5 Simple Tricks to Improve Your Aquarium Filter

[@AquariumCoop]

*What are your favorite filter hacks that everyone should try?* If you missed our top 5 time-saving hacks, check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWGbeYSpeLqAj9k

[@stevenqi2338]

Any recommendations for a pre-filter for FX6? I don’t see from your website. Thanks.

[@paularamos5752]

My own sumps they usually cost me like 75 bucks rather than like 400$ and mine are perfect for me.and u just put a vid out for no automation and I agree ☝️ it

[@planetestargate719]

Je découvre cette chaîne et wow! Je me rends comptes qu'en France on est mal conseillé. Je suis passé d'un petit filtre à cartouche interne à un bac de décantation interne inclus dans mon zolux, mais je dois changer la ouate quasiment toute les semaines, de blanche elle passe a marron rouile et la pompe réduit... En cherchant sur KZbin, je vois de la lumière ici et j'entre et woah! Je découvre qu'il existe plusieurs types de filtrations, qu'on peut faire sans jeter (tellement mieux pour l'écologie !) Bref, j'ai envie de bien faire, de tout tester , mais mon mari va me tuer 😆 Du coup j'hésite entre tester le filtre en mousse interne avec pompe à air ( je n'en ai pas en France on nous dit que c'est débile, que ça sert vraiment pas), ou la pompe fontaine externe... Je me demande ce qui serait le mieux pour l'aquarium de mon couple d' Apistogramma cacatoides...

[@lindawirth3640]

Never thought of putting the air stone in the hob .. Some great advice

[@crystalgrammer8256]

Agree! Going to try this hack out with my Multis tank.

[@naopak259]

so i could put it in sump also 🤷‍♂️

[@hirotenko77]

What’s an air stone and what does it do?

[@Ro_1903]

@@hirotenko77 it helps with diffusing and supplying dissolved air into your tank

[@sunflowermouse307]

Such a great idea! I got tired of using sponge filters because I hate taking them out the water to clean them so I went back to using my HOB but have felt guilty about the loss of O2 exchange. Going to put the air stone in the filter NOW! :)

[@danmolstad5541]

Thanks for the great tips. One of the things I love about this hobby is that there is always more to learn. I really like how Corey’s tips are simple and effective.

[@carlflemmig4962]

I agree with you there's always something new to learn with the fish keeping hobby. Every time I think I got it all together. I step in it.

[@kowboy83ra]

I've had a fish tank for a year, but it's looked like crap the whole time. I bought it for my son who is young and loves to stare at the fish. I think I've learned more in 10 minutes from your videos than I have in the past year googling random things. All I can say is I'm impressed. Subscribed.

[@rdred8693]

How is your tank going now?

[@kowboy83ra]

@@rdred8693 A lot better. The tips on here are pure gold.

[@rdred8693]

@@kowboy83ra That is great! One thing I've noticed is a few of the people who make a living with fish, started out in childhood keeping aquariums. You never know what this might spark for your son!

[@risenfromyoutubesashesagai6302]

​@kowboy83ra Hey, thats good news!!! Little Kowboy is gonna grow up and be a Fish Monger... bet you're proud!!

[@kerrypitt9789]

I've been making my own sponge inlet filters. Since I can't get that coarse sponge from you up here yet, I buy the sponge that goes in your eavestrough to keep it from plugging up. It is that same coarseness. I have followed your suggestions for hot rodding filters since your earlier videos. I have never bought another cartridge for any of my filters.

[@amymandeville8342]

Those Ziss no clog air stones I got from you are hands down the absolute BEST I've ever used! I've never had one break and they really are no clog.

[@Gobrian44]

Best part of Sunday night before bed is the one on one video with Cory. Love these keep up the great work!

[@brianholdridge1860]

I agree, often less is more. I had a large canister filter, inline UV on a 125g tank. The return water line leaked water while I was at work. I would estimate 20g in the carpet. Years later, I only have acrylic tanks with HOB and/or sponge filters. Lesson learned.

[@biancavelazquez4280]

Thanks Cory for always being my go to guide to keeping aquariums running smoothly, I also love your products!!

[@kingnote6669]

Thank you for the carbon sheet hack for sponge filters! I mostly have nano aquariums, and only use sponge filters for my shrimp, snails, and bettas. Super handy to know!

[@TheSnakeOil]

That B roll of Dean putting his glasses on…😭😭😭

[@reelkyrie]

Yeeee 🥹

[@juliaheinritz3264]

Fantastic video!! Thanks for sharing this. I have a small quarantine tank that has had several meds added. Now that my little Geophagus is healthy and ready to go into his forever home I will wrap the Aquarium Coop sponge filter with a carbon pad to help absorb these meds. I wasn't sure what to do with that tank so this has been very helpful. Thanks again!

[@terrymartins2552]

Really loved that tip on putting an air stone in the HOB filter!!!

[@reyC1523]

I really like this new style of video. 5 min tips are the best

[@bryanhaller6012]

Another great video! You're the man Cory. You get referenced by so many Aqua youtubers now. Well deserved. Some of the best content my man. Thank you!!

[@jigokutsuushin]

A veteran fish keeper and breeder I've talked to agrees with using less filtration. He said: you'd be suprised how much a properly cycled sponge filter can support.

[@THandP_org]

I have found the best breeding success by combining UGF with a sponge filter. Happy fish, healthy fish, and an awful lot of plants. Thanks to the new Co-op nets, I finally have a solution to the problem of *catching* the fish: Nothing like taking off the handle, setting up the large net, baiting it with a frozen cube of BBS, and in under 2 minutes I have all (or at least 90%) of the fish in the net and I can sort them. 😁

[@jigokutsuushin]

@@THandP_org UGFs have fallen out of fashion where I am, and I haven't seen one in stores in almost 10 years. Hopefully I can find one because it's something I'd like to try out again. I remember my first childhood aquarium had a UGF. Btw, that's a nifty idea to bait the fish! I'm in Asia so Aquarium Co-op doesn't ship here but maybe I'll cut off the handle of a cheap net and try it.

[@THandP_org]

@@jigokutsuushin do you have access to plastic craft canvas? Are you in the Aquarium Co-op C.A.R.E Forum? I can help you build your own UGF, I build my own UGF for most of my tanks (because I convert drink dispensers and glass jars into fry tanks)

[@jigokutsuushin]

@@THandP_org Yes, I've seen instructions on how to DIY, just couldn't find the time. Could be great for my next project, though!

[@jigokutsuushin]

@Tanked Up. Yes I've seen them for sale on the internet, but none on display at the physical stores I've been to. If they have it in their stockrooms, then probably demand isn't that high.

[@Elquinjena]

that was a new tip, about putting an air stone IN the HOTB, thank you for this and I am going to add that to mine today!

[@AquariumCoop]

there are other added benefits as well as helping decrease surface films, and helping prevent stratification in your bio filter.

[@DocNo27]

My grandparents and parents quilted and so I was exposed to quilt batting at a very young age. At some point I noticed it looked an awfully lot like the stuff that the filter cartridges were made from, so the next time I went to replace a cartridge I just ripped the factory floss off of the frame, cut a pice of quilt batting slightly larger than the filter frame, wrapped it around the frame and jammed it in the filter - and what do you know - it worked perfectly! I've been doing it ever since. Quilt batting is cheap, readily available and a large roll of it can last you forever if you only have a few tanks. I still have partial rolls kicking around even though I don't currently have a tank up. I also make a cylinder of it, wrap it around an old under gravel filter lift tube and presto - instant sponge filter.

[@sweetpea2888]

This is why I like your channel, info for everyone from the beginner to the long timer!

[@RyanWaite1790]

Liking theses short and sweet videos. Excellent work as always.

[@cheeseballs3825]

Best tip ever is the intake sponge. I love that trick.

[@lolavanenburg1647]

Always great advice Cory, thank you so much👍🏼

[@goldeaglekroll1596]

I've always liked KISS method for my tank. So when I remodeled my tank. I attached my canister filter to a undergravel filter. Along with some filters on air stones. I have been able to maintain a good balance. Thanks for another informative video.

[@TheOrdinaryGamertag]

Wish i had found this channel when I first started in the hobby. These videos are so great for beginners

[@edwardsdeacon]

🤔👍🏽 all excellent tips that I learned over my decades of being in this hobby.

[@SpacePrinc3ss]

Thank you. I’m always so excited to learn from you. You’re my favorite aquarist on KZbin

[@Andrew-fr3bp]

I 100% agree with keeping filtration simple. I've switched to mainly using layers of foam sponge pads in my filters over the years, and drastically reduced all the fancy bio-media I ran before. If the primary filter is adequate, adding a simple POWERHEAD instead of a new filter is more cost effective, uses less electricity, plus yields practically the same results. A good trick is to keep the powerhead on a timer so it runs only during the day and gives the fish a rest at night. As it turns on in the morning, it will stir up anything settled on the floor overnight so the main filter can suck it up. No reason to add a second $150 canister filter to a tank when a $30 powerhead will work great, especially if an Aquarium Co-Op sponge is attached to it's intake ! Also, I thought I knew most of the hacks but I've never heard or thought about wrapping a sponge filter with a carbon pad. That's a fantastic idea! Keep up the great content Cory!

[@Maggie19701]

Absolutely love this video

[@ricardosuarez5833]

You always always give the best tips. Keep up the great work. I agree with all your videos and I have learned a lot from them.God bless you, and and your company!

[@donaldhall8785]

I definitely will try the intake tube sponge trick. Makes perfect sense.

[@luisbaltodano227]

As always, great advices. Thanks.

[@sarahwoodring5587]

Two of these were new to me! Great video and love the B-roll of "some old guy" 🤣

[@YanShum]

Great tips! I'll try put a airstone inside the HOB nice hack!

[@jenxu2]

I love this idea....I am adding it to my hang on back today!

[@andibandi1190]

I appreciate that a guy with an aquarium shop recommands using reusable filter media👍

[@davesoucier5531]

Talk with old people… *Jimmy inserts B-roll of Dean* 🤣

[@andyberry4346]

airstone, 2:10 ,i never thought of that but it makes perfect sense. i just did this. thanks.

[@TerraMagnus]

Big one I'm sold on now: grow live plants out of your sump / mattenfilter / power filter. Whether it's just some pothos or a monstera, peace lilies, etc. They do a great job of helping to pull nutrients out of the water column and keep the water cleaner for fish. Aquatic plants help, too, but there's nothing quite like having a plant grow out into the air that will take bad stuff right out of the water.

[@CatFish107]

The pothos growing on top of my guppy tank is way more vibrant, and grows more vigorously than any of the other plants in my house! Aquaponic houseplants ftw!

[@davidc4162]

This is my next adventure! Got a FAT pothos stem on eBay the leaves get huge I can't wait. Going to put a lattice on the wall for it to climb.

[@ender003]

@@CatFish107 I've got one growing out of my 10 gallon guppy tank and the leaves are the size of small dinner plates and the vine is as thick as my finger. It's insane. My one mistake may have been starting it in the hang on back filter as it's now completely attached to it. Also the water sprite that had been covering the water surface has completely disappeared.

[@MacTechG4]

I’d like to find a cat-safe plant I can put in my filter, pothos is toxic to cats…

[@davidc4162]

@@MacTechG4 Is your cat big into chewing plants? Aroids are only 'toxic' because of sharp calcium oxalate crystals, they're not poisonous per se--the toxicity of these plants is somewhat exaggerated, like poinsettia. Most of the time the needle-like crystals irritate enough to prevent more chewing or ingestion.

[@HeRo-qd6tk]

Great ideas as always. Thank you team A-coop

[@larslinebarger6712]

A intake sponge filter was a huge game changer for me!!!

[@aidaperez7957]

Very interesting! Got to try that!

[@lynnthompson6796]

Thank you for sharing this video ☺️👍

[@jasonrountree9380]

Keep up the great work! Love your videos and products.

[@ketchumifucan1130]

always learning, thank you!

[@johnjwedrall4290]

Very helpful and informative 👍 😊

[@JessieStolar]

Awesome thanks, very helpful

[@mynameisnotcory]

Heck even for saltwater, i ran a HOB rated for 60 gallons with a tiny skimmer on the back and filled a sump up with seaweed and it ran on a huge 220gal tank. Less is more. Never had any issues. Aerating your sump works amazing too. Limewood airstones in the overflow boxes. Just little hacks go a long way!

[@isaacchong562]

a great point that reusing material is also good and sustainable for our Environment.

[@KGcichlids]

I like the carbon around the sponge idea 👍🏻

[@CazzyCat]

I am definitely going to try the air stone on my hob. I recently had to medicate my 10 gallon that only has a sponge filter. I wish I had known about the sheets to wrap over the filter! I just dropped a bag of carbon in the tank and hoped for the best 😂 Great Video!

[@johnjwedrall4290]

Thanks for the filter hacks 👍

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

great video as always

[@TheUnknown-du7st]

Great content, great tips and tricks 👍.

[@ranchy6271]

Great tips!

[@debramoon6725]

This is what I meant when I posted a suggestion about make Ng my own prefilter. I use a coarse sponge sheet cut to size that fits over the entire intake area of my internal filters and secure them by either sewing them to the filter casing or using zip ties to tighten around the outside. Motors run longer without clogging up and small livestock are protected from being sucked in.

[@figueroafishmaster2201]

Awsome thanks for sharing these tips

[@grantlarsson9173]

Keep it simple! Love it

[@RyanAgsalud]

I agree... The best filtration I ever had was a hang on connected to an undergravel... I had thick layer of substrate... Plants loved it too... I learned it 30 years ago from an old school Japanese store owner

[@planetestargate719]

Quelle filtration? (Je suis française, la traduction automatique et pas terrible ^^)

[@aawiskarbhandari4737]

Great tips

[@karthikeanpathmanathan4191]

Thank you, this is soo helpful, i wish i could saw this vid earlier

[@thomashaapalainen4108]

My hack for a sponge filter is to put a few rings of ceramic media in the filter. It is a small amount that sits under the air stone. It gives a little more surface area with put impeding flow and it was how I seeded the filter from a HOB I had another tank.

[@5minsoffish]

This is why I watch this channel. I love my fish and my tanks. And I look for the simplist ways possible to hack my filters. Some out of thrift and some out of the reality that you can accomplish alot with very little. If you have an understanding of how the eco system works.

[@jamesholbrook7785]

Good advice as usual

[@likeeddiebauer]

I'm a little disappointed and so stoked at the same time. When I caught my first live stream ever last week when Cory was filling us in on what KZbin is trying new and how we could get a free membership. I honestly only was able to get tuned in during I think it was the last 5 mins. All I remember hearing was I couldn't do it over mobile. At the time the only option I had was to try it on my smart phone as I didn't have time to rewatch the live stream later and hope to catch what I missed and still hope to become a member. As sad as it is to say I couldn't even afford the 5 bucks or whatever. I really don't want to ramble. hell I'll put myself out there. I'm in tears. You guys are such awesome people. So I'm soooo stoked to be a member and so disappointed in myself I didn't check to see if it worked on my mobile device. I've been a member for 7 days. Thanks guys for everything you do for the hobby and thank you more for what you've done for me. I get way more than just fish knowledge from you guys for sure. Like how braces stop you from biting the dry skin from your 👄!!! Lol j/k but literally just heard you say it.

[@laurag1076]

😂throw back to Dean when u mention talking to old people!!!!! Hahaha Love u Dean 💓

[@rickybell2.056]

Filter hack =bio home ultimate in your filter , fantastic stuff

[@missyflutter5562]

Love this!

[@Cichlids23]

more great tips, thanks Cory...

[@legionaquatics]

The top 5 tips videos are great!

[@FagnerAccordiAquarismo]

I use sponges, biorings and purigens, very good combination! 👌🏻👍🏻

[@johncameron4194]

Great ideas

[@MattsAquatics]

Love your videos

[@MrKazuma52]

I'll have to try some of these tbh, not hard to do and should be good. The less is more filter one is a good point also in that it is possible to over filter a tank. Get a filter that works for the size tank (maybe a bit bigger). Not only will you save money (don't have to buy as many filters) but your tank will probably thrive just as well, if not better (plus the point you made)

[@FLNYFish]

Well said.

[@sandradolbel2578]

If I wanted to use filter floss to help polish or have super clear water would I wrap it on the outside of the ACO sponge filter or add it in the inner side that is around the gree column where the air stone is?

[@AquariumCoop]

Technically you could do either. At that point though you may just want to use a finer pore sponge.

[@raysville7256]

Have been using an intake sponge for 2 years with great results

[@kenmclelland1695]

I saw what you did there talk to old people and showed Dean 😂you guy's are awesome

[@danch1691]

Love sponge filters

[@shesellsfish]

Always loved these simple, easy hacks and tips. Still do. 👍❤👍

[@Pay2winps]

Great video as always we never stop learning you guys have inspired millions around the world I’m one of them from the uk 🇬🇧 please please please can we have a video on aquarium dust as there is none on you tube I do water changes keep my aquarium highly maintained big enough filter but I’m struggling with aquarium dust ???

[@VictoriaLeeCreates]

HELLO FROM CHICAGO ILLINOIS 💚💙💛

[@annabelchristian2933]

I stuff sponges into the inlet of my filter and add pothos and extra sponge into the hang on back. Water quality has markedly improved. I also make DIY bottle filters (followed a tutorial online many years back, never looked back) 🙏🏾❤️

[@sed6]

I loved your intake sponge tip, and jumped right on it a few months ago. Problem is, my intake sponge is so small that it gets clogged quickly. I have to clean it every week and it really looks awful after 3 or 4 days. The flow is still great but it's just so messy to remove and replace. So, I have just removed it and I'm going to let the foam inside my canister do it's thing.

[@AquariumCoop]

Are you removing it with a bag around it to trap all the waste?

[@sed6]

@@AquariumCoop That is a good tip!

[@Tex_155]

Try the coarse one aq co-op sells. So much better than the fine one I had before. Doesn’t clog fast or look gross. I couldn’t find a coarse one locally so ordered one from aq co coop. I was surprised with how happy I was with it.

[@thomaslynch4832]

I only clean my coarse intake sponge from the coop about once a month on my 29g.

[@markb8954]

I too have that issue. The Coop external coarse sponge works very well, but does dump a lot back in when i clean. I saw Cory’s response about using a bag around the sponge….hhhm, might have to try.

[@TrollTrolley]

Gotta try that air pump in my top filter

[@umbrellacorp.]

Guten Tag!.😄 Thanks, good to know. 👍

[@TheAmericanX]

Hi ther im goinf set up a dirt tank next month Good Videos i watch every one like it dude 👍👍👍👍👍

[@josemontalvo4532]

I love the Sponge Filter at the intake, but the problem with that is the Snails sucked up into the HOB. I even used a nylon stocking to prevent the Snails getting sucked up, but they still manage to find there way into the main area of the HOB. I love my Snails, but the small ones find there way into my Tidal filter.

[@plantedlife]

I have a ramshorn that got stuck in my sponge filter lift tube and I have no idea how it fit in the first place

[@Yonatan24]

They enter and grow inside. Fast!

[@GenRN]

They are probably growing in there as eggs.

[@MatildasMama]

‘talk to some old people’ … i don’t know why BUT that made me laugh out loud. 😂

[@michealshelton2133]

I've found success with not using filter media on my smaller tanks. The tanks have become their own ecosystem. No media in the filter just running the water and an air stone. The only tank I have to use media on is my peacock cichlid tank and that's more for water clarity.

[@taylortisaac]

EXACTLY. My small tanks have filters: heavy plants! And I don’t gravel vac. That substrate has soooo much BB

[@A._Meroy]

Over time, all the surfaces in the aquarium become populated with beneficial bacteria. Gravel, driftwood, plants, decoration, even the glass of the tank itself. Everything acts as a biological filter once the system is properly cycled. This is often enough to keep the ecosystem balanced, provided you have a moderate amount of fish in there. The more fish you have the more filter surface you will need, so in the more populated tanks you should probably keep the filter media in.

[@freedpeeb]

I used to have hang on back filters plus filter sponges plus pop bottles filled with thick water polishing materials with a air stone inside to move the water. I really thought filter, filter, filter!! Now I have one in tank filter for each tank with filter stones and a sponge inside. This plus good deep substrate to grow lots of good bacteria keeps even my biggest tank sparkling. It's less expensive, less problematic, less noisy, less invasive for the fish.

[@patriotr.behnke3086]

Thanks 😎👍🏻🇺🇸

[@Rainkit]

I got one filter canister for my 20g that was suppose to be changed ever 3 months. I liked it but I couldn't find it again so I just... never threw it out lol When i do a water change I gently rinse it. It's been about 3 years and it seems to be doing fine still.

[@nick92028]

LOL "Talk to some old people" Shows Dean! HAHA

[@Victoria7livity]

🌟🌟thanks for these ideas🐍🌟🌟🌟

[@CeejanJoseph]

Hi man… big fan 🙌🏻

[@rotten2209]

I use corner matten filters on my aquariums with circulation pumps and have had less problems than I've ever had with my aquariums. I'm about to "clean" the 2" Mat for the first time in a year. it's become covered in various mosses and looks fantastic. less is definitely more. Got 5 canister filters collecting dust in the garage. never again

[@souffle420]

I have a 40 gallons aquarium and honestly, my filter chamber only consisted of kaldness (micro), some bio blocks, and layers of gravels. The kaldness crushes any detritus, the gravel filter them, then it moves through some bio blocks, and ended on another finer gravel to filter the rest. My weekly maintenance involves siphoning the gravel along with 20% WC and small dosing of photosynthetic bacteria and probiotic. My filter system is pretty much low cost because I honestly don't need to change anything… other than refilling some gravels that might be accidentally sucked away when vacuuming it.

[@tonyiacona9060]

I'm using a sponge filter with a powerhead that runs through a phosphate media reactor (Two Little Fishes) and exits though a spray bar....This set up is on my 20gal. My 55gal also has a Phosphate media reactor (Sandstorm), along with a Tidal 75 hang on back filter with an added filter floss pad. Also....all of my aquariums planted.....which makes life easy. The hack is the phosphate reactors.....Without them the water quality difference is like comparing glass to crystal....Nothing needs to be replaced and maintenance simple.

[@carlflemmig4962]

Cory, I also like the idea of putting in air stone in my HOB. Thanks for the tip, Carl my sleeves are wet.

[@jamesdep8128]

I added lava rocks to my HOB