They're also
easy to make:
I buy cheap sponges from the LPS or LFS, large rectangles or cylinders,
doesn't really matter as long as it's got enough body. Then cut
out part of the sponge, enough to nestle an air stone in it without too
much of the air stone sticking out. Then jab an exacto knife
through the middle of the sponge, making a channel, of sorts, through which
I stick airline tubing. Stick the air stone on the end of the
airline tubing and voila, you have a sponge filter. |
Making your
own sponge filter is really easy. All you need to do is cause water to
move through a sponge. One easy way is to join two pieces of
1/2" PVC pipe with a 90-degree elbow. One of the pieces of pipe
needs to have a bunch of holes drilled in it and an end cap (on the
end). The piece with the holes is wrapped in 1/2" or 1" foam.
I hold the foam in place with cable ties. The foam covered arm
sits on the bottom of the tank, and you place an airline tubing down the
other PVC to the elbow. An air stone increases the efficiency of
the unit, but is not necessary. I buy my foam rubber, PVC pipe, and
cable ties from the Do It Yourself store. You will find that
this simple filter will cost almost a dollar and a half and is as
efficient than anything you can buy . I also do much the same thin
with a single piece of pipe with foam on the bottom half--but in shallow
tanks that's not very efficient."
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