How to Make a Sponge Filter Quieter

In this video I'm sharing how to modify an aquarium sponge filter to make it quieter and nearly silent. If you have any questions at all, feel free to email me at [e-mail] and be sure to subscribe to see more amazing aquarium videos!
AQUANEAT Sponge Filter:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
JZMYXA Air Stones:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Anvil Hand Pruner:
tinyurl.com/2etvjdm8
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Check out my other plecostomus videos:
• Plecostomus

[@hoaxgoat]

Thanks so much for this video! I watched last night after setting up my sponge filter for the first time and being shocked how loud the bubbles were. Got an airstone and followed your steps today. It's practically silent now!

[@FoisyAquatics]

Glad I could help!

[@soldierboy_4349]

Just took a massive crap

[@HappyPlaceAquatics]

I’m running 40 sponge filters and my fish room is quiet because of this method. Very informative video.

[@FoisyAquatics]

Glad it helped!

[@larry515]

I had a similar experience with another brand. The majority of my noise was from the fact the bubbler was affixed to the base of the filter causing the entire filter base to vibrate loudly - and those vibrations transferred to the tank. Doing this method, the combination of the smaller bubbles and removing the ridged connection to the filter base reduced those vibrations and loudness. The bubble sound reduction was secondary.

[@soldierboy_4349]

Thank you bro I love you, they were so loud for months

[@emeryhb2355]

Thank you so much! This worked so well even for my small sponge filter!

[@no-knickers-emma1112]

Excellent clear video.

[@itmatters107]

Thanks, nice and super easy to understand and follow, setting up my 2nd tank ever a 20 gallon and I just installed an air stone inside my sponge filter... Yippie !!!

[@FoisyAquatics]

Glad it helped!

[@marymendez4178]

My filter is the Xy-2811 with airstone, it didn't arrived connected so I looked in KZbin and I wasn't able to find the model, until I saw your vid. I knew what to do so thank you so much for this demonstration. If it wasn't for you, I would of returned it asap. A hung thumbs-up and again thank you.

[@FoisyAquatics]

Glad it worked well for you!

[@mehmetbagc8581]

thanks so much!

[@9catlover]

Thank you! i eventually got around to sort my filter. i didn't have a small enough air stone, so just decided to add another tube to attach the air stone on. I think my shrimp is pregnant so added a new sponge as don't want to disturb the tank too much.

[@fishiemon64]

Enjoyed your video 👀👍🏽✌🏽

[@FoisyAquatics]

Thanks 👍

[@craigjenkins2462]

Worked perfectly thank you got rid of noisy filter than this noise and now silence 👍👊

[@FoisyAquatics]

Great to hear!

[@haroldgreen1425]

Do you want it nearly silent and improved by a couple hundred percent? Remove the air line. Next throw away that clear riser tube. Get a piece of 1" pvc and check. It should fit tightly over the riser hub. It takes a bit of expertise if it doesn't fit but with heat you can make the pvc either larger or smaller. Now buy a submersible powerhead. They come in many sizes but the 200/400 will fit in the pvc top of the pipe. Cut the pipe so that the powerhead sitting on it is slightly below the tank surface. Plug it in. It should be very quiet and move far more water through the sponge than air could. You also don't have to listen to an air pump. If you desire air add an air line to the pump output. Normally the pumps come with the connector and filter to do this.

[@filiplaskovski9993]

Good idea man

[@haroldgreen1425]

@@filiplaskovski9993 In truth I've had aquariums for almost 70 years. I've pretty much tried all types of filters. I've had undergravel, Hobs, Hobs hooked up to undergravel, plenums, sponges, box filters, Home made kitchen funnel filters, wet dry below the tank filters, canister filters. The thing is no one filter works in all types of tanks. Powerhead powered filters are the quietest of them all and sump filters are generally the loudest.

[@filiplaskovski9993]

@@haroldgreen1425yeah powerheads are the most silent pumps in my opinion too!!

[@pelhamsaquatics]

Great solution🙂👍🏻 thanks a lot 💯⭐️

[@FoisyAquatics]

You're welcome!

[@rexorcena2020]

oh you are the best! 💋

[@dynasty76088]

If you're trying to do this with the shorter ones with one center section instead of two, it will work, but you'll have to do a little more modifying. Follow these same instructions, but make the black tube and air hose as short as possible to still connect well. Remove the bottom plate(what originally diffuses the air) with a knife, it's connected around the edges the same, but the slots are too small to get pliers in there. The stone should be touching or almost touching the heavy base once you're done.

[@no-knickers-emma1112]

Do a video?

[@sjefh]

The noice of the airpump is also coming from the bubbles. Build a silencer inbetween: Take a plastic tube 20 cm x 3 cm. Stuff the tube with toilet paper really tight. Close the tube airtight on both sides. Drill 2 holes (5mm), 1 at each end of the tube. Your airhose (6mm) will fit airtight in the holes. Now there won't be coming any sound from the bubbles.

[@sjefh]

There is also coming noice from the pump where the air goes in. You need to buil a small silencer here too.

[@LogacysAquaticLove]

This is dope, does it affect the sponge filter at all? As in pulling debris to the sponge?

[@FoisyAquatics]

I haven't noticed a difference!

[@stormshadow5555]

Where did you find the cool tank rack at? Thanks

[@AQUAGUYUK]

You can leave the top one intact but great content

[@NVizz-kq3lm]

What air pump do you use? I'm going from using like 6 small airpumps to one big airpump. Wondering what you use.

[@FoisyAquatics]

www.aquariumcoop.com/products/linear-piston-air-pump?_pos=1&_sid=7079fc142&_ss=r

[@JKFishKeeping]

Dang. BRB 🏃🏻‍♂️

[@shackleDev]

Hi, I want to start pleco breeding as a hobby, i've already made sure that if they overbreed that i could bring the mature enough young plecos to my lfs, but there is one thing i wanted to ask which is if supered longfins would be a good point to start at.

[@FoisyAquatics]

I'd say they would be a good place to start!

[@willparsons32]

I think the only brand of foam filter that you don't need to modify is the "HYDRO Sponge lll" Brand. A bit more expensive than it's knock off imitation brand but an incredible filter NTL!!

[@jaemarple608]

I've use Ziss Adjustable Air Stone. It's super silent and the bubbles are tiny.

[@FoisyAquatics]

Great tip!

[@bidz702]

Damn I just finished this DIY and it didn't really change the noise... I have an airstone about the same size but a little fatter, and only about 1cm from top of the clear tube to surface.... Any idea on some trouble shooting?

[@FoisyAquatics]

Do the bubbles appear smaller than before?

[@bidz702]

@@FoisyAquatics no they don't, still big round and poppin! I've ended up restricting the air flow but I presume that restricts the filtering capacity too :/

[@FoisyAquatics]

The airstone should make smaller bubbles than before

[@Gamer_Goth_Girl]

My sponge filter is making an extremely loud humming noise (not from air pump) will this fix that?

[@Gamer_Goth_Girl]

I’m not fussed on the bubbles it’s just that the actual sponge filter itself is vibrating and loud

[@aaronfiddy4260]

Done mine last night I don't use the clear tube on top.gulper cat might injure.itself

[@callielembke5398]

thanks a lot man it really is quiet

[@FoisyAquatics]

Glad I could help!

[@COPGAMINGYT]

Hello brother, which air pump you are using brother

[@FoisyAquatics]

www.aquariumcoop.com/products/linear-piston-air-pump

[@littlereco]

Is the inner diameter same across all the spring filter sizes?

[@FoisyAquatics]

That I do not know!

[@allisonzone3623]

aquarium coop makes a sponge filter where you can just add the airline tubing and airstone without needing to modify

[@jungleman4800]

Yeah and you can buy like five of these on amazon for the price of one of his.

[@stoneysscapes7544]

@@jungleman4800 can't argue with that 🌋

[@MCorrigan]

I have used both modified and unmodified. Personally I prefer not to modify them.

[@stoneysscapes7544]

Do you care to add to your comment about the choice for no mods ? You can get enough anecdotal evidence, of which you have some. Thx in advance 🧭

[@Pjpuglife]

My sponge filter doesn't do a thing

[@troublingleaf]

Some sponge filters even Come pre silenced

[@FoisyAquatics]

I have heard of these also!

[@jesseklinkenberg9072]

O

[@akwarista-ps1fn]

It will still be filtration? or just bubbles?

[@haroldgreen1425]

Finer bubbles will actually move more water through the filter.

[@getoffyoubassandletsfish8565]

Loud? I’m just imagining the water splashing from the bubbles 🫧!