large area for bacteria. The AquaClear series of filters do just that!
Do NOT buy regular sponge, since it is treated with anti-microbials etc.
Also do a search on DIY Sponge Filters and you will find a lot of creative waus to make an inexpensive one.
Hope this helps
2007-02-14 19:20:33 · answer #3 · answered by albatross_singh 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Depends on the type of filter and what you are putting a sponge in/on there for. If you're trying to increase your bio-filtering, yes. If you're just trying to keep baby fish and other small aquatics from being sucked up into the filter, just get a sponge (a natural (formerly live) sponge, or an aquatic sponge (don't bother with the ones you clean the kitchen and bathroom with, too much work to make sure they won't poison your fish) which are cheap, make a slit down the middle, shove the intake pipe of your filter in the slit (you can glue it on but usually it will stay on by itself). This will act both as a bio-filter and as a barrier.
2007-02-14 21:27:11 · answer #4 · answered by Inundated in SF 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think you understand what a sponge filter is, they are a type of filter that are run by an air pump or powerhead. Putting a sponge in any filter doesn't make it a sponge filter. As to whether or not you can put a sponge in a filter depends on the type of sponge you want to use, as long as you bought it from a pet store for the use of fish then it should be OK.
2007-02-14 18:27:18 · answer #5 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Most of the sponges you buy in stores aren't meant to be used in aquariums (or even be in water on a long-term basis). They're made of cellulose (plant material) and will degrade rather quickly. It won't take too long for cellulitic (cellulose-eating) bacteria to get to it and turn it to mush! Plus, some sponges are treated with soap and other chemicals which wouldn't be good for your fish.
The sponges for aquariums filters are made of different material (plastic "foam"). These will trap debris, but are mostly a place with lots of surface area for bacteria to live.
2007-02-14 18:23:57 · answer #6 · answered by copperhead 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
what type of filter should be the 1st question asked?
if you are talking external, it should be ok as long as it is new
next what happened to the old sponge filter? the ones made for external filers are much more porous which allows the water to run through it much better, plus it cleans out the debris
2007-02-14 18:19:47 · answer #7 · answered by seven_ms_man 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't think this is a very good idea. Sponges are not very good at filtering and might end up killing your fish.
2007-02-14 20:03:22 · answer #8 · answered by Ale C 2 · 1⤊ 4⤋
I guess So!!!
2007-02-14 18:10:26 · answer #9 · answered by M@R!SS@ 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋