DYI sponge filter
by Amie
Someone asked me how to build a cheap sponge filter so I thought I'd post the directions here.
First, you need a sponge, of course. If you have one laying around, great. If not, you can buy a refill sponges for sponge filters. The cheapest place I have found them has been at kensfish, however you do have to account for shipping which can be high if you are only buying one or two items.
Here are the parts that I use:
2 things pictured are optional
a short piece of rigid airline
a coupler to connect the airline to additional airline tubing
The idea of a sponge filter is that the bubbles coming from the airline go up through the tube, displacing the water, hence creating a suction that pulls water in through the sponge. While the water comes in through the sponge, particles attach to the sponge, which in turn helps to clean the tank.
The air needs to be fed into the tube just above where the sponge and the tubing meet, so drill a hole at a downward angle, that is about 3/16” diameter.
Pull the air line through the hole and down about ½”. This is where I added the small piece of rigid airline so the line was pointed straight down...it is really not necessary.)
With the sponge that I’m using, I have to seal up the bottom of the sponge - luckily, a 3/4" endcap fits perfectly.
Now all you have to do is put all the parts together.
I put a dot of superglue on the top coupler, before putting it in the sponge, just to make sure it stays in place.
Hopefully you have a suction cup laying around from an old heater that you can put on the pipe in order to attach the filter to the side of the tank.
Now just attach your sponge filter to the inside of your tank, plug your airline into an air pump and turn the air up enough to see water flowing out the top and back into the tank.
First, you need a sponge, of course. If you have one laying around, great. If not, you can buy a refill sponges for sponge filters. The cheapest place I have found them has been at kensfish, however you do have to account for shipping which can be high if you are only buying one or two items.
Here are the parts that I use:
- sponge
- airline tubing
- 3/4" x 6" piece of pvc (whatever size tubing fits into the sponge you have)
- 3/4" coupler
- 3/4" pvc Tee or elbow
- 3/4" pvc endcap (wouldn't be needed if the sponge was closed on one end)
- Airline tubing
- Suction cup from a heater
- suction cup from an old heater
- drill and a 3/16” drill bit.
2 things pictured are optional
a short piece of rigid airline
a coupler to connect the airline to additional airline tubing
The idea of a sponge filter is that the bubbles coming from the airline go up through the tube, displacing the water, hence creating a suction that pulls water in through the sponge. While the water comes in through the sponge, particles attach to the sponge, which in turn helps to clean the tank.
The air needs to be fed into the tube just above where the sponge and the tubing meet, so drill a hole at a downward angle, that is about 3/16” diameter.
Pull the air line through the hole and down about ½”. This is where I added the small piece of rigid airline so the line was pointed straight down...it is really not necessary.)
With the sponge that I’m using, I have to seal up the bottom of the sponge - luckily, a 3/4" endcap fits perfectly.
Now all you have to do is put all the parts together.
I put a dot of superglue on the top coupler, before putting it in the sponge, just to make sure it stays in place.
Hopefully you have a suction cup laying around from an old heater that you can put on the pipe in order to attach the filter to the side of the tank.
Now just attach your sponge filter to the inside of your tank, plug your airline into an air pump and turn the air up enough to see water flowing out the top and back into the tank.
-
May 2010
April 2010