After testing coarse sponge filters throughout the past year, I have to agree with you, Jason. The finer sponges are superior at collecting detritus. The fact that the coarse sponges can go much longer between cleanings, logically means, the coarse sponges do NOT clean as effectively. Fine replacement sponges from Jehmco give me a much better cleaning sponge filter. I do like that the Easy Flow-equipped AC filters provide the finer bubbles without the annoyances of air stones, however. As a result, I’ve chosen to swap just the sponges.
I agree as well. I love aquarium coop and what Cory has done for the community, and I love most of his products. But I’ve used his sponges for the last three years and they just don’t capture anything. My extra HOB in my long tank does all the heavy lifting. It’s dark brown every week whereas the other sponges are light brown at best. Love their coloring and design, but the sponges are just extra biological and not good enough for mechanical.
I agree with you, I like them over the course. Even in my 2 gallon tank, there are mini sponge filters for them and not course. Great video with good info.
I love your reviews! I use a few different types of sponge filters, and these are some of the best. I have large ones that have a coarse sponge and a fine one running together. When you clean them, you can feel the quality of the sponge material they use.
I really like the ATI coarse sponge filters. They're porosity is somewhere between the fine sponge and the Aquarium Co-op sponge. I think the best combination is the ATI sponge filter with the Aquarium Co-op sponge Easy Flow Sponge Filter Upgrade Kit.
Thanks for showing these filters at work in your fishroom. I was wondering why you left the up list tube off some and not others and you answered that question. Good warning. I also appreciate how long their uplift tube is. I just set up a planted 20 tall with fine sand substrate and purchased the course sponge filter which I am possibly rethinking. But I really like the easy flow tube. Decisions decisions, hmmm...
Yes! I'm glad you shared this. they don't dump all the gunk when removing the sponge from the tank ehhem [aquarium coop😂) I did add the uplift tube's from coop which is perfect as water doesn't splatter all over the place and makes them 90% quietier. may be good for your videos jason as I know you always turn your pump off when videoing that room. thanks again
I just purchased everything you recommended. Super excited to try this since all I’ve ever done is Carbon. I currently have Ich in my tank. Lost tons of fish. I’m sad. Having a hard time getting it cleared. I’m at a loss. This is the first time I’ve ever used sand in a tank and I hope I don’t regret it. I’m wondering if I’m having a hard time clearing it up because of the sand :(
Do you need any other external filters with a 14 gallon bookshelf aquarium? I have a nano tank with shrimp and my substrate is soil with a sand cap. Thanks
Prefer the Swiss Tropicals sponges overall, both course, medium, and fine. Plus the choice of sizes is better. Cheap knock offs dry out if removed and not used. Real poret foam keeps its shape, doesn’t disintegrate.
My least favourite light Hygger with internal timer was purchased on the basis of your andd John' recommendation I use Hikari from Amazon ,but the best sponge filters from Swiss Tropicals made of polyether. Cory did some innovations, but his use coarse media and are made in China
As someone who attempts to aquascape i just cant use these in my setups. Im team canister filter (with buily in heater). I also only have 5 tanks. 🤷🏽♂️
I’ve tried them as a pre filter on my external filters. And they simply collapse. And using them independently I find a hard time taking them out to clean. Without getting the tank dirty when taking them out of the water. I end up having to bag them underwater before lifting them out for cleaning. They’re simple yes, but I find them to be a pain.
Ya, these are not made to be an intake filter, that's why most intake sponges are coarse, so they don't collapse under the pressures vcreated by a HOB or canister.
Hey Jason I’m in dire need of some help. Not sure if you know what to do but I’ve googled many hours asked many questions on Reddit to receive no answers so my new choice was to ask here and hope for a response. I have had a fire eel for about 6 months now eating perfectly fine and still is acting no different. Not shy at all comes right up to me when I get near the tank but I’ve notice just 2 days ago it has long white stringy poop. I know they are scaleless so I’m not sure which medication I should use. And I haven’t been able to find the answer anywhere. Please give me some ideas or medication to try I don’t want to lose it. The eel is about 11” got it at about 9”. Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 0 Nitrates = between 10-15ppm Thanks in advance!
@ I suspected a parasite as well I’m guessing the expel p - and paracleanse I’ll go for more likely because I don’t think the eel would eat flakes. Thank you for your time Jason I really appreciate it.
You can always just dose it’s normal food with metronidazole. Seachem metroplex+focus mixed with its normal food if you don’t want to treat the whole tank water volume. Metronidazole is a very safe medication.
I know this has nothing to do with this video but I know you keep snails. I was wondering can nerite snails tell if they need calcium? The next question is I put calcium wafers in my tank weekly. I also put liquid calcium in there as well but, it has killed my plants. (I think I overdosed it) Now I know that they need calcium to survive, is it ok to just put the wafers and stop the liquid?? I really need your help Jason. Also I really like your channel.
After testing coarse sponge filters throughout the past year, I have to agree with you, Jason. The finer sponges are superior at collecting detritus. The fact that the coarse sponges can go much longer between cleanings, logically means, the coarse sponges do NOT clean as effectively. Fine replacement sponges from Jehmco give me a much better cleaning sponge filter. I do like that the Easy Flow-equipped AC filters provide the finer bubbles without the annoyances of air stones, however. As a result, I’ve chosen to swap just the sponges.
I agree as well. I love aquarium coop and what Cory has done for the community, and I love most of his products. But I’ve used his sponges for the last three years and they just don’t capture anything. My extra HOB in my long tank does all the heavy lifting. It’s dark brown every week whereas the other sponges are light brown at best. Love their coloring and design, but the sponges are just extra biological and not good enough for mechanical.
I run a couple of these in a community tank. Works great and is made in the USA
Very cool!
Made in USA, too. I try to make it a point to support that, even if it costs a few dollars more.
Great point!!
I agree with you, I like them over the course. Even in my 2 gallon tank, there are mini sponge filters for them and not course. Great video with good info.
I love your reviews! I use a few different types of sponge filters, and these are some of the best. I have large ones that have a coarse sponge and a fine one running together. When you clean them, you can feel the quality of the sponge material they use.
Nice!
I really like the ATI coarse sponge filters. They're porosity is somewhere between the fine sponge and the Aquarium Co-op sponge. I think the best combination is the ATI sponge filter with the Aquarium Co-op sponge Easy Flow Sponge Filter Upgrade Kit.
Thank you Jason. I'm going to try one in my troublesome sixteen gallon tank. Nice to see you.
Hope it works well for you. A hydro II should do the trick.
Thanks for showing these filters at work in your fishroom. I was wondering why you left the up list tube off some and not others and you answered that question. Good warning. I also appreciate how long their uplift tube is. I just set up a planted 20 tall with fine sand substrate and purchased the course sponge filter which I am possibly rethinking. But I really like the easy flow tube. Decisions decisions, hmmm...
Plus - you can always cut the uplift tube down in shorter tanks like 20 longs!
Good info, Jason. I 'll see you at the QC Fish Swap.
when it comes to science in the tank, Jason rules. thanks again.
Yes! I'm glad you shared this. they don't dump all the gunk when removing the sponge from the tank ehhem [aquarium coop😂)
I did add the uplift tube's from coop which is perfect as water doesn't splatter all over the place and makes them 90% quietier. may be good for your videos jason as I know you always turn your pump off when videoing that room. thanks again
Ya, those uplift tubes can certainly help with noise.
I agree Hydro are the best sponge filter period mines seem like they last forever and are very effective
Can't find these in Canada but my Aquatop CAF sponges are like new after 8 years.
American Made! If I could go back in time I would have bought all ATI sponge filters.
enjoyed good info Thank You
I just purchased everything you recommended. Super excited to try this since all I’ve ever done is Carbon. I currently have Ich in my tank. Lost tons of fish. I’m sad. Having a hard time getting it cleared. I’m at a loss. This is the first time I’ve ever used sand in a tank and I hope I don’t regret it. I’m wondering if I’m having a hard time clearing it up because of the sand :(
Sand won’t have an impact on ich treatment. ICH-X and 84 degrees usually works!
I wish someone made an all black sponge, with flat black weights and uplift tubes.
I hate how they look, especially the green ones.
Aquatops are black sponge and base tube Is clear though
Do you need any other external filters with a 14 gallon bookshelf aquarium? I have a nano tank with shrimp and my substrate is soil with a sand cap. Thanks
My favorite too
Nice video
Prefer the Swiss Tropicals sponges overall, both course, medium, and fine. Plus the choice of sizes is better. Cheap knock offs dry out if removed and not used. Real poret foam keeps its shape, doesn’t disintegrate.
Many of the ATI sponges in our fish room are very old!
I agree. Swiss tropicals is my absolutely favorite sponge filter ever but the hygro are also a very close second.
Recently at my LFS I accidentally got Aquarium Solutions sponges thinking they were ATI. 🤷♂️ Known the difference for 15+ years lol
Also, do you have a video on the frogs?
Not yet, but it's coming. : -)
Hmmm. I was always thought the consensus that aquarium coop sponge filter was the best by far.
I do like the uplift tube extension idea!
looks like you could use some new sponges on some of those filters. ;-)
Ya, amazingly they still do the job though. Haha
@@PrimeTimeAquatics LOL!
My least favourite light Hygger with internal timer was purchased on the basis of your andd John' recommendation
I use Hikari from Amazon ,but the best sponge filters from Swiss Tropicals made of polyether. Cory did some innovations, but his use coarse media and are made in China
Swiss tropicals are good to, but I just can't stand how visible they are in an aquarium with the PVC uplift tubes.
Are you bringing the frogs to the next GCCA 😍?! If yes I will get 5 when you have them online !!!
Yes! There will be some for GCCA
As someone who attempts to aquascape i just cant use these in my setups. Im team canister filter (with buily in heater). I also only have 5 tanks. 🤷🏽♂️
Totally makes sense!
I’ve tried them as a pre filter on my external filters. And they simply collapse. And using them independently I find a hard time taking them out to clean. Without getting the tank dirty when taking them out of the water. I end up having to bag them underwater before lifting them out for cleaning. They’re simple yes, but I find them to be a pain.
Ya, these are not made to be an intake filter, that's why most intake sponges are coarse, so they don't collapse under the pressures vcreated by a HOB or canister.
Hi Jason! Will this work for a 29 gallon tank?
Definitely - best choice is a Hydro III
Hey Jason I’m in dire need of some help. Not sure if you know what to do but I’ve googled many hours asked many questions on Reddit to receive no answers so my new choice was to ask here and hope for a response. I have had a fire eel for about 6 months now eating perfectly fine and still is acting no different. Not shy at all comes right up to me when I get near the tank but I’ve notice just 2 days ago it has long white stringy poop. I know they are scaleless so I’m not sure which medication I should use. And I haven’t been able to find the answer anywhere. Please give me some ideas or medication to try I don’t want to lose it. The eel is about 11” got it at about 9”.
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrates = between 10-15ppm
Thanks in advance!
If I suspect an internal parasite I prefer metronidazole flakes if they fish is still eating. If not - expel P and Paracleanse in combo. Good luck!
@ I suspected a parasite as well I’m guessing the expel p - and paracleanse I’ll go for more likely because I don’t think the eel would eat flakes. Thank you for your time Jason I really appreciate it.
You can always just dose it’s normal food with metronidazole. Seachem metroplex+focus mixed with its normal food if you don’t want to treat the whole tank water volume. Metronidazole is a very safe medication.
I know this has nothing to do with this video but I know you keep snails. I was wondering can nerite snails tell if they need calcium? The next question is I put calcium wafers in my tank weekly. I also put liquid calcium in there as well but, it has killed my plants. (I think I overdosed it) Now I know that they need calcium to survive, is it ok to just put the wafers and stop the liquid?? I really need your help Jason. Also I really like your channel.
The best thing you can do for your snails is feed them a calcium infused diet - Kat’s Aquatics has some good stuff!
@ ok thank you!
💜💜💜💜
And here I thought Aquarium Coops sponge filter is the best. :) According to many youtubers.
I would gladly switch; but you haven't convinced me it's better than the Chinese made sponge filters.
Give it time - as those break down and you are replacing them sooner you may come around. 😀
@@PrimeTimeAquatics 😀