How do you keep a tank relatively clean with a sponge filter?

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generalbutton

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I seem to be asking questions left and right! Okay, so I have two sponge filters in my 10g right now, which do the chemical filtration perfectly. However, as we know, mechanical lacks a little bit. How do fellow spongers deal with that?

I'm finding that if I'm always sucking up particles to keep it clean, I then have to add more water in just a few days (I also have a fan to keep the water at the right temp, so it evaporates some) and I'm not sure how stressful this is going to be for the axie. I definitely want to avoid that. The ph and whatnot doesn't really change when I do that but I read that plants and the filter could also get stressed from this. :confused:

Is there a better way to do this that I'm missing?
 
Nup, daily spot checks are a must with sponge filters.

A turkey baster helps to get the muck with as little water as possible but your only other option is to add a filter in there that isnt a sponge filter
 
I simply waft a net around gently to gather up any bits of waste material .
 
I have a sponge filter and I just use the turkey baster to spot clean. About once a week or so I'll use my little battery powered gravel vac to suck out around the decorations and plants. My plants and axys seem to be doing fine this way.
 
generalbutton said:
which do the chemical filtration perfectly.
Click to expand...

Sponge filters are biological filtration. Chemical filtration is things like activated carbon and charcoal.

If you want perfectly clear water then don't use a sponge filter. Well, use a sponge filter, but also use a hang on back? Create a baffle if you're extremely paranoid about current, but a small hob shouldn't create much current. Also you don't need it on all the time, just have nothing but mechanical filtration in it (filter floss) and run it for an hour a day, it'll keep the tank pretty as can be.
 
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