So, the whole concept of setting up a sponge filter or changing a filter to bio media and "baffling" (?) the output really confuses me. Could you explain that a bit more? I'm fairly new to fishkeeping and all the guides I've looked at talk about this stuff like I should already know what it does, how to set it up, and how to maintain it.
I just wanna start off by saying thank you for waiting patiently for a reply to this! My laptop kept freezing and answering this kind of in-depth ask on mobile just wasn’t a possibility. So I’ve finally been able to hop onto a desktop and can answer your question! :3long post, under a cut it goes~
Setting up a sponge filter
I’ve talked about sponge filters before! Lemme leave you these links:- Setting up a sponge filter- Sponge filter Pros and Cons
Maintenance: if your sponge filter looks gunked up, just give it a few squeezes, swishes, and squishes in some dechlorinated water or some old tank water during water change!
Changing a filter to bio media
If you’re starting from scratch, brand new tank, hasn’t been cycled yet, just take out the filter cartridges your HOB (hang-on-back) filter came with and throw in some sponge media and/or ceramic media!
On the left is some sponge media and on the right is some ceramic media :)Aquarium Co-op has a video that explains how you can modify filters and he just does such a good job explaining it that I’ll leave him to it!
Now let’s say you’ve already got a tank setup and cycled and you want to switch from filter cartridges to a more permanent media like sponge or ceramic media. Switching over is really similar to “seeding a tank” (more on that here!) since there’s going to be a mix of old media (the stuff that’s been in your filter and is already cycled! most likely a filter cartridge) and new media (of your choosing). The best thing to do is slowly replace the old media, or if both will fit (like a bag of ceramic media and a filter cartridge) just run both the old and new media in the filter for a few weeks (at least 1-2 weeks) that way the newer media is “seeded” and you can take out the old media and add more new media :)
Maintenance: if your media is looking gunky, clean it off in some dechlorinated water or some old tank water during a water change.
If you’re only using filter cartridges, don’t listen to the directions on the box that say to replace them every month or so! If you can, use 2+ at a time that way you can stagger replacing them (again, mixing a little bit of new media, cartridges, in with old media!) so you don’t ever lose your whole cycle! From what I’ve read and heard, most people who use filter cartridges will keep their cartridges until they’re literally falling apart.Maintenance: if your filter cartridge is looking kind of gunked up, rinse it in some dechlorinated water or old tank water during a water change.
If you’re curious about different types of media (chemical, biological (this is the “bio media” we’re talking about in this post!), mechanical) or other types of filtration, this post goes through them and explains what they are and what they do! :)
From time to time, you may need to get all that gunk out of your filter as well!
Baffling
Baffling a filter refers to any modification to lessen or impede the flow of water as it exits the filter and reenters the tank. Usually the current is too strong and baffling helps to slow it down so that it doesn’t push your fish around :)
you can make a baffle like this from a water bottle! there are more pics on this website as well :)
you can 3D print em too! this design could probably be recreated with some craft mesh and creativity :)
you can even make one out of a soap dish!
Some aquariums have built-in filtration with little output nozzles! I have a few myself and I use these prefilter sponges to cover the nozzle so that the current doesn’t push my bettas around!
Some people use aquarium sponges :p
Hopefully that helped to clarify some things anon! :) If there’s anything else you have questions about or if there’s something you’d like me to explain in a different way please let me know!
part one of this askpart two of this askIf anyone has anything to add please feel free to do so :)
Hey! it's the "perfect filter" anon! So I found a little solution to my filter dilemma. My 10 gal is a hex shaped tank that has a gap for a hang on filter, I figured it was just enough space to put in some kind of divider to ease the flow. So what I did is cut a water bottle in half, washed it and nudged it in. it works wonderfully! Water can still flow out but not as hard as before. My male betta LOVES his new home.
Yup! This is called a filter baffle. Instructions are available here for anyone curious.
