Elite Sponge Filter

I bought several of these to add to tanks where I was having tank-cycling issues (due to lack of a stable bio-media in my HOB filters, I believe). After much research, it seems that many fish enthusiasts insist on added sponge filters for stability. There were actually not many brands that I could find, nor recommendations. I decided to try these in combination with my HOB filters and I am glad I did... I now have no more cycling issues in any tank that has one of these. These are suitable for 10-gallons and up (I do not think that they would fit in a rectangular 5-gallon)... though I would get the double sponge filter for overstocked tanks. As for maintenance, I only have to squeeze out the organic matter from the sponge once a month in the bucket with the siphoned water from the tank during a regular cleaning. I would guess that the sponges will need to be changed at least once a year as they are already much softer than when they were installed.

This is a great bio and mechanical filter for the small tank. You just attach this to your air pump and stick it to the side and you'll get aeration, mechanical and biofiltration. And the suction is strong too, I could literally see debris get sucked into the foam filters.

The only drawback is the noise, it's the noise of air and water exiting the top tube. It's noisy whether you put the outlet above or below the water; it's a little quieter above the water, but still noisy. It's a design flaw to leave an outlet just like that. But if you have a loud environment maybe it won't bother you that much.

I'm planning to put stick a diffuser of some sort on it, it can be as simple as 1/2" tubing with a lot of little holes drilled in it and they should have designed something just like that.

But apart from that it's pretty good, works well and is inexpensive!

Update: I've now stuck a DIY moving bed filter to the outlet end and I'm happy with the noise level now. Overall, I'm extremely happy with this product and the price.

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This is a great little sponge filter; I'm using mine in a little 5 gallon and it works great. It does take up about 1/3, maybe 1/4 of the tank, I see this filter more suited to a 10 gallon +. I bought this filter for my fry tank and it has done a great job, I've actually just ordered another one as supplemental filtration for another tank and would definitely recommend it if you need a basic sponge filter.

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I was skeptical about sponge filters but this one has been keeping my water in great shape. This filter works great for this tank because Apistogrammas do no like flow.

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I'm using the double sponge filter for my 20gal tank to supplement my HOB power filter. This is my first sponge filter so the following things I say may be naive or incorrect, however I expected the sponges to pick up more stuff in my goldfish tank. I squeeze out the sponges every week with my water change. my HOB filter is always super dirty, but the sponges don't seem to have much dirt in them, so I'm now cleaning them every other week.

My main gripe, and the reason for the 3 stars, is this thing is LOUD. there is an adjustable upside down L shaped tube that the instructions say to keep half submerged for best results. Due to the construction of the tube, the air creates an annoying whistling sound, whether I keep it half submerged, fully submerged, or out of the water completely. So i'm just not using the tube at all and letting the bubbles come straight up out of the core tube of the filter.

Looking back (and forward) I would probably go with the hydro sponge filters

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