An aquarium is necessary for anyone who likes to keep pet fish. And for the best life for those fish, every aquarium needs filters. Sponge filters are the easiest to install and simplest forms of these filters. And if you have one, you might wonder how to set up a sponge filter in an aquarium. Do not worry, this efficient type of filter is also quite easy to install and modify.

Setting up a sponge filter inside your aquarium only requires the set of parts that come with your sponge filter pack. There is a step-by-step instruction you should follow that can easily help you put together the sponge filter. So, without any additional tools, you can install the filter into your aquarium.

Seems pretty easy right? And it sort of is. It’s not some rocket science that you have to ponder over. With the right directions, you will have your aquarium sponge filter up and running in no time.

How Does a Sponge Filter Work?

The sponge filter is not the most popular aquarium filter without reason. Since you plan to set up one of them in your aquarium, knowing how it functions can help. The mechanism is simple but interesting.

A sponge filter is the simplest form of aquarium filter found in markets. If you are a beginner at setting up aquariums, this is the best product for you to start with. It can maintain the cleanliness of your aquarium as well as the current in it.

Even though you might take some time to put together your sponge filter, once you install it you can modify it. You can add parts to it like control units and stones once you feel the need for them. You also need to clean the sponge filter to make sure it can keep the tank cleaner.

The Sponge Filter’s Mechanism

The sponge filter works by using air tubing, the cleaning sponge, and tubing underwater. How the sponge filter works is it uses air and vacuum to clean out debris from the tank and store it within the sponge.

Once the sponge filter starts working, the air tubing draws air into the sponge to fill in the space inside of it. Then as an effect, the air bubbles create a vacuum that draws the water into the sponge. Now, the sponge can work to separate the dirt and debris from the water it drew in and release the clean water into the aquarium.

The debris that the sponge just collected using its porous surface, will not come back into the water because of the filters. Ultimately, you get cleaner water in the aquarium.

How to Setup a Sponge Filter in an Aquarium?

Setting up a sponge filter inside your aquarium is an easy job. All you need is the included parts inside the sponge filter box and you are ready to go. Let’s get into how you can get started, and then install the filter inside your fish tank.

Things You Will Need for the Installation

There is a list of things you should start with when you install the sponge filter. They should be in the box you purchased the sponge filter in. You should have a sponge filter, an air pump, and airline tubing. In addition to this setup, you can also get an airflow valve for controlling the airflow inside the tank.

The sponge filter usually comes as a stock item with the entire setup box. And if you customize it, you will have to ensure that the air pump and the airline tubing are the correct sizes for your aquarium.

Setting Up the Sponge Filter

Once you have all of your parts, you can follow this set of instructions to set up your sponge filter for your aquarium.

Step 1

Take the parts you have at hand and identify that you have all of them in incorrect states. Take your sponge filter and take the strainer out from the foam exterior. Like this, ensure you have everything at hand.

Step 2

There should be foam, lift tube, and attachment units or a heavy bottom among the parts. With these, assemble the sponge filter. Take out the bullseye from the strainer and put an air stone inside it. Then, you can take the airline tubing to attach the air stone to the center of the bullseye. You can customize the length of the tubing to fit your tank.

Step 3

At this point, you can reattach the bullseye to the strainer. Take your foam piece and place the strainer back inside. The heavy base will come in handy here, and you can connect your strainer to it to ensure the foam stays down. Since most debris settles at the bottom of the tank, the strainer can work perfectly there.

Step 4

The lift tube comes into play now. Right above the bullseye, you can attach the lift tube from one end of the airline tubing to the center. The tube should fit perfectly on the bullseye since it has to remain secure when the filter is doing its job.

Step 5

Once this setup is complete, you can place your sponge filter inside the aquarium and let it adjust. There may be water bubbles inside the foam that you can squeeze out. The foam has to be free of bubbles so it can sink to the bottom of the tank and work properly.

Step 6

Considering you already cut your airline tubing to the correct size, you can now connect the air pump. The air pump should go with the sponge filter and attach securely.

Step 7

Be careful of where the air pump is inside the tank. It can allow water to flow into the airline tubing if it is in a bad position. For example, the air pump below the top of the tank can cause this problem. To correct it, you can install a check valve or stopper valve and set its end to face the direction of the air pump.

Step 8

Now you can let your sponge filter do its job of cleaning your tank. As you observe it, adjust the airflow as much as you need to ensure that it is functioning.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you have your answer on how to set up a sponge filter in an aquarium. There are different types of sponge filters that you can use to modify your basic tank.

So make sure to check advanced options and parts when you want to modify your sponge filter.