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- Опубликовано: 2 дек 2024
- What is the BEST filter media? What provides the essential elements we want in aquarium filter media? What should we use that saves us money but doesn't compromise the quality of filtration?
I set these as the benchmarks:
Good Water Flow
Particle Removal
Oxygenation
Harbors Beneficial Bacteria
Easy Maintenance
Long Lasting
Reasonably Priced
I've used them all, from Biohome to Seachem Matrix to MarinePure, on and on, and there's one that stands above all the rest in those vital categories noted above.
What's been your experience with filter media? Be sure to share your thoughts and tips in the comment section. We all learn from each other at this channel. Remember to always be learning and don't ever forget that you reading this right now - YOU ROCK!
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Lighting of the 300 gallon African Cichlid tank provided by JC&P, Hygger/AQQA and ABESTFISH full spec LED RGB.
For JC&P LED lights and the other aquarium products they offer use this link: jcpaquarium.com?sca_ref=936021.gPiOsPIQTH
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Thank you HalfMan HalfCichlid for the video topic idea! Visit his channel here:
/ @halfmanhalfcichlid
Remember that fish keeping is truly a fluid situation and what works for one set-up might not work for another. Do plenty of research gathering information from several reliable sources before making any changes in your aquarium.
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Live Streaming
Join me and a great group of fish keepers on Saturday's at 11am Central (that's 9am Pacific / Noon Eastern) for The Cichlids & Coffee live stream. It's a great hour of fish fun and gets into everything from setting up a tank, filtration, fish selection and everything in between. I hope to see you there.
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![Clear Water in a New Tank *HOW I DO IT* [Clears up Old Tanks Too!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/r47fRgBi2EI/mqdefault.jpg)
Just got a betta on a rescue impulse...I am a goldfish/koi pond person of 30 ish years.....my last tropical tank was in my preteens🤣
Love your channel for your nuts and bolts explanations .....thank you for being clear and to the point!!!!
Thank you Beverly 😀👍🏻
Great video. The author of aquariumscience did lots of testing in this area. He found 30 ppi foam to be the best for biofitration (surface area and water flow needed), followed "pot scrubbers" and K1 media. I have Fluval x07 canisters on all my tanks, the bottom tray with course/med/fine sponge for mechanical and bio filtering, and upper trays filled with K1 media or pot scrubbers for bio. Cleaning infrequent, water crystal clear in all tanks.
I'm convinced now on the use of quality medium sponge in the bio trays of my canisters, instead of the ceramic rings or rocks. Two practical benefits, a big reduction in weight and the much better and additional mechanical filtration of the sponge. Bio function is no change, nitrate only and the fish have been there a long time. Great video and livestream today. Thank you.
Hi I am really your number one fan from Egypt
Thank's a lot for your efforts
This is the first time I reached second like😊
And first comment 😂
Hello Islam, Send me your mailing address and let me send you some channel stickers 😉😀👍🏻. Send to ben.o.cichlid@gmail.com
I totally agree with you Ben, and it doesn't matter wether your on a budget either. There really are no negative points but just all positives
Poret foam from Swiss tropicals is the best bang for your buck hands down
I agree sir
Thanks for this.
I use 10 ppi Swiss tropical sponge as well in my sump. Water flows down on top of the sponge covered with quilt batting I get from walmart.. tank crystal clear. When the batting gets dirty I just replace it. A roll cost $5.
Thanks for the information….I use floor cleaning pads….the round commercial ones used by janitorial companies. They have different grades of stiffness. I also have found that shade cloth works well and bird netting pilled up in layers works fantastic. All easy to clean and reusable. You have a great blog…you speak very clear and are a wealth of information. Thanks
I am glad that people across the ocean have similar views on filtration in the aquarium. Yes, matrix works, siporax works too, but sponges work similarly, cost less and combine mechanical filtration and biological filtration into one. Thanks, sub, like from Polish aquarist.
I’m a Seachem matrix fan 👍
How did I not see the lights on your tank, Love that! sponges are awesome definitely agree with you there. Great video as always
The Christmas lights? I put them on for the Christmas live stream giveaway but liked them so much I left them on🤣
@@BenOchart Yes, its perfect for the season 😆
I agree with you as well every one of my hob filters have more sponges and my new 330 gallon aquarium sump is lava rocks and sponges some poly fill from hobby lobby. Very inexpensive. Love your videos great work my friend.
Love this video cuz this is what I just did to my 2 tanks. I have a course 20 or 25ppi sponge on the pre intake tube and have 40ppi sponge inside the back of the hobs. Just got rid of the cartridges. Plus I have a sponge filter in each tank too. 2 weeks in with all sponges and so far so good.
Perfect😀👍🏻
Nice Vid… I use my Own Filter Media.. & The Money You Can Save.. Without A Doubt My Water is Clearer longer .. Its A Great Save.. Thanks Again..😅
I love using sponges another thing I used to cut cost scrub pads and I like lava rock I think both of those work good as well..
I have used sponges and bioballs for the last 30 years.Last FOREVER and cleaning is easy.Used them in sumps canisters and hang ons.Glad u finally caught up.😜
I’ve been saying this for a long time now, glad to see a RUclipsr such as yourself see the same reasons I do for why sponge is king.
I always tell people, why waste your space in the filter with rocks when sponge can do double duty?
A lot of the filters I have come with “bio media” and I’ve been slowly buying rolls of sponge to replace it. Tanks are much cleaner as a result.
Poret foam. Look it up. It will save you lots of headaches. I’ve run an entire sump with just poret foam. Once a year maintenance and crystal clear water
I agree completely with the sponges when I first started I used to have a filter that had sponges and I believe it was cotton balls if I remember correctly and it was great now there’s so many different things to use you have no clue unless you actually use one or read on it first before you buy it.
I agree. In my 10 gallon tank I run an Aquaclear 20 full of aquaclear's sponges. I put 2, and a half cut on size. Crystal clear water all the time. 👍🏻😀👍🏻
Expensive filter media makers hate us 🤣😀👍🏻
I agree with you on the sponge media. I'm always on a budget so I have used them for years.
Ben, thank you for another great video! After being out of the hobby for quite a few years I'm diving back in and you've been my " go to" . I'm going to be setting up a 75g African Cichlid tank with an aquascape similar to the one in the tank behind you in the video and was wondering what plant that is? Thanks again for all the great videos! Keep up the great work!!
I wasn't too keen on canister filters till I got 1
a few weeks ago & that's what I have in it, &
I just ordered another 1 for another tank.
I have a few pumps that I could use for extra
filtration if & when I need to, so when it comes
to filtration I have plenty to work with if need be.
I'm coming up on three years using Poret foam exclusively in my FX4, FX6, Sunsun and Cascade canister filters. Minimal maintenance, crystal clear water with excellent parameters; what else do you need?
Well said I use sponge along with pot scrubbies best period sponge is 1st pot scrubbies 2nd in my opinion
You are right, Ben. Sponges do offer many advantages over hard filtration media, but you could have improved your presentation by illustrating and discussing the different types of sponges available because they possess differing densities and pore sizes. Some are also manufactured from different polymers and thus differing elasticity, which affects their ability to maintain their cut shape under high flow conditions. In my experience (I've been using sponges for over 20 years) some of the sponges made for pond filtration don't last too long in tropical aquaria, slowly disintegrating over a couple of years. Those made from LDPP last the longest., whilst the softer, PE types have a shorter working lifespan, but these are cheap enough to be replaced regularly. When it comes to cleaning, sponges are the best.
I've been using Pot scrubbers and Lava rock since the 70's...
Hello Ben, well to put it simply, your 100% correct. Sponges are the best, cheap, last forever and all round bio beasts. I order online to get large ones and cut them down to fit what ever filter i need. Which as any Fishkeeper knows you change filters like your socks 🤪
I use Matrix and Eheim Substrar Pro. For me these products are best of the best. No one sponge can't be so effective. For 3 years I tested a lot of different products in different price categories, but better than these two l didn't find. So in my filters I use sponges as prefilter and 1st stage of filtration. All other area in canisters or other types of filters are stocked with Matrix and Substrar Pro.
I’m with you Ben! I started in the days of fiberglass and carbon, but even then the fish store I went to and eventually worked at (in exchange for supplies) used sponges only. I tried almost all the media out there too and have settled in with sponges, bio-balls, and whatever ceramic “macaroni” came with hang-on-backs, canisters, and my sumps.
I think of it this way. You're always told to replace the sponge in your kitchen frequently, and some people won't use them because of their tremendous ability to grow bacteria.
💯 agree! I have a Swiss Tropicals large sponge filter with two pvc uptakes in my discus tank, it's not pretty, but my nitrates rarely hit 10, no live plants (yet), I run a HOB with filter floss for clarity.. sponges for the win!
Totally agree with you Ben! I now run external filters full of sponges only and have done for a few years now. I've also used various filtrations in the past, all kinds! Biohome I've used too and I think it is great if you need to reduce nitrates but as I have planted tanks I've found it isn't really needed for me.
I completely agree 💯 percent with you I have sponges every where I can put one of course out of sight great video thanks for sharing 😎🤘✌️👍💯
Matrix is best
I use polyfill and and sponges in my canister love them
I also use poly fill and sponges they work great for me on my hang on back filter
Been in the aquarium hobby almost 28 years now. Used to think the more you spend on filter media, the better it will be. Not true at all lol
My reef before the crash(kids) ran a fluval 306 for four years only with foam pre-filter and marine pure. Never had to clean or maintain it. Videos on my channel are of that tank
On my aquarium, I run a hang on the back with a course than medium sponge filter, followed by fiber floss which I change every 3 days. And my water is crystal clear.
Thank you for all your knowledgeable advice
I have sponges and pot scrubbers in my canister. No filter floss necessary, I haven’t opened it in 6 months.
Ben I agree with you 100% sponges are the best filters since you buy the correct ppi of each one so that you can achieve that cristal water in yr tank, with low costs. 👍👍
My 1st run-to budget, but effective filtre media is gravel substrate. A plastic 32oz cup w an airstone driven 1" lift tube w gravel will bio (& mechanically) filtre a 10g or 20g moderately stocked tank. Add a hob w gravel in a media bag (& sponge) ... Mo' betta! (so to speak ... )
hi Ben, you can see how well K1 works in my fluidized bed in a homemade internal sump. I think you should try it.
I agree sponges. I also use quilt batting, lava rock, but mostly sponges. They are lighter and last a long time. I use different sponges and pile them up in DIY containers on the top of my aquariums, power head in tank with an ugly black hose going up. Plus I use sponge filters. I like their ease of use, good function. My fantail goldfish are the stars of my 2 tanks. I don't use decorations.I think sponge filters don't look bad, they dont bother me. I rinse them out once or twice a week, usually 2 times.
Good points Ben. I love sponges but I use both in my canisters. Course, medium and fine sponges then biohomme or matrix. The plastic bio balls don’t do much in my opinion.
Agreed sponge has all the benefits. I would also say run some type of floss for that "floating in air" water clarity. Whether it be filter socks , filter specific floss , or cut to fit floss ✌️
Filter floss inserted the same way as the sponge you inserted in the HOB is good and economical as well. Buy it in the 10ft roll and cut it up.
I've used many types. From sponges to ceramic rings to bio-home, and combinations of all of them. I agree, sponges seem to beat them all, in all-around performance/cost (maybe not lava rock in $). They all work well, but sponges are easy to use, easy to clean, easy to customize. Currently on my 180g Peacock tank I am using a FX6 with the standard sponge set up with bio-home in the trays and a SunSun HW 3000 with nothing but coarse sponges in the trays. Works great. I don't think I would ever use expensive media again; the cost isn't worth the reward. My maintenance remains the same, it is just easier/better with the sponges.
I have a 125 with African cichlids. I have an fx6,aqua clear 110,and 2 large sponge filters. The wave makers I have actually are what makes everything work at a high efficiency. I’m sure you know this. I think you’re correct about the sponge filters. I’m probably going to get rid of them. You suggesting all sponges inside of the canister and hang on back filters was surprising. I have seachem matrix in both. If I get rid of the matrix in my fx6,I’m sure the water turnover will increase. Do you suggest me doing that?
I run mostly biohome in FX6 filters so after a lot of sponges. I totally agree with you on sponges. But with a large filter you want to rely on multiple media not just one. I just trust more on media where you see that it has surface and that it has pores rather than a lot of small particles. Also put a bag with some ceramic rings or bio-balls in to create some wild water movement and oxygen in there. For sure there are many ways to do it that all can work fine.
I use ceramic rings with biohome media after sponge of course and they do a great job for my NO3 levels
Despite its high price for me
I agree with you ben, I am currently using the regular sponge filter in my tank, a cheep one unfortunately, but the thing is that I keep getting a hazy water just after 2 day of putting inn a clean water and it bothers me a lot, I think I should buy a bigger size filter or use 2 small ones, which I think it might be better, what do you think?
2 questions. Do you feel like they trap the smaller particles good enough? And, do you rinse them under tap water?
Hey Ben! I have a question…how would you fill a 3 chamber sump with sponges. Last chamber would be for the return pump, so really, the first two. Let me try to explain how the sump I have works (it’s actually a sump used for a marine tank)…water flows down into a small acrylic box fit with a pinky filter and other filter pads, through a drip plate into the first chamber. Sponges would have to be stacked horizontally. Water flows through the sponges and passes under the first baffle into the next chamber where the water would flow through additional sponges or filter media, then up and over the last baffle into the return pump chamber. I was previously thinking fill the first chamber with sponge and the second chamber with some kind of mechanical filtration or lava rock, but it could get expensive. What do you think?
Sponges, Seachem Matrix and filter floss in all of my HOB's
I like bio balls because they look cool, but I always pre filter with sponges. I also use filter felt, which clogs very easily and needs rinsed often, but is good at removing very fine particles that my sponge filters don't catch.
What ppi should I use for coarse, medium and fine sponge's ?
Can l use this setup for my turtle tank??🤔🤔
I run a standard SunSun 303b canister filter. How would you recommend setting up the 3 insert trays using ONLY sponges for the entire canister. Approx which PPI level sponge in each tray?
Currently it's set up with generic plastic bioballs at the very bottom (to break up the water flow). First tray is layered with sponges: coarse/medium/fine (mechanical). The second & third trays are loaded with Bio-FX media (biological).
If I removed all the Bio-FX media entirely and replaced it with sponges: would I graduate each tray with a different level of PPI sponges? Like all coarse sponge in bottom tray, a medium ppi sponge in middle tray, fine sponge/polyfil floss in top tray?
Or would I still want that bottom tray stacked with coarse/med/fine sponges for mechanical filtration. Then dedicate a specific PPI level sponge to fill the remaining two trays to serve as my biological filter???
Or maybe I'm just overthinking this... 😂😂😂 Thanks for your insite!
Is the 303b a 3 tray system?
If so - From the bottom up (direction of water flow) use coarse, medium then fine sponges. If there’s a 4th top tray, throw some Floss in there like untreated crib batting (available in fabric stores) and / or chemical filtration like your activated charcoal, Purigen or Chemipure.
Ben, when you say sponges to be inserted in a HOB, would you recommend coarse like the Aquarium CoOp type that are sold in square sheets? Or something that is more fine? Understand that the coarser it is, more particles can get by, and also finer will plug up quicker.
Several layers if you can fit them from coarse to medium to fine
I'm curious. Have you ever tried making a BCB bag for your sump? Probably the cheapest biological filter you can make that pulls ammonia and nitrates from the water for a full nitrogen cycle. It was developed by Dr. Novak.
Ben, just subscribed to your channel. I haven’t had a fish tank set up since 1998. I have a sixty gallon tank that I used to have Lake Tanganyika cichlids in. I had a under gravel filter back than but would like a canister filter now. Do you have a video on setting up a cichlid tank with a canister filter? I’m on a tight budget like a lot of retired people. Can’t wait to get things started. Thanks so much for your videos. Mike in Arkansas.
Hey Mike check out these few videos when you get the chance ruclips.net/video/f2PtCsSN8R0/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/4gu8rrBg8f0/видео.html
Hi Michael and thanks for the sub 😀👍🏻. I suggest you start with my canister playlist here: ruclips.net/p/PLr8ew8o8WXoA-6pu7lFTc_D6idLKGCE2j
@@cichlid_kings thank you I will.
@@BenOchart thanks Ben.
Hi Ben
I’m from England no one on RUclips has done a video on how to remove nitrate from driftwood when I take my driftwood out of my tank my nitrate in my tank goes from 50 ppm to 25pom so how do I remove nitrate from driftwood ?
Thanks chris
Ur a spongy guy Missed ur stream Had a side job
Where can one purchase these sponges? Have an FX6 and brutal fluval expense for the sponges.
For many years, I only use 30 ppi sponges and nothing else in all my canister filters.
+1 Subscriber
I never believed in bio media I always thought it was a lot of fluff. So where can you purchase filters to get the best bang for your buck ?
You are singing to the choir on this recommendation. None of the high priced media available have been able to beat foam even at 10 times the cost of sponges. Many of these media, like Biohome clog- vastly reducing their effectiveness. When a sponge clogs it will tell you and is easily squeezed and rinsed and like new again- even retaining beneficial bacteria.
I gave you a shout-out in the description for the topic suggestion 😀👍🏻
Sponges r definitely gonna b better than anything out there Some people blasted biohome saying it doesnt reduce nitrates it worked for me my nitrates r always 10 ppm & lower. I would def never use something that isnt porous like bioballs cuz theyre plastic
But the Marineland filled with sponge still has the Bio-Wheel that another HOB wouldnt have. Or is that even relevant?
I imagine that wheel does something, I use them because they are very reliable, run forever and not really for the wheel.
I prefer other porous ceramic media than inefficient plastic balls.
Did you watch the video🤷🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️
I have never used any of the chemical filtration in my tanks. Too expensive. All 5 stay crystal clear with sponges & filter floss
Undergravel filter - then a sponge and some gravel?
Hummm
I just go to home depot and buy a Hugh bag of lava rock for 6$ it cheaper than sponge but sponge save you money long term
Lava rock works!
I use. Poly fil. And poly filter……. 💧🐠ones cheap ….. one is not
Dude.. Im done buying anytype of media. I removed all my media and replace it with meshbags of safetsorb and its excelling expectations. It can be used as substrate too. Never will buy anything for my aquariums thats labeled FOR AQUARIUMS/AQUASCAPES. The market is FULL of trash products from food to filters.
You used to be a lot more science based in the past - you clearly need to read some peer reviewed studies - Not all filter media is created equal. Everything has pros & cons and sponges cannot house anaerobic bacteria which are responsible for removing nitrates. The outrageous price of Swiss tropical foam is hardly a price savings for setting up an aquarium on the cheap. Lava rock is less than $5 a bag at big box stores and will do a great a job in any filter. Don't get me wrong - sponges haves their place and I love them, but you didn't do a good job explaining the trade offs with every media.
Then there are those who assert anaerobic bacteria in enough quantity is impossible in a fresh water tank.
You’re going to have the bacteria your bio load can support. Where it establishes itself continues to be a debate. In the last few years I’ve had great results with a deeper undisturbed substrate and sponges. The results and what I see with my own eyes is what I talk about in my videos. If there are some science studies that you recommend, I’d love to hear about them. Thanks.
Where do i buy sponges from?
Yep, running canister, on two aquariums WITH TURTLES, and since i switch to sponges only (just tiny amount of rings and bio bals on the canister bottom, before trays for bigger particle deposition) the aquariums are clear then ever. Because turtles make big mess, i use only medium size sponges, i think it is 20ppi. Only sponges, no filter floss, no ceramic rings or other expensive "media"s, and all is fine.
20 years ago when had fish aquariums, i didnt know for such term MEDIA. We use only sponges, the most advance filters back there, were HOB filter and everything was fine also.
This whole "media" crap that was flooded aquarium keeprs world is total nonsense for me, with all "special" medias, checmical helpers etc...Things must be kept as simple as possible. Everything else is just money milking practices.