Sponge Filter Question

[emily]

Hello all,

I just bought a sponge filter for one of my smaller tanks and have a silly question (because I've never had this type of filter before)...
Once I set it all up, I put my hand to the sponge and it feels like there is almost no suction! Is this normal? Or is the suction so soft that I can't feel it? 

[babblefish1960]

I assume you are using an air pump to drive the filter, if so, it depends a little on the amount of air flowing through the filter centre, the actual surface area of the filter(the larger the filter, the less you'll feel).

As long as you have these things hooked up and running, the filter works fine, the fact there isn't heavy suction is one reason they are great for tanks with fry in them, the fry can feed off the sponge without being plastered up against it. Enjoy.

[Aiglos]

Emily:  Perfectly normal not to feel suction.   Good choice on a small tank. 

Once a week take some water from your tank when you do the water change and squeeze the sponge out into that water and you will be disgusted how much waste a sponge filter actually picks up. 

[emily]

Thank you both! I'm glad to hear it's not out of the ordinary. And yes, I'm using an airstone to drive the filter. So hopefully it'll work out because I have some guppy fry 'on the way' 

[Julie]

As Aiglos mentionned, make certain to give it a good rinsing in tank water once a week.

By the way, that's a lovely beta in your avatar.  Amazing colour.

[emily]

Thanks Julie, the betta is one of SarahBella's homegrown ones