Make your own sponge filter

[Lady Hobbs]

http://www.hagblomfoto.com/article_spongefilter.htm

I would like comments from those who do have sponge filters and how well you like them? I plan to try a couple with a power head using my regular filter, of course. I am wondering, tho, how do they stand up? You'd think they'd fall over with an attached power head. Or not?

[PaulasPets]

I'd say the powerhead is attached to the glass with sucktion cups, so it can't fall over.

Paula

[Neithan]

This sounds similar to a biological filter that apparently originates from Germany, where you section off a small part of the tank with a large section of sponge and place an overhead pump (?) in there. It's also basically maintenance free for several years, unless you have very messy fish.

It's not suited alone for fish that require a lot of current, but other than that people here seem to be happy with it, especially the plant enthusiasts - the sponge works great for planting anubias, java fern and various types of mosses on it. The plants also conceal the big, blue sponge in the tank with time, and if you plant houseplants that can be grown in water (devil's ivy, spiderplant amongst others) on the top part, you'll get a small oasis of greenery right next to your tank.

Unfortunately I couldn't find any english links to building them, but if you know any german, this site might give you some idea: http://www.deters-ing.de/Filtertechnik/Mattenfilter.htm Also if anyone is really interested in testing one out, I can try translating some finnish directions for you.

I thieved a picture from the above site that demonstrates rather nicely how it works.