How to Install a Double Sponge Filter

How to setup a double sponge filter in aquarium:

Sponge filter allows water to pass through the sponge. The double sponge filter can offer mechanical filtration & there are no biological or chemical filtration media. But bacteria colonies begin to grow on large surface area of sponge & it will start offering biological filtration too. Such filters are available in various sizes & designs which depends on your aquarium. 

Sponge filters offer mechanical & biological filtration. It can be used to offer both aeration & filtration by only setting up an airline in the Sponge filter. Such filters can remove waste from water using the double sponge & only clean water enters the sponge filter. Double sponge filters are ideal for fish fry aquarium because it collects waste & do not trap fish fry. They are extensively used in breeding aquariums. Double sponge filter can also have a container that can be used to add biological filtration media. Only clean water is allowed to enter sponge & hence bacteria colonies build up on the surface of biological media. 

Double sponge filter can serve in many aquariums that contain different species of fish. Maximum tank size for double sponge filter is 20 Gallons. Beyond this size, double sponge filter may not provide the best results. 

I am going to demonstrate how to setup a double sponge filter & I will also tell you why sponge filters are very important & how energy efficient they are because you will only need 1 air pump to carry out filtration in multiple fish tanks.

How to install double sponge filter in fish tank:

In this tutorial I will show the easiest way to arrange double sponge filter in aquarium:

Arrange double sponge filter in fish tank

Step 1: I want to change my old filter:

DIY Aquarium Double Sponge Filter

Sponge filter setup is very simple. You can buy a double sponge filter for as low as $8 & it comes with the complete package including the suction cups which can be used to attach filter to aquarium glass. I had a DIY twin outlet pump already working in my recently cycled gold fish aquarium. I have only 1 twin outlet pump to operate filters in multiple aquariums. To convert twin outlet pump into triple outlet pump I used a T-shape connector. Hence I am using only 1 pump to aerate multiple aquariums.

Step 2: Air pump specifications:

Air Pump Specifications

The air pump I am using is Aqua One Precision 9500 & it can drive 400 liters of water in 1 hour. Normal pumps have a single outlet but the pump I am using comes with double outlets. Each outlet has the capacity of driving 200 liters in an hour. There are 3 settings for your air pump which can let it operate at high, medium & low flow rates. The air pump can provide 5.2 Watt of power which makes it economical as compared to other pumps. I am using a sponge filter that only needs an air pump to operate it so the whole setup is energy efficient.

Also you can buy this Sponge Filter: Double Sponge Filter Online

Step 3: How twin sponge filter works:

Double sponge aquarium filter

In my previous video I have setup a DIY internal bottle filter. I also mentioned that I have already ordered a Sponge filter on Ebay [1]. Adjust height of the telescopic tube which can release water [2]. The water will be sucked by the sponges & all the waste particles will be removed from the water before water enters the telescopic tube. The water is pumped out from the telescopic tube outlet. 

                        Air Tube at back of main tube               |  Water is sucked from both ends 

                                   pushes air down                          (sponges) & flows through main tube

I have removed both sponges & there is an air tube at the back of the telescopic tube [1]. It pushes air down which escapes through the main tube & creates suction [2]. Water is sucked from both sides & it flows through the sponges all the way up & goes back into the fish tank. All the waste particles or debris will be trapped inside the sponges.

Step 4: Attach sponge filter to aquarium glass & test it:

Attach filter to aquarium glass & test it

When I lower the sponge filter inside fish tank I feel some resistance because air is trapped inside the sponges. Pressing the sponges will release all the trapped air. You can see in the video the air bubbles are coming out when I squeeze the sponge. I am lucky that my filter comes with suction cups which can be used to attach filter to the tank glass so even though there is still trapped air inside the sponges, I can attach filter to the aquarium glass using suction cups [1]. I am attaching an air tube to the filter which connects sponge filter to the air pump [2].

Step 5: Design T shape connector to run 2 aquariums with a single air pump:

                                     Design T connector             |          Test double sponge filter

In my case 2 aquariums share the same air pump & I am going to discuss how to do it. This T shape connector can help me in creating multiple connections [1]. I can simply convert double outlet air pump to triple outlet. Now I have successfully setup my double sponge filter in aquarium. I will turn on the air pump power to see how it works [2]. Filter is working fine & I can watch bubbles are coming out & flow rate is not that high because I am sharing one air pump for running multiple filters.

Pros & cons of twin sponge filter:

Twin sponge filter does not hold biological media but it can still provide biological filtration because colonies of bacteria begins to grow on large surface of sponge. So it can offer biological filtration along with mechanical filtration which keeps tank clean. However, double sponge filters do not look tidy & hobbyists do not like them because they are oversize & have 2 visible sponges. The maintenance required for twin sponge filter is lower than other types of filters. They are cheap & are suitable for fry aquarium because fry fish could be sucked into the intake of normal filters.