Sponge Filter Essay

What is a sponge filter?

A sponge filter works in the aquarium to clean organic wastes, and also provides mechanical filtration of solid waste in the water. In simplified terms the sponge filter works by drawing water through an absorbent sponge material. When it does this, it captures the waste (chemicals and solids).

Material used in sponge filters

Mechanical filter materials include imitation sponges or foams, clay, glass and silicon products along with gravel. Materials with a larger surface area help provide both mechanical and biological filtration.

Sponges used are highly absorbent materials and therefore work by attracting various chemicals to their large external surfaces in order to be filtrated.

The process

Sponge

-Undergravel filters: this filter is run by air displacement and a water pump. A porous plate is placed under the gravel. Air stones are placed at the base of an uplift tube which forces water out of the tube and creates a negative pressure under the undergravel filter plate. This causes the water to push through the gravel which acts as the filter. If the stones aren’t used, the use of a water pump can be used too to create the pressure. The gravel acts as the filtration which captures the bacteria which can be beneficial for the aquarium.

This filter system is not very efficient as it is detrimental to the health of the organisms because it can be easily clogged due to sand getting in the way. If the gravel bed is uneven it is not effective at all.

-Corner filters: this is similar to the sponge filter; however, it is more complex and dangerous for small fish. This filter is a box that is placed in the corner at the bottom of the tank. Water enters in one slit and goes through filter media and then out in the tank.

This is dangerous as small fish can swim in the filter. It is also a disadvantaged filter due to the fact that it is only suitable for small