5 Hacks to Make the PERFECT Sponge Filter

[@GirlTalksFish]

*Do you have any cool sponge filter hacks that I missed? Let me know!*

[@PlatyCove]

Yes, you forgot the potato hack. It's the same thing that you did with the black folder, except you use a potato and it grows.

[@lrso5152]

I cut the basket in my sponge filter, so the airstone and airline tubing come out from the bottom of the sponge, making it so you can hide or at least control the tubing location.

[@midnightbel]

I legit asked aquarium co op if I could do this with filtration pads, and was told no. Asked about the ammonia pad one. Had exact idea for carbon and ammonia pads to help remove stuff from tank that is unneeded. Right out the tap my water is 0.5 ammonia, and after quarantine I wanted to remove meds.

[@rezaali3740]

is the green sludge at 2:14 cynobacteria?

[@MaicoMoon]

What brand of sponge filters come with the the green chimney? I want to get a colored one, instead of the clear white that mine came with. Green would be great, but blue is my favorite color.

[@W-H-O]

I have two more hacks here for you!! (I do this in my turtle tank) 1. If you're using a powerhead as you describe in the video, you can use a second sponge on the output of the powerhead to reduce the flow and double the amount of sponge surface area. I also have hose in between one of the sponges and the powerhead to be able to place a sponge at each end of the tank to ensure good circulation. When doing this I use a small air stone to churn the surface. 2. Use a media bag with a zipper to enclose the sponge so animals which might mistake the sponge for food can't bite pieces off. Put the sponge in the bag and then zip it up around the tube coming out so the output is free to flow but the sponge is fully enclosed. (I'm sure my turtle would've bitten off many pieces by now if I didn't do this!) Happy fishkeeping!

[@hawjfamily321]

I just got in the hobby and I'm hooked right now. I've watched probably all your videos. So helpful. Thank you.

[@deanaquatics716]

I never even thought about the air stone inside the filter. What a genius idea! Thank you

[@richardcolligon4277]

Hi Irene! I've always preferred HOB filters and I've been doing hack's on them since Moses and I were kid's. But now I love using bio ring's and all the different pad's you can use. I even made pad's to remove chocolate, it's a big problem I have. I do use sponge filter's with fry and shrimp.

[@amymandeville8342]

Those Ziss no clog air stones are freaking fantastic and they last a really long time!

[@5766MARIA]

I use a sponge filter in my Snail tank. Works great. Easier maintenance also.

[@drewzero1]

I love the dwarf gourami in the background following your gestures around!

[@GeorgeLeite]

That black plastic cover is a new one for me. Definitely will be adding that hack. I also have to replace my air stone inside my sponge filter. Who knew they don't survive a fall onto a concrete floor. Oops.

[@lucasfaley]

I saw this from LRB as well and did the same concept with slightly different material - I just used the plastic lid from a fountain drink cup.

[@thejesmeister]

Ooooooh!! Black plastic cover = GAME CHANGER 💪🏼🥰

[@quansingleton9097]

Omg thank you.....I ain't know what check valves was used for so cheap but sooooo useful

[@killianmullen]

Omg you are so helpful. I’m thinking on getting fish in the future. so I’m probably going to watch you more often because so i can clean my tank easy.

[@amymandeville8342]

Thanks for the tip on making the cover, too. I can't wait to try it!

[@morganmccarty1917]

My daughter got a betta for her birthday. We went from a bowl. To a 1 gallon to a cycled 10 gallon tank all because of your videos. 🙏🏻 it’s now my fish 😂 thank you!

[@johndunbar5889]

Really enjoy your delivery. Thank you

[@PaulC.494]

Those attachments to the airline I have used for a long time, the hole can be larger than the tubing and material that floats is used so it adjusts automatically to the water level.

[@livencali1]

Thank you, thank you and thank you so much 💗. Your video just helped me realize that I had the flapper horizontal bar the wrong way in the tubbing and was getting no air flow. You are amazing 👏 🤩 ❤️. Thank you and GOD bless you.

[@PROMOERECTUS]

I picked up the plastic bubble stopper from Lucas as well. Great hack.

[@alaskacosplay]

I used to have a sponge filter but I have upgraded to a powerhead driven filter since it's much quieter rather than the buzzing of the airpump.

[@SClarkeOhlendorf]

Great job (as usual!), Irene! I always enjoy your videos. Thank you for sharing yourself, your skills, your experience, and your skills with us. It can be difficult to be in the limelight, but you keep showing up in helpful ways. Thank you so much!

[@cupcakeguy22]

I always love your hacks 💚 so helpful and informative.

[@undergroundfishkeepingsociety]

Good idea ! 👏👏👏

[@glassboxfish]

Definitely needed the hack for more flow, I have tons of surface agitation but the the rest of the tank needs it

[@eviecausey1115]

I love your videos, they are the absolute best for a beginner like me. You do a great job at explaining everything in a easy to understand way. I have found you answer a lot of questions I had and probably saved my fish and plants. Thank for your hard work.

[@Nezra4200]

Great video!

[@danafarris5432]

Great video great info.

[@quki3]

Question regarding sponge filter with power head- do I leave air stone? Thank you 🙏

[@macehysteria2806]

I can't believe I haven't had a air filter explained to me yet 🙄 thank you

[@frankstine5233]

i added a tube leading up to a 90 degree angle tube 1/2 in out the water. the bubles push water up tube and out like a foutain

[@elizabethangus4758]

Oh yeah, I have a ton of those filter pads that come with hobs. Would those be appropriate for the last hack presented here? They almost all include carbon.

[@PlatyCove]

Nice video! I really enjoy aquarium hack videos. I don't know why but they're so addicting.😂

[@ESF19791111]

GOOD EXPLANATION VIDEO :) THANK YOU FOR SHARING :) THANK YOU FROM ISRAEL :)

[@johndunbar5889]

Thank you for your vids

[@robertcarlosllenarizas7987]

Please feature hang on filter hobs using airstone... lets see the difference of the two between them.

[@johnjwedrall4290]

Very helpful hacks 👍👍

[@helenpham2268]

Question: Bought an aquarium, trying to set it up, haven't set it up yet but need to do it soon as it will take a while (I don't know where to get a sponge with beneficial bacteria already seeded in it, so I'm doing it the old fashion way with food.) I am planning to add an extra sponge in the back to get more room for beneficial bacteria, but I didn't realize that the sponge would come like a month late. *If I start to cycle the tank now and add a sponge later, will that affect the cycling process in any way?*

[@TheRoGoKop]

No, it will just provide more places for bacteria to grow when you add the additional sponge later. You should be good!

[@helenpham2268]

@@TheRoGoKop Alrighty then. Thank You!

[@jamesclough2638]

Good tips

[@Rin-vj4wg]

Can you do a review of the aquarium co-op hang on back filters?

[@totalximmortal]

Can you do the filter pad and rubber band trick with a mesh bag of Seachem Purigen? I'm trying to find a way to add that to my tank and use a sponge filter.

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

awesome vid

[@blockchainoverdrive6090]

Do you have any video regarding new hob that doesn't have the power outage weakness?

[@sandradolbel2578]

So..If I stop the bubbles popping at the top does it impact the surface agitation? I just did it...total game changer but just wanted to make sure I did it correctly

[@oruwatching]

I'm looking for a hack. Maybe you can help. I use sponge and box filters in all my tanks. Removing the airline to clean filters is a hassle. Have you ever found an easy way to remove an airline or a quick disconnect? Thanks

[@haileysalvio564]

would you suggest this method for a 50 gal Common goldfish tank? or the Ziss Bubble bio? i don’t care about crystal clear water i’m just trying to bring my nitrite down):

[@sairvinginthestacks]

I have to try the plastic folder. The back of my tanks uses egg crate diffuser and I get mineral deposits everywhere.

[@nnguyen404]

I used hack #3. Genius! Thanks

[@kelyse88]

I'm spinning up a new betta and betta friendly friends tank. I definitely ended up getting a sponge filter for the gentle flow. However, I have a hard water issue. Do you (or anyone in the subscription) know if those media/filter pads could work?

[@MissChelle]

Please please please tell me where I can get the tiny air stone thingy. I watched another of your videos with the tip about adding it, however haven’t been able to find one small enough here in Australia. I checked out co-ops website but it’s not there 🙁❤️🇦🇺

[@bojohannesen4352]

So you prefer the sound of a soda fizzing for ever rather than the cauldron bubbling

[@garthantash]

I use the double style sponge filters on all my shrimp tanks and wish I could work out a way to quiet the bubbling. Since it has an output head rather than a simple lift tube, there is no means to effectively put in an air stone I can work out.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Oh man, that stinks! I wonder if someone has come up with a hack for that type.

[@aheimsvensson1573]

It´s impossible to run an airpump in any livingroom if you are a human, they make so moch noise it turns you crazy! I use only internal filter for that reason and my favorite is aqualel fan filters or turbofilters....

[@drchango1958]

I need that shirt.

[@BurnzAd6]

AC 50 or 70 for a planted 30 gallon tank with an intake sponge on the filter?

[@MaicoMoon]

What brand of sponge filters come with the the green chimney? I want to get a colored one, instead of the clear white that mine came with. Green would be great, but blue is my favorite color.

[@merkedmiles4655]

i know this is an old comment but aquarium co op is the brand that makes green intake tubed

[@yasukoherron2048]

Many of my tank have sponge filter and,sometimes, bubbles comes out from top part's side of the plastic tube... I pulled out and put back in and see if it works to stop bubbles from sides but still coming out one bubble in about 3 seconds.What is causing this issue?Thank you.

[@hooman2543]

Make a video about diy sponge filter it will be very worthy to us...!

[@BA-kk7bj]

Can anyone tell me about seeding if you DON'T have a tank already? And I don't understand how I clean it without taking the good bacteria away? Is there a video for this already?

[@ashleighwatts7991]

I followed one of your other videos for the airstone but my airstone doesn't have a place on the bottom of it to connect to the bottom of the filter and I've been stressed that it's not working correctly? There's bubbles, im just a nervous nelly

[@Darkestbefourdawn]

Your Gourami hammed it up a lot in this video and I apricate it

[@GirlTalksFish]

Lol, Unicron is quite the character... He's been making bubble nests recently, which is so cool because I usually only see betta fish so that.

[@jigokutsuushin]

@@GirlTalksFish Maybe time to get him a lady friend?

[@WhatIsMisophonia]

If your powerhead has a built in venturi vacuum, you'll get air bubbles for surface agitation regardless of where you're aiming the power head.

[@alyssalaurenti3159]

I just recently switched to a sponge filter for my 3gal betta tank and there seem to be a LOT of bubbles. Will that bother the fish? I feel like the filter I had before this was too strong for the fish, but not sure if my sponge filter is actually creating a current or just bubbles.

[@midnightthebettafish589]

That’s probably because your tank isn’t big enough. Bettas need at least 5 gallons of water to live their full lifespan.

[@nslfish9156]

question, have you seen your otocinclus eat baby brine shrimp?

[@GirlTalksFish]

Yup, mine seen to like them.

[@nslfish9156]

@@GirlTalksFish thanks for letting me know!

[@tig3r_lily]

I've never needed a check valve to keep water from coming back up the air tubes. I see this tip all the time but its never happened to me with 5 years of fish keeping with 9 tanks. Not sure why I get so lucky when the power goes out but Its never been needed for me.

[@echoesvayne9790]

Are your air pumps higher than the water level?

[@Fishguy13]

I agree and mine are on the floor!

[@stevevereb9121]

Get a check valve for the same reason you buy car insurance even though you have not been in an accident.

[@Joey-Jdi]

Only applies if your pump is below the filter level. Water can’t rise on its own. But it can siphon on its own if given the chance. Easy fix put the air pump slightly above the filter

[@NoahGuerin-rk5lr]

Happend to me one time never again gotta put everything set up before u turn it ok cause if it’s pumping air when u put air line one it won’t suction right

[@maegn]

Hmmmm! Do you think I could just rubber band a Purigen packet to my sponge filter?!?! I will have to try that!

[@littlemidwestrebornsdolls]

Cool hacks!! I do have a check valve. And an air stone. The rest were new to me. Gina Hetlage

[@VroomvroomNY]

It doesn't matter where the check valve it placed. If the air pump stops no water will back flow at all! I put mine in front of the air pump so I don't have to look at them!

[@r.razamhd]

0:47 you are wrong you can install check valve in any are of air line tube water won't go inside the tube

[@Tiersmoke92555]

In 35 years of fish keeping I have never used a check valve. Nor have I had an air line leak or flood. Guess I have been lucky.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Oh man, I had a power outage and my brine shrimp hatchery leaked salt water and unhatched eggs all over my kitchen counter and underneath a tank. It was awful!

[@No58754]

Good thing my pump has a built-in check valve

[@theplantycorner]

she didn't mention it, but Im going to assume she was demo-ing the nano size filter?

[@Hihelloto]

My sponge filter is attached to canister filter

[@jack27nikk38]

Yo I got 2 Assassin snails yesterday, they were kept in tank with 10-15 others, i wonder will these 2 breed in my tank or do i need to get more Also can you make videos on Snails type/care🙃😬

[@mannypickard479]

❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@Unclesam629]

The metal is rusted, you need a new tank 😅

[@johncameron4194]

I put my air pump on a basket

[@sukrutmhatre3625]

First 2 like and watch

[@g41thomas]

How about dating more and playing less with aquarium 😊

[@SG-Cichlids]

The size of pores in the sponge filter you have there isn't in any way mechanical filtration. Sponge filter can keep ammonia and nitrite at zero but other than that are terrible filtration. The only place I'd ever use one to solely filter a tank is on a 10 gallon or less. They move very little water through them. If you want to improve how much water they move you need to replace the clear tube with a longer one.

[@Robert-zq6wn]

You complain about the sponge filter just throw it in the garbage and get a real filter. I use a Sobo top filter on my aquarium and it has a powerhead. The next thing I don't like about your setup is that you use substrate and make a nitrates factory. If you're talking to the people that only have one aquarium your setup is a disaster. People like me doesn't want to have a lot of work with their aquarium. I do water test every other day and I have never had any nitrates on my setup. I use pothos to take care of the nitrates and no water change.

[@man4290]

Are you male or female?

[@MAL1GNANT]

how do you think you're a girl