Why You Need a Pre-Filter Sponge for Your Aquariums
You are looking for an easy way to optimize your hang on-back (HOB), or canister filter. Pre filter sponges (or intake sponges) are a simple way to optimize your hang-on-back (HOB) or canister filter. The simple foam cylinder comes with a hole in its middle. This allows you to slide it on the intake tube of your filter much like a sock. What good is a prefilter sponge? We already have an aquarium tank filter. Intake sponges offer surprising benefits such as:
– They provide more surface area to grow beneficial bacteria, which purify the waste chemicals in the water and make it safe for your fish to live in. Large openings in the filter intake tube can allow large objects to be sucked up and potentially damage the motor. The pre-filter sponge prevents things like baby fish, dwarf shrimp, little snails, plant leaves, and fish food from entering the filter. – An intake sponge adds more mechanical filtration, thus keeping your filter media from getting dirty as quickly. This is crucial because dirty filter medium can make it less efficient and we’d rather clean an easy to remove intake sponge than the filter material buried in a canister.
Prefilter sponge is installed at the tip of a filter intake tub
Which Pre Filter Sponge Should I Get?
We offer three sizes of sponges: small, medium, and large. Our sponges are made with coarse foam, which has a higher porosity. Pre-filter sponges won’t remove extremely fine particles, but will block most other particle sizes. They also won’t clog up as quickly. Our mini pre-filter sponge is best for smaller fish tanks and filters with slow flow, whereas the large pre-filter sponge is well-suited for bigger aquariums and filters with fast flow. To help you select the right size, see our chart that lists some of the most popular filters in the fishkeeping hobby:
Brand
Model
Type
Size
Notes
Quietflow LED10
Quietflow LED 20
Quietflow LED 30
Quietflow LED 50
Aqueon
Quietflow 75 LED
Aquaclear 20
Aquaclear 30
Aquaclear 50
Aquaclear 70
Aquaclear 100
Use an O-ring, zip tie, or extra sponge to make it stay
C2
C3
C4
To make it stick, use a zip tie
107
207
307
407
FX4
Fluval
FX6
Canister
Slim S10
Slim S15
Marina
Slim S20
Mini
Emperor 400
Penguin 75
Miniature or medium
Penguin 100
Penguin 150
Penguin 200
Fit over the intake basket
Marineland
Penguin 350
To make the basket stay put, remove it and attach an O-ring/zip tie.
Tidal 55
Tidal 75
Seachem
Tidal 110
Large
Whisper IQ 20 / 30 / 45
Whisper EX 20
Whisper EX 30
Whisper EX 45
Medium
Tetra
Whisper EX70
HOB
Large*
Make sure it stays put with a thick O-ring and/or zip tie
A pre-filter sponge can also be used with our power head to transform it into a mini power filter. Just attach two zip ties to the powerhead’s intake basket, cut off the excess tails, and slide on a large prefilter sponge.
How to Install Pre-Filter Sponge
1. If the filter’s intake tube has a large basket that is much wider than the tube, then remove the basket. 2. The prefilter sponge should be positioned on the intake tube partially so that it only covers the tube’s tip. To ensure water flows more evenly throughout the sponge, the sponge should be placed at the end of the intake tube. This will prevent the foam from getting clogged as quickly.
O-ring attached on the end of an intake tube to keep the intake sponge from slipping
1. To make the sponge fit better, you can use the following methods:
You can get an O-ring set that includes many sizes. Find an O-ring that snugly fits on the intake tube, and position it about 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) from the end of the intake tube. The pre-filter sponge can be placed over the O rings on the tube. Attach a plastic zip tie around the intake tube’s end, approximately 1-2 inches (22.5-5cm) from the opening. Make sure the buckle is still attached by removing the tail. To ensure a tight fit, attach the sponge to the intake tube with a zip tie. – Take a small piece of coarse sponge and insert it into the intake sponge. Place the intake sponge on the tube and ensure it is securely in place.
Zip tie attached to the end of an intake tube. This will keep the intake sponge in place.
If the intake tube has an odd shape, you can still make your own DIY prefilter sponge. You can use a rough sponge pad to make a prefilter sponge.
To see a video demonstration of how to install and properly fit a prefilter sponge, watch our tutorial here.
How to clean a pre filter sponge
The intake sponge is essentially like a trash can that collects fish waste, old food, and other debris in the water. You should empty the trash can once a month. Also, clean the pre-filter sponge.
1. You can scoop the sponge out with a plastic bag. 2. Squeeze and wring out the sponge several times in old tank water inside the plastic bag. 3. The water that is dirty acts as mild fertilizer for plants. If you are able to, then pour the water onto the lawn or a houseplant. 4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 multiple times until the water inside the bag is not very dirty. 5. Place the pre-filter sponge back onto the intake tube. 6. If there are lots of particles floating in the water, just wait an hour or so for the filter to clean it up again.
Adding an intake sponge to your filter is an easy way to upgrade your mechanical and biological filtration, while protecting your baby fish and invertebrates from getting sucked up. If you are not sure which aquarium filter to use, make sure to read our filtration guide for beginners.