How Do Sponge Filters Work?

[@whanethewhip]

Here is how it works: The act of pushing air into the water creates a vacuum that pulls water through the filter(s). The effect is similar to rushing your hand through pool water and feeling the suction that it creates around your hand. The end result is that you get non-chemical filtration and oxygen-rich water.

[@sadiesstuff4270]

👍

[@staf0626]

I think the air also reduces the pressure and/or density in the column causing the water to flow through sponges into the column in order to equalize.

[@alexjackson2823]

Lol ive being doing research on sponge filters and here I find this vid on recommended great video mate.

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Glad I could help

[@rickyhyattmoody8768]

Thank you so much for braking it down so I could understand

[@area5136]

Thanks! This helps a lot. I was struggling finding a good filter that doesn't represents a danger for Shrimplets in my aquarium, and I can see this is for far the best option

[@inkyias9822]

Works great for my shrimp tank

[@tr4dcj]

I feel so stupid just spending $70 on a huge hang on back filter lol, definitely going to try these guys out! love the videos sm!

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Thanks heaps! Don't feel stupid, they are still perfectly fine to use

[@Fatherbouba]

70 is too much my man. Please make sure to be in contact with the community for tips and advice.

[@paulrichardson2229]

Cheers Nick great video on the sponge filters, i’ve been in the hobby only for just over 12 months and must admit i got sucked into all these fancy internal and hang on filters , i was running the Fluval c2 and as i didn’t no any better the instructions were to replace the media in these every month which was getting expensive , you got me interested in the sponges when i come across your videos. Also one of my tanks was a molly tank and having fry i was so excited but then they would slowly disappear, i no the mum eats some as i was just letting them do their own thing in a communal tank, but i also discovered that the fluval was sucking up the fry, so hence i switched to sponge filters and the tank is going great, still clean and clear and now i have another lot of 15 baby fry swimming around, and surviving and safe, the fry i noticed even hang around the sponges feeding . Great stuff love it

[@norahsindoorfarm]

Ive gone through 6 hang on back filters in the last 6 months and I was so done with them.. I just got 3 of those little sponge filters for my tanks and i'm excited to see how they help keep it clean. Thank you for this video!

[@AmishHitman73.Archive]

update?

[@norahsindoorfarm]

@@AmishHitman73.Archive They're my favorite! now have 5 tanks all with sponge filters. they're super easy to clean and maintain as well

[@AmishHitman73.Archive]

@@norahsindoorfarm awesomeness!

[@guru1444]

Sponge filter is ultimate bro.. Good work...from India

[@KeepingFishSimple]

It really is!

[@Old.RedFox]

Brilliant. No other channel explains this. Thank you.

[@LiveAquarium-ym9fo]

Best explanation on all KZbin.i have subscribed! Thanks mate!

[@joshbonner9409]

These work incredibly well.

[@nayanmistry4641]

Great informative video yet again. I never understood how these filters work, and now I do. Great, cheers Nick

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Happy to help!

[@TheLargino]

@@KeepingFishSimple The physics principle is known as the Venturi Effect. The same principle is used is old school carburetors to suck fuel into petrol engines.

[@dguo111]

Good video.. also from India

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Thanks! 😃

[@amtravelsaus]

My favourite filters i use in ALL my tanks . About to make a HUGE one , connecting a Sponge to a pond pump 👌

[@gafam8500]

Nice video mate.

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Thanks!

[@ilvll]

Thank you! Please consider a video explaining the air pumps that you would use!

[@lilycara5249]

short and concise - great vid

[@BodgieFromStraya]

nice one mate! good to get into the bare details of how these filters work!

[@jackaquatics7463]

Nice vide👍👍👍👍

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Thanks for the visit again!

[@sonhuynh8222]

Great explanation .... nice and simple process 👍🏼

[@mezserpent200]

I didn't know they work until now!

[@liambomb1234]

Great video a couple of video ideas you have mentioned you have a creek near your house could you go down there and catch some wild guppies or mosquito fish also can you talk about how you ship and what you can do shipping wise in Australia but great video. please respond

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Possibly with the creek, but definitely with the shipping! Dm me on insta if you want details about shipping stuff

[@liambomb1234]

@@KeepingFishSimple Okay thanks

[@gary7757]

I am just starting out in aquaristics. I bought an aquarium yesterday. Now you have convinced me with the sponge filters. I have now bought a sponge filter with an integrated air pump, but the rating is relatively poor. Now my question is, which air pump do you use? I have heard that the Hailea air pump is good

[@L.C123]

I’m about to get my first tank (I have a bowl...yes I know that’s why I’m getting a tank!) I currently have 1 goldfish but I plan on getting at least one more and a few little tank mates (I’ve researched what fish can be with comet goldfish) but can you also give me suggestions please?? I came here to see if I need an air pump with a sponge filter and if it’s the best one!? It seems like it so thank you for the video!☺️

[@jarettm3694]

Do I use this in addition to my hang on filter it came with or just this? I have a 30 gallon

[@mrgoodvibs3742]

The suction is created by a pressure difference due to difference surrounding media. The sponges being lower and in water has higher pressure, the outlet is above the water has lower pressure. The systems tries to reach Equilibrium therefore the water flows from high pressure to low pressure.

[@stationaryobsessive]

Thank you!

[@thebushchechen]

Love ya vids homie!!! And yes best filters within putting mine in I haven’t ever seen my tank so clear within 5 hours of working. Wicked filters but suggest u get a very quiet air pump ... it can get pretty loud

[@johncameron4194]

I had no idea wow… thank you

[@kercoribamollymalone2320]

Excellent video helps loads 👌

[@Mic-iz1gz]

Can i use the small one on my ten gal long? Can i put two of them in the 10g or just level up to the next size up? What wattage air pump will work? I have a 3 wattage one i just got will that work

[@thearabiansahara]

Thanks mate!

[@PaulFischer]

Thanks for explaining it to this millennial 😆 Just got myself one of the “sinking” varieties myself for a quarantine tank. Cheers

[@Crete32]

Thank you for this video! Quick question: Does reducing the airflow from the pump significantly decrease the filter's effectiveness? I ask because I have fish that prefer less turbulent flow.

[@michaelsamai3218]

Not by a lot.

[@patriziabeaucage258]

Have you seen any of these suction cup type filters with a more coarse sponge? The ones I'm seeing are very fine

[@nazmiaiman8462]

how many airflow rating should i used for sponge filter? i dont find this anywhere

[@elcazador9963]

On your dual sponge can you use an airstone?

[@elcazador9963]

Would thw airstone in the efficiency?

[@xoxoyantarxoxo]

The second model you showed you can actually put filter media inside

[@unusualaquariumecosystems5805]

Definitely like sponge filters, they are good at getting bits out and you can clean them and reuse...

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Definitely!!

[@Aquafinity]

Do you have soil in any of your fish tanks?

[@jessearcos3281]

So do u recommend switching out our hang on back filter to a sponge filter.?

[@human__________]

there's no reason to switch if you already have a filter. If you want, you can upgrade what's inside the filter you already have though. Pull out the crappy cartridges or whatever and throw in some filter floss or something. If you want to go nuts you can add more biological media. Throw in some Seachem Purigen too if you want nice shiny water. What he fails to mention in the video is that you use air pump sponge filter you have to listen to a bloody air pump 24/7. You can hear them in the video.

[@joshuabarboza1092]

How do i know which one is good for my tank like how big of a sponge filter should i get?

[@Bobby11]

Some of your best friends are sponges? :O

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Yea, isolation feels :(

[@cutest_animals]

@@KeepingFishSimple 😂😂

[@sarahroper647]

I love sponge filters too

[@lucyfinch-pablo6052]

Hi there! Thank you sooo much for this video... I’ve had my tank for a good 9 months now and I have guppies and Corys, they seem to be fine with a normal filter but when I got my betta :( he lasted 3 months then got stressed 😫 and died..... I’ve just changed to a POWKOO sponge filter and I was worried it wouldn’t work the same as the one I got from a pet store... which doesn’t work that well anymore 🙄 and I haven’t had it that long... it was £27 🤦🏽‍♀️ gonna leave it another few months and then get another betta 🧡 this video helped my anxiety about the sponge filter as I didn’t want to kill my other fish

[@judd1271]

Loved it

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Thanks!!

[@andreeacatalin8260]

Y made one similar filter from one 0,5 l plastic bottle with ceramic rings...worked ok but was to small for my 45l aquarium and used 2 electric filtres... (at my pestshop sponge filtrer similar with what you show was to expensive....because y need to buy one more powerfull air pump). Y use 2 filtres because y can keep water more clean and all time wash only one filter (lose less good bacteria)

[@blinkwithoutdelay]

I didnt knew that, there millions of people who love to keep aquarium and fish.

[@ryanwalter757]

I personally reckon the zist bio bubble sponge filters deliver a lot more better filtration for shrimps there is another one that I have been using and I've had a lot of success when it comes breeding shrimp

[@RobAndrews18]

Sponge filters are my best friends. I have 12 tanks, so i have 12 sponge filteds too. These sponges last like forever. Hahah

[@libby.t4424]

So if I buy sponge filters for my tanks can I put them straight in and remove my hang on and canisters?

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Give them two weeks or so to develop some beneficial bacteria !

[@libby.t4424]

@@KeepingFishSimple thankyou! will definitely change over .

[@flyingbluejay9081]

i don't know why, but in your intro i didn't hear your name, instead i heard "King Fish Nipples"

[@MoreLikeMerMad]

Hello! I hope someone can help me even though this video is pretty old. My fish tank is fairly shallow as I'm giving my plants a lot of substrate. Will the physics of the sponge filter (the smaller kind with one sponge) still work if I take that plastic straw bit off the top? The bubbles are still going up obviously but will it still cause the same water siphoning effect? What if I cut it in half?

[@kingbeastie]

The laws of physics say it will still work. The air/oxygen is a gas and so will immediately rise to the top of the water (because water is a liquid). I think cutting down the plastic release pipe/straw as much as you can will still be of benefit as it would focus the air (gas) output in the upward direction. This would have the benefit of disrupting the water surface well and will make your water more oxygenated. At least that's how I see it how it working! I hope you have it running as you want it too and all is well.

[@MoreLikeMerMad]

@@kingbeastie Thank you for the advice! That's exactly what I did, I really was unsure about going without the straw. It's been working great!

[@sethdouglas2765]

Man you stretched that first 2 minutes out. Yes I should have fast forwarded, but damn.

[@Vidmix12345]

Does it work without electricity?

[@Gabriel.terluk]

Of course it doesn’t

[@michaelharrity9795]

How do I setup a sponge filter for my 40 gal breeder

[@prometheus4024]

just 1 on each side, dual pump, use them in an existing tank first to get them seeded

[@yourxiao4951]

😁😁😁

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Early!

[@yourxiao4951]

@@KeepingFishSimple always hahaha

[@molliedanielle8534]

are they pretty much silent?

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Yes

[@filiplaskovski9993]

When bubbles rise through the tube it creates a low pressure zone and water rushes through the sponge to fill the void

[@gmanz5757]

I need buy some sponge filters then thanks nick

[@asphyxiated1242]

I put my sponge filter in my tank over a year ago, have never rinsed it, and it still looks almost brand new. Maybe a little algae. I can't tell if its doing literally anything other than homing bacteria lmao.

[@bigcheapskate]

Sounds like a problem I used to have, and then I started getting bigger ones… about 20 gallons stronger than my tank size. For instance, in my hundred gallon I have have a sponge filter met for a 120 gallon aquarium

[@ProducedbyPDot]

so you dont use carbon at all to assist in filtration

[@chriss8206]

Ever tested the actual flow rate. Do it

[@laughingbuddha28]

👍🏼

[@johnmartin4650]

Aqua Clear Filters are different……squeeze out sponges only in tank water ….fresh water will remove the beneficial bacteria….it’s a very important detail not always mentioned

[@Kdot_osrs]

I like sponge filters because the food can get sucked to it and fish , shrimp and snails eat the left overs. Filters pull all the foods away from the fish. I’ve seen my sponge filters dirty then the next day my Otto’s have ate all the stuff from the sponge

[@jimberence]

particle physic ideas

[@jeffinjoseph8916]

I am gonna try and make one with a bunch of bottles and dish scrubs I got lying about wish me luck 😂

[@michaelsamai3218]

A good example of how they work is to blow air into a glass of milk or some liquid.

[@johncameron4194]

So I filter my water, they get air and I’m saving money and my fish from getting sucked up? Omg I’m now just learning about these!

[@alyssadavis5128]

One more mystery of the universe... solved

[@AlaskanGaming_69]

I have a normal filter and I just use a wash cloth for it hahahahah

[@guru1444]

Wash it in running water..

[@KeepingFishSimple]

I like to use old aquarium water because chlorine in tap water will kill all the beneficial bacteria in the filter.

[@guru1444]

@@KeepingFishSimple Good 😎😎

[@communityfish9803]

Venturi effect

[@GrandAdmiralBrawn]

liked and subscribed for the boomer comment

[@ronin6158]

anyone ever tested the amount of water that gets actually sucked through the filters? it must be minimal.

[@angmaginoongwaray.9076]

Wew., show a demo.

[@BrendenNino]

Not to be that guy but sucking and blowing don’t exist is the absence of pressure that creates a pocket of pressure creating flow. But either way yes it can create a “sucking” effect. Example blowing air. You “suck” in creating a higher pressure chamber in your lungs allowing the pressure of the outside air to be lower than your lungs forcing air into your lungs. The you “blow” releasing the chambered pressure and now the pressure in your lungs is lower than the atmosphere forcing the air back out. Blah blah blah yea I know people don’t care about technicalities, but that’s how it is

[@Gdf353bgy]

On the subject of "good bacteria" No you do not need to buy it (things like bio substrate), and if your raising a Betta then chances are you can just put the old water right into your new tank with water and water conditioner. You can cycle it to be extra safe but if you're buying a Betta from a reputable source and the Betta looks healthy then it will survive. HOW DOES THE BACTERIA GET THERE? The "good" bacteria WILL SPONTANEOUSLY APPEAR. In the world of microbiology there's bacteria EVERYWHERE and your sponge filter is condensing all of that fish poop and ammonia all into one source. THIS AMMONIA AND WASTE IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF NUTRITION INSIDE OF THE POROUS SPONGE. That means that bacteria that naturally consume and digest those waste products will naturally multiply inside of your sponge filter. You can keep your sponge filter "alive" with the good bacteria by keeping the sponges soaked at all times in your aquarium water and by rinsing it in the old tank water. Can you clean your sponge filter in tap water? Sure, but just make sure that you leave some of the decorations, gravel, and plants uncleaned when doing your water change as good bacteria stick to those and you'll end up killing or washing away alot of good bacteria by rinsing your sponge in plain tap water. It's not the end of the world if you want to clean it in just tap water but just keep your decorations in place

[@ChefTrak]

He’s fish Andrew garfield

[@ihavecojones]

Joke's on them... I just wash my filters and only replace the Carbon when needed(which is darn cheap) ... 5 bucks for a piece of synthetic wool or a sponge... that you can just clean up under the tap? What am I? Made of money?

[@jack27nikk38]

Old haha xD

[@ChrisStuckey-x6l]

This guy is so sexy 🥵

[@my.ofviuacctome3799]

Dammmm ur so cute

[@freeman8382]

Thank you !