Still use box filters since 1984,Lee triple flow my fish are so beautiful I only notice them not ugly box. Use lava rock on the bottom poly fill on top I have 5 goldfish so I change poly weekly -rinse rock too in tank water. I enjoy your vids thanks
I have this filter. It ran in an established tank for about 2 weeks and then transferred into a new tank. No ammonia issues from day one. Excellent, very easy to maintain. Keeps the water spotless.
The strength of a box filter is that you can add anything that you need in the filter. Filter floss also holds a lot of bacteria, just like a sponge. Hide the filter behind a plant and you have the best and most flexible "old school" internal canister you could get.
The one thing that a lot of people don't consider is the fact that these (and sponge) box filters do not flood your floors if they get too dirty and they don't require any priming after a power outage. I have HOB's that claim that they don't need priming, but even then, after a while the bacteria in the dries up and dies. So HUGE win for these types of filters on that alone.
I like the way my sponges look...it's visible cleaning, I enjoy the air bubbles, and maybe it's just because all my lovely fish store use them, but I also think they look more professional than a tank without one.
Nostalgia, reminds me of my first 10 gallon tank with a Wardley box filter, it only had "filter floss" and charcoal. This was a loooooooooooooooooooong time ago : (
I run 3 box filters they work well, I have the double stacked ones... I also painted them with krylon fusion. It made it look more sleek. I have used them stock and I also have took out a layer of bio media, and I added activated charcoal. Works well. Hope your experience is as pleasing as mine.
I don't think the box filter's are ugly I find them rather attractive. I run sponge hob and box filters basically for what you said, to have more than enough media. I learned the hard way in the beginning that if you take a few very inexpensive steps in the beginning of starting your tank it will save you time frustration and money. I always have plenty of extra media when I need it. I have a 55g a 39g and a 29g and I run 2 hob marineland bio-wheels and aqua clears on each tank and I lost every bit of my media after a power outage. I will never make that mistake again. So I run the 2 hob's on each..even my 29g ..2 of the double sponge filters that you showed..1 on each end of all 3 tanks and the box filter's. My fish are happy and healthy..I've never had or lost a fish from water issues..I've lost them but for reasons that had nothing to do with the tank. So I say stuff as much media bio and mechanical into your tanks as you can now..when the worst happens you'll be so glad you took those extra steps to be prepared.
Many of the box filters have gravel in the very bottom so it won't float or move around. If you're planning to take the gravel out, you'll need to figure out a way to weigh it down :)
I just started using a sponge filter in my betta tank about a month ago. I love it so far, I got the 10 gallon size for my 5.5 gallon tank and my water is really nice. I don't think I would try a box filter personally just because my I don't think they look good and if it's not broke don't fix it
I had one I had bought and never used leftover from when I was heavy into fish. My sister took several of my fish including my favorite fish I've ever owned which was a green phantom pleco. She decided to tear down the tank and I wanted him back. So I went and bought a tank and used the box filter and I'm actually very impressed with it. I just added some of her media into the trays and it was up and going great. Clean clear water, happy fish, love it! I also bought some guppies, a shrimp, and a snail to go with him and the 3 cory cats in the tank. The guppies are already popping out babies. So all in all impressed with the filter and a big fan of the versatility and option to use media in your air driven filter "sponge filters".
I have a sponge and box filter running on the same tank. I used to run a hang on back. The space for media was great, and it worked. I got tired of it getting to dirty, flow impaired, having to clean it so much. It killed a couple fish despite my best efforts to keep them safe. I switched to everything air driven. I use a box/corner filter partly because that's what I had when I made the change. Partly because I needed a way to still run carbon after medicating the tank on an air driven system. I like that I can put whatever media I want in it, it's not hard to clean, and it's easier to keep muck out so far.
QUESTION: Is that the correct order of the items in the filter? You see, I hv a box filter like that. But it came with the white item on top and coarsest black sponge next to the ceramic media. Look at the Amazon link. Re: Looks - I like it and don’t think it’s ugly. It reminds me of my Grandma’s old school fish tank. So it’s nostalgic. That being said, I do have a decorative item in front of the box filter in order to match the under seas vibe of my tank. I find it easier to hide than any other type of filter.
I run a hang on the back filter and a sponge filter, i run two so i can cycle more tanks when i get them. Your right i dont ever see the sponge do as much work as the hang on the back filter. I have never tried to use a box filter but i imagine it would be a tad better then a sponge because of the amount of midia. My tank is a 55 gal, with about 25 fish with plants loads of plants.
Still new to the hobby. First filter I had was the generic hang on back, but I modded it for better filtration. Recently we bought a small sponge filter and a small box filter. I prefer the look of the sponge filter like you were talking about; all black, no problem, but the box filter is way more noticeable. I got the sponge filter for a 10gal shrimp and guppy tank. That tank also has a small in-tank hang-on corner filter. My bigger 29gal has an Aquaclear 50 and the new small box filter
I've been using box filers for over 50 years in tanks up to 55 gallon and as small as 2.5 gallon. And the very best breeders in the hobby run box filters. You can uses lava rock, carbon or even crushed coral. Once you go box, you'll never go back to sponge.
Haven't used a box filter since I first started the hobby. I have sponge, matt, hang on, and canister. For shrimp matt and sponge. For fish canister are my favorite. You do a great job speaking. Enjoyed your video. Thanks.
I use box filters in addition to sponge filters and canisters. They polish the water crystal clear. I always over filter, it's alabout keeping good water for me.
I bought the sponge filters you recommend and been running them for about 2 weeks now. My cycle is going along great with them and I like the ability to pull one sponge off to put in a new tank, that’s handy. I’d been looking at the box filters and intend to try them soon, too - I like that they will ‘trap’ the debris inside the box - and you can just take the whole box out to clean the gunk out without losing any back into the tank. That’s one thing I DON’T like about the sponge filters. Although my guppies seem to enjoy picking at the things that get stuck on the sponge. They can do that on the pre-intake filter sponge, though. I have concerns like what GenXGypsy said that the box filters look like they’ll crack easily. I don’t like that. If it’ll break, I’ll be the one to break it lol.
I have been using box filters for as long as I had a tank forever they keep water clean and are easy to use mine are a little different I use filter fiber bottom ammonia and carbon in middle more filter fiber on top I use in 3 of my 4 tanks they work great I just wait till fiber turn color and then replace
All my tanks have a hob or canister except my 20 gal guppy/planted tank. I bought the dual stacked box filter just to try it out so I wouldnt have to use a hob. It's been running for about 2 months and I've only had cleaned it once. It keeps the water nice and clean. I also do a waterchange once a week. I would definaltey recommend the box filter for smaller tanks I probably wouldn't run one on a tank bigger than a 29gal.
box filter gonna take larger debris while sponge takes smaller one...major disadvantage of sponge filter is while u pull it out from the tank, the debris gonna fall back into the tank.....
I didn’t even know they made box filters anymore because I haven’t seen one since I was probably 5 or 6 years old and I’m 42 now I also thought they were sponge filters I don’t remember ever hearing them called a box filter
Sponge filters 'powered' by bubble flow are limited to coarse filtration because any finer filtering would quickly impede the weak current that bubbles can create. HOWEVER , a box filters fine mechanical filter media can be changed out frequently enough, without disrupting the bio filtering that stay and a cleaner tank is much easier . ALSO you can opt to put a very small water pump on the rise tube (not using air bubbles )and keep the flow going with fewer changes (these little pumps can be had for a few bucks.) AND if you decide to go to an external filter you can draw the supply water through a container filter using it a as pre-filter mechanical filter letting only dissolved waste (ammonia and nitrites ) to go to external filter cutting any maintenance on that unit to once or twice a year.
So many times I see this filter setup with the sponges in the wrong order (I think they sometimes come in the wrong order) --- you presented it in the right way! I personally use from top to bottom: super coarse, medium, polyfill, and rings (never use super fine sponges because they clog too easy --- easier to use polyfill that I can replace). I tend to use sponges and rings from aquaclears --- just because it is easy to get and works well. I use this layering in box filters, canisters, and even hang on back (when I used them in the past --- though I won't use hob anymore). I have tried sponge filters before --- they are good for breeding but don't work as well and are harder to clean. Nice to see someone else that loves boxf ilterss
The box filter was the main filter for a10 gal tank in the 1970s. They work well. My favorite today is an under gravel filter with a hang on the back filter! We didn't understand the nitrogen cycle back then. I remember in 10th-grade biology class in high school every three months we used to tear down the 55 gal aquarium and clean it including boiling the gravel in a pressure cooker. Yet we never lost a fish. We used an under gravel filter and a large hang on the back filter. I guess what saved them was the large sponges on the hang on the back filter that was only washed with distilled water. I was a lab assistant in high school and my first ten-gallon tank only had a box filter. I would do a complete break down of the aquarium every six months. cleaned the sponge in distilled water of my box filter. The only fish I kept were native 8 dace minnows and two madtom cats. now I run a twenty-gallon aquarium with an under gravel filter and a hang on the back filter. do a 25 % water change every month. I have 6 shiners and three madtoms. A feisty brim that will be released back into the lake where it was caught four years ago. If you are going to keep a brim to adulthood you need a 75 to a 100-gallon aquarium at least.
Yeah, I ran box filters back in the 60's when I first started because, well, that's all we had. In the 70's I used box and undergravels. Now, like you, I'm an Aquaclear guy. I use undergravels along with Aquaclears. I also use sponge filters in my fry tanks and keep a sponge filter running in my cichlid tank to pull for a hospital tank if needed.
Can't wait to see how it goes with your Betta tank. That's what I am setting up as my first tank. Just got my dual sponge filter and now just waiting on plants and then I'll be set.
@@DilettanteCulture it is up and running. Just trying to figure when it is safe to go get a fish and add to the tank now. Been adding the bacteria stuff daily and did a water test with the tetra strips and nitrate levels are safe with no nitrites. Am i good to go?
I've used box filters for years, and don't think I would use anything else, unless I was intending to overcrowd a tank. My first aquariums used HOB power filters. That's what the tank kits came with, and that's what everybody was using. When I started keeping fancy goldfish though, I saw that the fish were always swimming against the current from the filter outflow, and could never rest. I tried putting plastic plants in front of the filter, tried making a baffle, and nothing did much good. I switched to a box filter, and the fish seemed less stressed and the water quality did not suffer, despite what I had been told about box filters not being efficient enough for use in a goldfish tank. From that point I had the fish for two years, without problem, and ended up giving it away still in good health, when I moved. When I got back into aquariums again a few years ago, I ran into the same issue with the HOB filter that came with the tank. So I bought a box filter, and again had no problems. The goldfish did fine for two or three years until a new fish brought parasites into the tank and killed them all (my fault for not quarantining more than a few days). Now I've set up a new tank, and went with box filters first thing instead of wasting time with other machines. You can see a vid of my tank and filtration on my profile. The only downsides to these filters are they are conspicuous in the tank (but this is not all bad, you can see when they're dirty and it'll motivate you to keep them clean) and cleaning them/refilling them can be a mess, especially if you're using carbon or gravel as a medium. However if you're using carbon, the box filter is one of the only ways to use enough of it to provide adequate chemical filtration. HOB filter packs contain so little as to be practically useless I think. I looked at sponge filters, because they're popular and a friend uses them, but I can't think of any real advantages they have over box filters.
Do you use Box Filters? Or have you? Let me know how and why you liked/disliked them! PS: I forgot to turn the back hair light on, and Color Correct the first 10 seconds. I need to stop filming/editing at 3am! Forgive me! haha
Bay Area Aquatics hey bro great video if it is possible can I get a shoutout plz I have been following since 200 subs thanks I used sponge filters then switched to canister filter with thanks Jamie
I used box filters in the 80s when that was the filter that came with the tank.. I stopped using them due to the fact they would tend to start floating and you would need to put so much gravel in them to weigh them down that I just started using UG filters as funds permitted. Now I only use sponge filterers on my intake tubes with Hang on back or Canisters.
In my day (I'm older than your Dad ;-) ) we had undergravel and box filters and the latter was usually filled with filter floss on top of some carbon, 'cos that's the way it was done! OK Now we have these newfangled sponge filters, and, HoBs / canisters and such. What is the fishkeeping world coming to? I use an undergravel filter with a sponge filter and lots of plants. :)) I also have a fantastic HoB Canister filter on one of my tanks, I'll be getting 3 more of these for my other tanks, even the one using the UG filter. :)) and your 'box' filter is brill
I love box filters for my 20 gallon high tanks....I through out the gravel and filled those compartments with zeolite and ceramic disk. I rearranged the sponges to provide better filtration. I still use my hang on the backs for now but may phase them out. My tanks are a little bit overstocked but the zeolite keeps my ammonia levels in check.
Good match up. I have sponge filters. Seen a lot of box filters like you said box filters are not the best looking but if it works most people won't worry about it. Great video 👍💪🤜🤛🐠🐠
You'd be surprised where you can poke a bit of polyfill , you can put some inside the straight clear section of the sponge filter and you'll also be able to see when it gets full of crud
I just got two tiny box filters to run in a 10 gallon bowl. Because they’re so ugly, I’m going to bury them about 2/3 into the aqua soil (not covering the vent in the top of the box). Wish me luck.
@@tori2dles Worked like a charm. I surrounded the filters with pearlweed, which grows like crazy. The pearlweed covered the unattractive filters and aided in filtering/oxygenating.
i've used both, but i run ugf on all the tanks i can except my river tank with darters, that has special DIY setup for high unidirectional flow and a winter "chiller" to condition for spawning. I've never noticed a difference but i will agree it's faster and easier to setup a quarantine tank with a box filter pulling biomedia from an established tank.
@@DilettanteCulture if you go to Home Depot or Lowes and get the small Pea Pebbles it works well and can be great biomedia in itself. plus it's cheap and looks good..
I run both. I use bigger sponges for surface area and the box filter for floss to catch the smaller particles and keep the water clearer. Both can be hidden by rocks or plants etc. Mainly use the box filter for my African peacock fry and add crushed coral to it to keep the ph to the correct level so I can run bare bottom tanks
I have an undergavel with my pea puffers. I have hang on back in one tank. The rest are sponge filters. I have box filters I tried last year however got frustrated with it. Could have been my state of mind at the time. I will try the again. Got mine from lfs (mine is 55 miles away and so are box stores). My box filters are a clear green. So you can see if you need to clean media, and is easy to hide behind plants. The one thing you lose when not using a sponge is filter is the ability of small fish and shrimp to graze on the sponge. My plecos even like to when they are small. Personally I think there are different benefits and negatives to each type of filter. It also depends on the person and how much work do they want to put in or if there the latest and greatest type, or newest thing on the market. Currently I do not have a central loop. I use serveral small air pumps. Tried to cover it all. 🤓
I run box filters in my 20 long and 10, they are pretty ugly, but it's super quick and easy to see when they need cleaned, and I can put the tanks right up to the wall and don't have to worry about a hob hanging off the back, helps in tighter areas, and I can swap some media or sponges to seed a new tank should I need to
I use HOB, box filters, and sponge filters. I have Bettas, Guppies, Cories, and Axolotl fry. I usually only use a sponge filter when the tank is for small fry. I really love the box filters so far. I take some of the medium out of the corner box filter and add activated charcoal inside it. I have smaller tanks with box filters only, and larger tanks add a HOB too.
It's been a while since I had a box filter but what I remember from it was it was activated carbon on the bottom then polishing off poly fiber in the middle and think a sponge on top
Can you use a sponge filter with a powerhead as your primary and you're only filtration system I don't have a tank yet I had one as a kid but I I had like a off the back hanging one I'm thinking about getting back into tanks and fish I've always loved all types of creatures and I'm just curious about this and someone could please let me know that would be very helpful
Ive swapped over to sponge filters from a canister and have been rocking them for a while. but im now thinking a larger box filter may in fact be the best general purpose filter. i can run poly-fill on top for water polishing and easily replace it often like you said. i can run carbon if i need to to remove tannins or residual meds. i can hide it partially buried in the substrate. i am partial to crushed lava rock as biomedia and screw ever cleaning it. and also with a box filter i can stuff plants in it and let them drive their roots down into the media. im thinking im going to change my tanks over to larger box filters. either DIY or the swisstropicals betterbox and one with get stuffed with plants and one will have polishing pad on top and both will be partially buried in the substrate. a sponge filter either does a good job at bioligical filtration but a crap job at mechanical with coarser sponge. or a ok job at mechanical, but a "meh" job at biological with a fine sponge because its always clogged and flow through it is weak. the ease of replacing the poly-fill on the box filter with no lid on it like you were talking about means ill be more apt to keep up on it and flow will be good and fine floaty bits will get caught.
I'm thinking about getting a box filter to use it as a nitrate filter. Add Seachem Matrix in there . So my tank will have a regular sponge and a box filter fill with Matrix. What's your thoughts on that set up?
I run a small Lee's triple flow box filter plus a dual sponge filter in my shrimp & endler tank. I use Seachem Matrix and Fluval Bio-Max in it since that's what was in the HOB that used to be on that tank. Running Aquaclear plus double sponge filter on my pygmy cory tanks. Thinking of switching to box filter plus dual sponge filter for those as well. Saves money on electricity (running 5 tanks off two air pumps) and I find running sponge + box keeps the water cleaner. My only complaint with the double sponges is that they are so fine they clog easier and become difficult to get clean over time. I have a couple Swiss Tropical poret sponge filters in a few tanks: expensive and bulky, but they work great.
Best filter I ever had was a overhanging cartridge filter with a spounge fastened around the intake. And polyester wool instead of the cartridge. Took so long to get dirty. Water was perfect. Maintenance? Squeeze the spounge in a sink then squeeze in treated water. The polyester filing, just change it out
Great video! What do you think of the Seachem Tidal 55 HOB. I used to have a Aqua Clear, but once the Electric went out. I’ve had problems ever since, so I went with a Canister Filter. Much better. I don’t have one, but it looks really nice! I enjoyed watching. Thank you for sharing!
Bay Area Aquatics - I see mixed reviews on the Tidal HOB. The prices have gone up once again on them, so I’m thinking the better reviews outweigh the bad. I like the Box Filter. It can work well for the smaller tanks. Thank you! Enjoy your Posts!
@@josemontalvo4532 I have two Tidals. A 110 and I think a 75. Both on my 55 gallon. I really like them. But the one issue I see is depending what your using in the tray, the water can bypass the media etc. Very rarely I have the flow on full. If I do you see water come up the back and over the media. It doesnt run through. So I have to back off the flow till that stops.
I've always had powerhead HOBs. Running an air pump to power filters can get pretty loud, it can get expensive if you have large numbers of tanks, it's an ungodly sight, and it's not something I want to hear or pay for since powerhead ones are so good at what they do. One upside I see is they would be handy for smaller tank setups. Feel free to correct me on something maybe you've found cheap quiet powerful air pumps and can point me in the right direction.
I think it’s wishful thinking to assume a box filter with all those different kinds of media are actually more functional than a regular sponge filter.
Wow, I must be the only person who loves the look of sponge filters. In my opinion, my least favorite look are HOB's. Canisters look fine, as long as they're in a cabinet, etc. Box's are pretty ugly, I'll say that, but I like how they're clear. Internals are pretty darn hideous as well. Undergravel are absolutely fugly and they don't even deserve to be a thing! They don't help anyone...But overall, I think the most common HOB's are the ugliest. You have this stunning planted setup with beautiful inhabitants and everything you enjoy...then all of a sudden you see this giant box hanging off the back of the tank like a leech. Then you notice a bunch of thick, ugly tubes inside of your tank...In my opinion, I actually think *most* sponges are absolutely gorgeous!! They're black, so they look great in light or dark tanks with a bright LED, dark substrate, a dark background, and beautiful, vibrant plants! The sponges look really cool when they're full of water, and some of mine are even partially above the water in a humid tank...and they look so cool! Not to mention they're small and easy to hide, unlike an HOB...sure, there are tiny tubes sticking out of the tank, but if they're hidden correctly, you wouldn't even know they're there. And of course there are bubbles...but I think that's the best part!! So there! One person who actually likes sponge filters, 100%!!
I like sponge filters for my bettas because I think its gentler and creates better surface agitation (kind of annoying that I can't use my media from the other filter but it's okay)
I find the only sponge filter I have is a pain as I need to clean it the change water and I can never get all the particles out of it, and the look of seeing the particles still in it drives me crazy. I like the idea of have a bio component so I can rinse the sponges in clean water but not lose to much bio load.
Had boxes, AND UG filters, long before you were born. Still like UG's. Hooked connected to a canister in a 55. Pumped clean water down 1 riser, and drew dirty from the other. Would reverse stacks when cleaning the filter. This used the entire substrate (gravel) as an active bio filter and kept under the UG clear as well. Canister acted primarily as a multilevel sponge filter and polisher. Hard to find the UGs now days.
I keep debating about doing a 10 gallon with a under gravel filter, but I hate the look of gravel in most cases. I prefer sand... So it doesn't work hahaha
@@btw4447 the UG filter was 2 part. The water pushed down one riser flowed down into one half of the UG (let's say the right side), up through the gravel into the tank. Tank water then flowed from the right side of the tank, to the left, down through the gravel in the other side (left) of the tank, down into the left side of the UG, up the riser into the canister filter. All water flows completely through the entire tank (right to left in this case), passing and filtered through all of the gravel, as well as the canister filter.
This is great! Starting a nano shrimp tank but wanted chemical and mechanical filtration. Is this really quiet? All the air pumps and HOB filters I’ve found are loud
Box filters, rocks in the bottom with Filter floss the way Grandma showed me in the 70s. They're not practical now too difficult to clean on massive scale. Undergravel filters was the way to go also for the nice clean neat look but a nightmare to get all the gunk from underneath. Bottom drains is the trick for that 😉 I use all Hikari sponge filters . some Hob's on grow out tanks,with sponges also.
Try the mini sponge Hikari filter, it's got the weighted base like its bigger brother is designed to sit in the corner. It will polish the water in that small tank like you're looking for. Easier to clean than a box filter and looks better/smaller ,,,, also no aggravating suction cups to deal with😁
For the box filter in this video, what tank size would you recommend it for? I have multiple tanks and would like to get the exact one used in this video to try out on one of them.
It’s one of the first few items listed in the description area. You can support him by using it. ☺️ I was going to give you the link as this one in the video is the same one I bought a few mos. ago. But then he won’t get credit from Amazon. As for size, it is for a 5-10 gallon tank. 🥳
Havent had a boxed filter in many years. I do run sponge filters for the bacteria growth, mostly to cycle other tanks. I have had a Zyss filter for a few months now. Still not sure about it lol
I ran one when i was a kid. It was ugly, but the thing that annoyed me the most was how it vibrated the substrate and was constantly shifting in the tank. I should have gotten a suction cup something
@@DilettanteCulture i suspect the air pump was too powerful for filter box I had. I'm not sure if there's a way to adjust for that, if there is I'd love to know since i still have the air pump.
Who cares if they are so 1980s- they were round before that. Sponge and box filters are practical, no one installs a filter in the front. And big plus over HOB and canisters- if the power goes out , they don't burn out.
I have a sponge filter. The one with rocks and a tube but a bit cheaper version. Can I use it for my betta tank? It’s 2.5 gallons. I have a filter that hangs on the sides but it’s really big for the tank
So how exactly do you plan to run a box filter if you can't attach a power head? I run sponge a sponge filter in my 20 with a fluval Q1 air pump rated at 36 GPH along with a hang on the back filter which I just filled with Fluval ceramic stones and Im crystal clear. My 10 is just fine with a hang on the back.
Bay Area Aquatics It can be, but it doesn’t have to be. I have mine hidden behind my hardscape. It doesn’t come apart because I have it tied on well and have a fine mesh bag over it so pieces of it can’t come loose and get into the tank. It’s only a short term solution, but it can help if you get in a pinch.
Removing sponges for cleaning etc often drops a lot of the surface back into the tank. Box filters pull the collected "crap" out with it to be cleaned. Sponges are great for fry and grow out tanks. But, I am still a fan of UG's lol.
They both work the same way. Air bubbles rise through an uplift tube which displaces water, creating suction below them which draws water through the sponge. They work best as biological filtration but with enough air you can get decent mechanical filtration with a coarse sponge.
A light! For your hair... But yeah, about 45° up above my head, behind me facing the camera. It adds light to your hair and shoulders and separates you from the background. I have black stands and sand and such, and with black t-shirts... Haha
The box filter brings me back when I was a kid starting the hobby. My son just started and I couldn’t find a box filter anywhere. Lol
Well the link is in the bio! Haha
You can get them on wish, too.
Ebay
Amazon sell them, i bought a circular one, it look so good tbh, i dont mind it sitting on my tank.
Still use box filters since 1984,Lee triple flow my fish are so beautiful I only notice them not ugly box. Use lava rock on the bottom poly fill on top I have 5 goldfish so I change poly weekly -rinse rock too in tank water. I enjoy your vids thanks
Box filters prevent aggressive fish from eating the foam!
I have this filter. It ran in an established tank for about 2 weeks and then transferred into a new tank. No ammonia issues from day one. Excellent, very easy to maintain. Keeps the water spotless.
It can't remove ammonia from day one, it needs about 5 days for bacteria to establish.
The strength of a box filter is that you can add anything that you need in the filter. Filter floss also holds a lot of bacteria, just like a sponge. Hide the filter behind a plant and you have the best and most flexible "old school" internal canister you could get.
The one thing that a lot of people don't consider is the fact that these (and sponge) box filters do not flood your floors if they get too dirty and they don't require any priming after a power outage. I have HOB's that claim that they don't need priming, but even then, after a while the bacteria in the dries up and dies. So HUGE win for these types of filters on that alone.
I like the way my sponges look...it's visible cleaning, I enjoy the air bubbles, and maybe it's just because all my lovely fish store use them, but I also think they look more professional than a tank without one.
Nostalgia, reminds me of my first 10 gallon tank with a Wardley box filter, it only had "filter floss" and charcoal. This was a loooooooooooooooooooong time ago : (
I run 3 box filters they work well, I have the double stacked ones... I also painted them with krylon fusion. It made it look more sleek.
I have used them stock and I also have took out a layer of bio media, and I added activated charcoal. Works well.
Hope your experience is as pleasing as mine.
Ohhh painting is a good idea. Does that leak into the water?
I don't think the box filter's are ugly I find them rather attractive. I run sponge hob and box filters basically for what you said, to have more than enough media. I learned the hard way in the beginning that if you take a few very inexpensive steps in the beginning of starting your tank it will save you time frustration and money. I always have plenty of extra media when I need it. I have a 55g a 39g and a 29g and I run 2 hob marineland bio-wheels and aqua clears on each tank and I lost every bit of my media after a power outage. I will never make that mistake again. So I run the 2 hob's on each..even my 29g ..2 of the double sponge filters that you showed..1 on each end of all 3 tanks and the box filter's. My fish are happy and healthy..I've never had or lost a fish from water issues..I've lost them but for reasons that had nothing to do with the tank. So I say stuff as much media bio and mechanical into your tanks as you can now..when the worst happens you'll be so glad you took those extra steps to be prepared.
Many of the box filters have gravel in the very bottom so it won't float or move around. If you're planning to take the gravel out, you'll need to figure out a way to weigh it down :)
I just started using a sponge filter in my betta tank about a month ago. I love it so far, I got the 10 gallon size for my 5.5 gallon tank and my water is really nice. I don't think I would try a box filter personally just because my I don't think they look good and if it's not broke don't fix it
Definitely! I may switch back to a sponge eventually, but I really wanna see how these run haha
I had one I had bought and never used leftover from when I was heavy into fish. My sister took several of my fish including my favorite fish I've ever owned which was a green phantom pleco. She decided to tear down the tank and I wanted him back. So I went and bought a tank and used the box filter and I'm actually very impressed with it. I just added some of her media into the trays and it was up and going great. Clean clear water, happy fish, love it! I also bought some guppies, a shrimp, and a snail to go with him and the 3 cory cats in the tank. The guppies are already popping out babies. So all in all impressed with the filter and a big fan of the versatility and option to use media in your air driven filter "sponge filters".
The ease of setup is one of my favorite things about them. I don't have to worry if a sponge is cycled or not!
I have a sponge and box filter running on the same tank. I used to run a hang on back. The space for media was great, and it worked. I got tired of it getting to dirty, flow impaired, having to clean it so much. It killed a couple fish despite my best efforts to keep them safe. I switched to everything air driven. I use a box/corner filter partly because that's what I had when I made the change. Partly because I needed a way to still run carbon after medicating the tank on an air driven system. I like that I can put whatever media I want in it, it's not hard to clean, and it's easier to keep muck out so far.
QUESTION: Is that the correct order of the items in the filter?
You see, I hv a box filter like that. But it came with the white item on top and coarsest black sponge next to the ceramic media. Look at the Amazon link.
Re: Looks - I like it and don’t think it’s ugly. It reminds me of my Grandma’s old school fish tank. So it’s nostalgic.
That being said, I do have a decorative item in front of the box filter in order to match the under seas vibe of my tank. I find it easier to hide than any other type of filter.
I like the white pad (aka the polishing pad) to be below the coarser sponge, as it wont get clogged as fast.
I run a hang on the back filter and a sponge filter, i run two so i can cycle more tanks when i get them. Your right i dont ever see the sponge do as much work as the hang on the back filter. I have never tried to use a box filter but i imagine it would be a tad better then a sponge because of the amount of midia. My tank is a 55 gal, with about 25 fish with plants loads of plants.
Still new to the hobby. First filter I had was the generic hang on back, but I modded it for better filtration. Recently we bought a small sponge filter and a small box filter. I prefer the look of the sponge filter like you were talking about; all black, no problem, but the box filter is way more noticeable.
I got the sponge filter for a 10gal shrimp and guppy tank. That tank also has a small in-tank hang-on corner filter.
My bigger 29gal has an Aquaclear 50 and the new small box filter
My box filters are green, which I like! I also have my sponge filters attached to a stone media container. They are new and work great too!
You cannot get green ones
Ditto. I like dual sponge filter for the same reasons
I've been using box filers for over 50 years in tanks up to 55 gallon and as small as 2.5 gallon. And the very best breeders in the hobby run box filters. You can uses lava rock, carbon or even crushed coral. Once you go box, you'll never go back to sponge.
Haven't used a box filter since I first started the hobby. I have sponge, matt, hang on, and canister. For shrimp matt and sponge. For fish canister are my favorite. You do a great job speaking. Enjoyed your video. Thanks.
Nice! I keep debating about canisters, but I'm tight on space.
I use box filters in addition to sponge filters and canisters. They polish the water crystal clear. I always over filter, it's alabout keeping good water for me.
I bought the sponge filters you recommend and been running them for about 2 weeks now. My cycle is going along great with them and I like the ability to pull one sponge off to put in a new tank, that’s handy. I’d been looking at the box filters and intend to try them soon, too - I like that they will ‘trap’ the debris inside the box - and you can just take the whole box out to clean the gunk out without losing any back into the tank. That’s one thing I DON’T like about the sponge filters. Although my guppies seem to enjoy picking at the things that get stuck on the sponge. They can do that on the pre-intake filter sponge, though. I have concerns like what GenXGypsy said that the box filters look like they’ll crack easily. I don’t like that. If it’ll break, I’ll be the one to break it lol.
You can always use a ziploc bag around the sponge filter to minimize debree spill!
I have been using box filters for as long as I had a tank forever they keep water clean and are easy to use mine are a little different I use filter fiber bottom ammonia and carbon in middle more filter fiber on top I use in 3 of my 4 tanks they work great I just wait till fiber turn color and then replace
All my tanks have a hob or canister except my 20 gal guppy/planted tank. I bought the dual stacked box filter just to try it out so I wouldnt have to use a hob. It's been running for about 2 months and I've only had cleaned it once. It keeps the water nice and clean. I also do a waterchange once a week. I would definaltey recommend the box filter for smaller tanks I probably wouldn't run one on a tank bigger than a 29gal.
I agree!
Really enjoy watching your videos. Your content is always helpful and enlightening. Love that power sponge filter idea. Thank you!
Thanks man! I try!
box filter gonna take larger debris while sponge takes smaller one...major disadvantage of sponge filter is while u pull it out from the tank, the debris gonna fall back into the tank.....
I didn’t even know they made box filters anymore because I haven’t seen one since I was probably 5 or 6 years old and I’m 42 now I also thought they were sponge filters I don’t remember ever hearing them called a box filter
Sponge filters 'powered' by bubble flow are limited to coarse filtration because any finer filtering would quickly impede the weak current that bubbles can create.
HOWEVER , a box filters fine mechanical filter media can be changed out frequently enough, without disrupting the bio filtering that stay and a cleaner tank is much easier .
ALSO you can opt to put a very small water pump on the rise tube (not using air bubbles )and keep the flow going with fewer changes (these little pumps can be had for a few bucks.)
AND if you decide to go to an external filter you can draw the supply water through a container filter using it a as pre-filter mechanical filter letting only dissolved waste (ammonia and nitrites ) to go to external filter cutting any maintenance on that unit to once or twice a year.
All very good points!
So many times I see this filter setup with the sponges in the wrong order (I think they sometimes come in the wrong order) --- you presented it in the right way! I personally use from top to bottom: super coarse, medium, polyfill, and rings (never use super fine sponges because they clog too easy --- easier to use polyfill that I can replace). I tend to use sponges and rings from aquaclears --- just because it is easy to get and works well. I use this layering in box filters, canisters, and even hang on back (when I used them in the past --- though I won't use hob anymore). I have tried sponge filters before --- they are good for breeding but don't work as well and are harder to clean. Nice to see someone else that loves boxf ilterss
The box filter was the main filter for a10 gal tank in the 1970s. They work well. My favorite today is an under gravel filter with a hang on the back filter! We didn't understand the nitrogen cycle back then. I remember in 10th-grade biology class in high school every three months we used to tear down the 55 gal aquarium and clean it including boiling the gravel in a pressure cooker. Yet we never lost a fish. We used an under gravel filter and a large hang on the back filter. I guess what saved them was the large sponges on the hang on the back filter that was only washed with distilled water. I was a lab assistant in high school and my first ten-gallon tank only had a box filter. I would do a complete break down of the aquarium every six months. cleaned the sponge in distilled water of my box filter. The only fish I kept were native 8 dace minnows and two madtom cats. now I run a twenty-gallon aquarium with an under gravel filter and a hang on the back filter. do a 25 % water change every month. I have 6 shiners and three madtoms. A feisty brim that will be released back into the lake where it was caught four years ago. If you are going to keep a brim to adulthood you need a 75 to a 100-gallon aquarium at least.
Yeah, I ran box filters back in the 60's when I first started because, well, that's all we had. In the 70's I used box and undergravels. Now, like you, I'm an Aquaclear guy. I use undergravels along with Aquaclears. I also use sponge filters in my fry tanks and keep a sponge filter running in my cichlid tank to pull for a hospital tank if needed.
Awesome!
every word is detailed and perfect, enjoyed ur videos and subscribed!❤️🕊️
Can't wait to see how it goes with your Betta tank. That's what I am setting up as my first tank. Just got my dual sponge filter and now just waiting on plants and then I'll be set.
Sounds awesome! Be sure to share when it's set up!
@@DilettanteCulture it is up and running. Just trying to figure when it is safe to go get a fish and add to the tank now. Been adding the bacteria stuff daily and did a water test with the tetra strips and nitrate levels are safe with no nitrites. Am i good to go?
Is there any ammonia in the tank? Or have you added any ammonia?
@@DilettanteCulture the test strips do not test for that. Wish I knew that before buying them and as for adding any no i have not.
I've used box filters for years, and don't think I would use anything else, unless I was intending to overcrowd a tank. My first aquariums used HOB power filters. That's what the tank kits came with, and that's what everybody was using. When I started keeping fancy goldfish though, I saw that the fish were always swimming against the current from the filter outflow, and could never rest. I tried putting plastic plants in front of the filter, tried making a baffle, and nothing did much good.
I switched to a box filter, and the fish seemed less stressed and the water quality did not suffer, despite what I had been told about box filters not being efficient enough for use in a goldfish tank. From that point I had the fish for two years, without problem, and ended up giving it away still in good health, when I moved.
When I got back into aquariums again a few years ago, I ran into the same issue with the HOB filter that came with the tank. So I bought a box filter, and again had no problems. The goldfish did fine for two or three years until a new fish brought parasites into the tank and killed them all (my fault for not quarantining more than a few days).
Now I've set up a new tank, and went with box filters first thing instead of wasting time with other machines. You can see a vid of my tank and filtration on my profile.
The only downsides to these filters are they are conspicuous in the tank (but this is not all bad, you can see when they're dirty and it'll motivate you to keep them clean) and cleaning them/refilling them can be a mess, especially if you're using carbon or gravel as a medium. However if you're using carbon, the box filter is one of the only ways to use enough of it to provide adequate chemical filtration. HOB filter packs contain so little as to be practically useless I think.
I looked at sponge filters, because they're popular and a friend uses them, but I can't think of any real advantages they have over box filters.
In my opinion, sponge filters are easier to clean, but not by much haha
Do you use Box Filters? Or have you? Let me know how and why you liked/disliked them!
PS: I forgot to turn the back hair light on, and Color Correct the first 10 seconds. I need to stop filming/editing at 3am! Forgive me! haha
Bay Area Aquatics hey bro great video if it is possible can I get a shoutout plz I have been following since 200 subs thanks I used sponge filters then switched to canister filter with thanks Jamie
I run both. The corner (box) filters are the only air powered filter my comets will not rip apart.
I used box filters in the 80s when that was the filter that came with the tank.. I stopped using them due to the fact they would tend to start floating and you would need to put so much gravel in them to weigh them down that I just started using UG filters as funds permitted.
Now I only use sponge filterers on my intake tubes with Hang on back or Canisters.
In my day (I'm older than your Dad ;-) ) we had undergravel and box filters and the latter was usually filled with filter floss on top of some carbon, 'cos that's the way it was done! OK
Now we have these newfangled sponge filters, and, HoBs / canisters and such. What is the fishkeeping world coming to?
I use an undergravel filter with a sponge filter and lots of plants. :))
I also have a fantastic HoB Canister filter on one of my tanks, I'll be getting 3 more of these for my other tanks, even the one using the UG filter. :))
and your 'box' filter is brill
@@muckshifter UG are great for most fish. Goldies being an exception as they choke on gravel 🤦♀️
I see ugly the sponge filters, and that box filter is cute it looks clean and modern look.
I wish they made black box filters or at least grey/smoke box filters.
I love box filters for my 20 gallon high tanks....I through out the gravel and filled those compartments with zeolite and ceramic disk. I rearranged the sponges to provide better filtration. I still use my hang on the backs for now but may phase them out. My tanks are a little bit overstocked but the zeolite keeps my ammonia levels in check.
Good match up. I have sponge filters. Seen a lot of box filters like you said box filters are not the best looking but if it works most people won't worry about it. Great video 👍💪🤜🤛🐠🐠
Rob 93 Aquatics hey are you live tonight
Thanks man!
You'd be surprised where you can poke a bit of polyfill , you can put some inside the straight clear section of the sponge filter and you'll also be able to see when it gets full of crud
I thought about it, but all of it just seems kind of annoying to try and get out.
Great info mate, a hybrid filter would be more beneficial in my opinion.
Hybrid filter as in?
@@DilettanteCulture Means a sponge filter with an attachment that can hold bio media such as ceramic rings or bio balls. Hope it make sense
@@Fishaholic ohhhh got it! I've got something like that in the works. I've got all the materials, just haven't had the time to make it haha.
I just got two tiny box filters to run in a 10 gallon bowl. Because they’re so ugly, I’m going to bury them about 2/3 into the aqua soil (not covering the vent in the top of the box). Wish me luck.
I was wondering if that would work with my gravel. Hmmm ... how’d it go for you?
@@tori2dles Worked like a charm. I surrounded the filters with pearlweed, which grows like crazy. The pearlweed covered the unattractive filters and aided in filtering/oxygenating.
i've used both, but i run ugf on all the tanks i can except my river tank with darters, that has special DIY setup for high unidirectional flow and a winter "chiller" to condition for spawning. I've never noticed a difference but i will agree it's faster and easier to setup a quarantine tank with a box filter pulling biomedia from an established tank.
Undergravel filters always look too cool to me, but I hate to let her gravel so I run sand in most of my tanks haha
@@DilettanteCulture if you go to Home Depot or Lowes and get the small Pea Pebbles it works well and can be great biomedia in itself. plus it's cheap and looks good..
I run both. I use bigger sponges for surface area and the box filter for floss to catch the smaller particles and keep the water clearer. Both can be hidden by rocks or plants etc. Mainly use the box filter for my African peacock fry and add crushed coral to it to keep the ph to the correct level so I can run bare bottom tanks
I have an undergavel with my pea puffers. I have hang on back in one tank. The rest are sponge filters. I have box filters I tried last year however got frustrated with it. Could have been my state of mind at the time. I will try the again. Got mine from lfs (mine is 55 miles away and so are box stores). My box filters are a clear green. So you can see if you need to clean media, and is easy to hide behind plants. The one thing you lose when not using a sponge is filter is the ability of small fish and shrimp to graze on the sponge. My plecos even like to when they are small. Personally I think there are different benefits and negatives to each type of filter. It also depends on the person and how much work do they want to put in or if there the latest and greatest type, or newest thing on the market. Currently I do not have a central loop. I use serveral small air pumps. Tried to cover it all. 🤓
Very true! I didn't think about the grazing, but that's a super valid point!
I run box filters in my 20 long and 10, they are pretty ugly, but it's super quick and easy to see when they need cleaned, and I can put the tanks right up to the wall and don't have to worry about a hob hanging off the back, helps in tighter areas, and I can swap some media or sponges to seed a new tank should I need to
I use HOB, box filters, and sponge filters. I have Bettas, Guppies, Cories, and Axolotl fry. I usually only use a sponge filter when the tank is for small fry. I really love the box filters so far. I take some of the medium out of the corner box filter and add activated charcoal inside it. I have smaller tanks with box filters only, and larger tanks add a HOB too.
It's been a while since I had a box filter but what I remember from it was it was activated carbon on the bottom then polishing off poly fiber in the middle and think a sponge on top
Do you think you could "hide" it by burying it some in the back of your tank with the sloping of gravel?
Box filters tend to break, a lot. I stopped using them because of their flimsy construction, and crack, its toast.
are you sitting on them or something?
@@furripupau xD
You probably put heavy hard scape over it to cover it, huh?
If it cracks, seal with aquarium silicone
Can you use a sponge filter with a powerhead as your primary and you're only filtration system I don't have a tank yet I had one as a kid but I I had like a off the back hanging one I'm thinking about getting back into tanks and fish I've always loved all types of creatures and I'm just curious about this and someone could please let me know that would be very helpful
Thanks for your review.
Ive swapped over to sponge filters from a canister and have been rocking them for a while. but im now thinking a larger box filter may in fact be the best general purpose filter. i can run poly-fill on top for water polishing and easily replace it often like you said. i can run carbon if i need to to remove tannins or residual meds. i can hide it partially buried in the substrate. i am partial to crushed lava rock as biomedia and screw ever cleaning it. and also with a box filter i can stuff plants in it and let them drive their roots down into the media. im thinking im going to change my tanks over to larger box filters. either DIY or the swisstropicals betterbox and one with get stuffed with plants and one will have polishing pad on top and both will be partially buried in the substrate. a sponge filter either does a good job at bioligical filtration but a crap job at mechanical with coarser sponge. or a ok job at mechanical, but a "meh" job at biological with a fine sponge because its always clogged and flow through it is weak. the ease of replacing the poly-fill on the box filter with no lid on it like you were talking about means ill be more apt to keep up on it and flow will be good and fine floaty bits will get caught.
I run sponge filters exclusively, because my tanks are for Triops' and snails - both of which would end up inside a box filter.
I'm thinking about getting a box filter to use it as a nitrate filter. Add Seachem Matrix in there . So my tank will have a regular sponge and a box filter fill with Matrix. What's your thoughts on that set up?
I run a small Lee's triple flow box filter plus a dual sponge filter in my shrimp & endler tank.
I use Seachem Matrix and Fluval Bio-Max in it since that's what was in the HOB that used to be on that tank.
Running Aquaclear plus double sponge filter on my pygmy cory tanks.
Thinking of switching to box filter plus dual sponge filter for those as well.
Saves money on electricity (running 5 tanks off two air pumps) and I find running sponge + box keeps the water cleaner.
My only complaint with the double sponges is that they are so fine they clog easier and become difficult to get clean over time.
I have a couple Swiss Tropical poret sponge filters in a few tanks: expensive and bulky, but they work great.
Sounds like you've got a system down! Haha
Best filter I ever had was a overhanging cartridge filter with a spounge fastened around the intake. And polyester wool instead of the cartridge. Took so long to get dirty. Water was perfect. Maintenance?
Squeeze the spounge in a sink then squeeze in treated water. The polyester filing, just change it out
Great video! What do you think of the Seachem Tidal 55 HOB. I used to have a Aqua Clear, but once the Electric went out. I’ve had problems ever since, so I went with a Canister Filter. Much better. I don’t have one, but it looks really nice! I enjoyed watching. Thank you for sharing!
I actually did not like the Tidal (I had the 75). I feel like the intention of the it was good, but the execution was poor.
Bay Area Aquatics - I see mixed reviews on the Tidal HOB. The prices have gone up once again on them, so I’m thinking the better reviews outweigh the bad. I like the Box Filter. It can work well for the smaller tanks. Thank you! Enjoy your Posts!
@@josemontalvo4532 I have two Tidals. A 110 and I think a 75. Both on my 55 gallon. I really like them. But the one issue I see is depending what your using in the tray, the water can bypass the media etc. Very rarely I have the flow on full. If I do you see water come up the back and over the media. It doesnt run through. So I have to back off the flow till that stops.
Yes I still ran my but I just use normal river rock witch blend in if your doing a natural fish tank
I've always had powerhead HOBs. Running an air pump to power filters can get pretty loud, it can get expensive if you have large numbers of tanks, it's an ungodly sight, and it's not something I want to hear or pay for since powerhead ones are so good at what they do. One upside I see is they would be handy for smaller tank setups. Feel free to correct me on something maybe you've found cheap quiet powerful air pumps and can point me in the right direction.
I think it’s wishful thinking to assume a box filter with all those different kinds of media are actually more functional than a regular sponge filter.
I use both. No specific reason. I use them interchangeably
Wow, I must be the only person who loves the look of sponge filters. In my opinion, my least favorite look are HOB's. Canisters look fine, as long as they're in a cabinet, etc. Box's are pretty ugly, I'll say that, but I like how they're clear. Internals are pretty darn hideous as well. Undergravel are absolutely fugly and they don't even deserve to be a thing! They don't help anyone...But overall, I think the most common HOB's are the ugliest. You have this stunning planted setup with beautiful inhabitants and everything you enjoy...then all of a sudden you see this giant box hanging off the back of the tank like a leech. Then you notice a bunch of thick, ugly tubes inside of your tank...In my opinion, I actually think *most* sponges are absolutely gorgeous!! They're black, so they look great in light or dark tanks with a bright LED, dark substrate, a dark background, and beautiful, vibrant plants! The sponges look really cool when they're full of water, and some of mine are even partially above the water in a humid tank...and they look so cool! Not to mention they're small and easy to hide, unlike an HOB...sure, there are tiny tubes sticking out of the tank, but if they're hidden correctly, you wouldn't even know they're there. And of course there are bubbles...but I think that's the best part!! So there! One person who actually likes sponge filters, 100%!!
Wow those have been around forever. I think i had one of those before they invented lava rock....
I like sponge filters for my bettas because I think its gentler and creates better surface agitation (kind of annoying that I can't use my media from the other filter but it's okay)
I find the only sponge filter I have is a pain as I need to clean it the change water and I can never get all the particles out of it, and the look of seeing the particles still in it drives me crazy. I like the idea of have a bio component so I can rinse the sponges in clean water but not lose to much bio load.
Sponge filters are in all my tanks. Great video bud!
Had boxes, AND UG filters, long before you were born. Still like UG's. Hooked connected to a canister in a 55. Pumped clean water down 1 riser, and drew dirty from the other. Would reverse stacks when cleaning the filter. This used the entire substrate (gravel) as an active bio filter and kept under the UG clear as well. Canister acted primarily as a multilevel sponge filter and polisher. Hard to find the UGs now days.
I keep debating about doing a 10 gallon with a under gravel filter, but I hate the look of gravel in most cases. I prefer sand... So it doesn't work hahaha
Wouldn't be much water flow through the actual tank, the water should be drawn through the gravel.
@@btw4447 the UG filter was 2 part. The water pushed down one riser flowed down into one half of the UG (let's say the right side), up through the gravel into the tank. Tank water then flowed from the right side of the tank, to the left, down through the gravel in the other side (left) of the tank, down into the left side of the UG, up the riser into the canister filter.
All water flows completely through the entire tank (right to left in this case), passing and filtered through all of the gravel, as well as the canister filter.
@@rayp4008 Ah ok makes sense now
I have no issues with sponge filters.
This is great! Starting a nano shrimp tank but wanted chemical and mechanical filtration. Is this really quiet? All the air pumps and HOB filters I’ve found are loud
This is the pump that I use on all of my nano tanks now! Super quiet! :) th-cam.com/video/dXJBtiqBr_w/w-d-xo.html
Another solid video
Box filters, rocks in the bottom with Filter floss the way Grandma showed me in the 70s. They're not practical now too difficult to clean on massive scale. Undergravel filters was the way to go also for the nice clean neat look but a nightmare to get all the gunk from underneath. Bottom drains is the trick for that 😉 I use all Hikari sponge filters . some Hob's on grow out tanks,with sponges also.
I like the concept of UGF but I hate gravel haha
Try the mini sponge Hikari filter, it's got the weighted base like its bigger brother is designed to sit in the corner. It will polish the water in that small tank like you're looking for. Easier to clean than a box filter and looks better/smaller ,,,, also no aggravating suction cups to deal with😁
For the box filter in this video, what tank size would you recommend it for? I have multiple tanks and would like to get the exact one used in this video to try out on one of them.
It’s one of the first few items listed in the description area. You can support him by using it. ☺️
I was going to give you the link as this one in the video is the same one I bought a few mos. ago. But then he won’t get credit from Amazon.
As for size, it is for a 5-10 gallon tank. 🥳
I enjoyed your video and perspectives that work for you, new sub from me :)
Havent had a boxed filter in many years. I do run sponge filters for the bacteria growth, mostly to cycle other tanks. I have had a Zyss filter for a few months now. Still not sure about it lol
Nice comparison still prefer the sponge
I ran one when i was a kid. It was ugly, but the thing that annoyed me the most was how it vibrated the substrate and was constantly shifting in the tank. I should have gotten a suction cup something
I havent had that issue! And I even run several in bare tanks now. But that's interesting! I wonder if it's the design?
@@DilettanteCulture i suspect the air pump was too powerful for filter box I had. I'm not sure if there's a way to adjust for that, if there is I'd love to know since i still have the air pump.
Super glue gel to a tile, you can glue it far enough away from tile edge so fish don't become trapped, bury it in gravel, it will stay put.
Hey, great video. How will fry do with a box filter? Or baby shrimps?
So which one is better ???
Hey box filter is good and usefully...trial and error first guys
Box filter are superior to sponge filter.
Could you measure the nitrate level in the tanks. Which filter give you the least nitrate level ?
Can box filters be used with fry, such as bristlenose ?
I'm not good english so i can't hear clealy. Pls let's me know which is better? Box or popular sponge filter?
Box Filters are so 1980's they are a thing of the pass
Who cares if they are so 1980s- they were round before that. Sponge and box filters are practical, no one installs a filter in the front. And big plus over HOB and canisters- if the power goes out , they don't burn out.
how times clean sponge filter in month
Wow didnt know box filters were gold and I got one at a lonely pet store
Aka "corner filter"
I'm not a fan of the term "Corner Filter" because I feel like their can be lots of "Corner Filters" from internal, sponges, and intakes of others haha
Not a fan of box filters. They have relatively little surface capacity and are inconvenient to clean. Only really appropriate for a little tank.
How to make at home , a simple but effective filter ,pls make video
I've got a few of those planned!
@@DilettanteCulture ?
I have a sponge filter. The one with rocks and a tube but a bit cheaper version. Can I use it for my betta tank? It’s 2.5 gallons. I have a filter that hangs on the sides but it’s really big for the tank
So how exactly do you plan to run a box filter if you can't attach a power head? I run sponge a sponge filter in my 20 with a fluval Q1 air pump rated at 36 GPH along with a hang on the back filter which I just filled with Fluval ceramic stones and Im crystal clear. My 10 is just fine with a hang on the back.
My betta tank is ran off a Whisper Pump in the hallway. That's where the box filter went.
@@DilettanteCulture also if you have a problem with "small particles" look into the Lustar-Hydro Sponge. 👍
@@rancidclown07 American Aquarium Products actually sent me some, they're in my 75!
...why don’t you buy a sheet of poly filter and wrap it around the sponge filter?
That's an option, I've just always found that to be extra messy
Bay Area Aquatics It can be, but it doesn’t have to be. I have mine hidden behind my hardscape. It doesn’t come apart because I have it tied on well and have a fine mesh bag over it so pieces of it can’t come loose and get into the tank. It’s only a short term solution, but it can help if you get in a pinch.
What will be the long terms benefits of Box filter in Tank???
For me, I wanted some extra mechanical filtration. I can't fit a hang on back due to the location of the tank, so air power or internal is my options.
Removing sponges for cleaning etc often drops a lot of the surface back into the tank. Box filters pull the collected "crap" out with it to be cleaned. Sponges are great for fry and grow out tanks. But, I am still a fan of UG's lol.
What kind of air pump do you need to run the double sponge filter? Mine tends to offer a very weak flow.
@ 0:19... "DARNKESS" LOL
It is! Without the hair light, how can you see my beautiful blonde hair? Haha
Dang it I just saw the typo 😂
Sponge filters the best for me tiger p
I'm not a fan of sponge filters, I really dont see how they work, atleast with a box filter you can get a understanding on how they work.
They're definitely more of a biological filter!
They both work the same way. Air bubbles rise through an uplift tube which displaces water, creating suction below them which draws water through the sponge. They work best as biological filtration but with enough air you can get decent mechanical filtration with a coarse sponge.
What the hell is a hair light? Hahaha
A light! For your hair...
But yeah, about 45° up above my head, behind me facing the camera. It adds light to your hair and shoulders and separates you from the background. I have black stands and sand and such, and with black t-shirts... Haha
I don’t like the eBay/Amazon double sponges way to fine you need a course sponge like the weighted sit on bottom ones.
I've got both. I definitely prefer the dual sponge style but I replace the sponge with a more coarse one
Bay Area Aquatics where do you get your coarser sponges?