favorite air driven filter

[Puddles]

What is your favorite air driven filter? I am looking to revamp my filtration (maybe not right now but getting ideas).  I have only used the dual sponge design like this:

 

 

But they are pretty bulky in a tank and I find they clog very easily. There are various styles, sponge only, or ones that hold media too. What ones do you like and use in your tanks?

[slycat929]

I usually use one of those with a hob filter. I am also curious as to what other people are usimg

[EGrfx]

DIY Hamburg Matten filter with UGF.

[Shrimpie]

Hamburg Matten filter - on end of tank from Swisstropicals.com

[High5's]

Ugf sponge filter combo. I do like the duel sponge filters I use them and hikari bacto surge.

[chibikaie]

All hail the mighty HMF!

[EricM]

standard dual sponge filter. you get good surface movement from if you put the top about 50% out of the water and when you clean them you can rotate 1 sponge 1 month the other the next so you arent shocking your system.

 

dual sponges, ugf, and hmf combo is how i started building all my new tanks.

[Puddles]

Aren't Hamburg filters typically water pump driven?

[EricM]

I'd say air pump driven, but just as easy to put a powerhead behind the sponge.

 

for fish, powerhead is probably a better choice. for shrimp its all about the air. you dont need heavy gph.

[Elo500]

Is Swiss tropical's the only vendor for HMF? No one has come up with a generic one?

[Shrimpie]

I got mine from Swiss Tropicals.  This is their specialty and their prices and customer support can't be beat.

[christinenha]

I got all of my corner HMF filters from Swiss Tropicals as well (two 10G and one 20G). Looks really sleek. Barely notice them in my aquariums. =)

[Elo500]

On the corner ones is it 1 piece or do you have to glue the side panels to the tank?

[EricM]

On the corner ones is it 1 piece or do you have to glue the side panels to the tank?

 

you can get the glass parts needed with the order now. but yes you'll have to glue yourself.

[jumpsmasher]

For me I consider HMF and sponge filters two separate things.

For HMF stick with Poret and JetLifter Large when possible.

For sponge the dual sponge filter are my choice but I generally avoid "no-name" ones as the quality of the sponge can vary greatly.

I would rank them as follows

1. Tetra

2. Sera

3. AZOO oxygen plus Bio-filter #2

The tetra and Sera are no really available in north America

In Asia, especially among Japanese breeders the tetra ones are the standard. They come in 3 sizes I believe. Sera looks similar; both have green tubes so they match the eheim classic filters.

Azoo is the only ones of the three we can get. I used them in all my previous tanks.. Good sponge and very good deal as they come with a spare set of sponge (or at least they should - ebay sell might take them out as sell them separately)

For an air driven sponge you don't want it too dense as it will clog too quickly and affect the flow.

[chibikaie]

I used to order the Azoo sponge filters from Drs. Foster and Smith before I switched to Swiss Tropicals' Poret foam. They did not come with an extra replacement sponge, but you could order them separately. They were a better price than Lee's or Deep Blue, and came in more size options. Not sure how they compare these days.

[jumpsmasher]

I used to order the Azoo sponge filters from Drs. Foster and Smith before I switched to Swiss Tropicals' Poret foam. They did not come with an extra replacement sponge, but you could order them separately. They were a better price than Lee's or Deep Blue, and came in more size options. Not sure how they compare these days.

I think only the #2 model comes with spare sponges, at least mine did. I ordered around 20 of them from Dr. Foster & Smith a couple of years ago and all of them came with 4 extra sponges (1 set) inside the box. Maybe that's how pack it from the factory to save space and shipping costs and Dr. Foster & smith forgot to take them out when they sold them...lol

Maybe they smarted up and remove the extra sponges now.

[evabug1]

Has anybody tried the tower block filters from Swiss Tropicals?

[jerrich]

I have made my own DIY version of the tower block filter.. Hands down its the best filter i have ever used. Easy to move easy to clean easy to set up really effective and pretty simple to make. Made 20 in 2 days ready to use. The fist one got way to mouch air and sucked up some of the floating plants a litlle adjustment and every thing is perfect..

[Soothing Shrimp]

jerrich, would you please show your DIY of your block filters?

[ChadO]

Has anybody tried the tower block filters from Swiss Tropicals?

 

I have migrated all of my non-Ehiem based tanks over to the Tower block filter.  They have been working really well for me, and I have been quite happy with the performance.  I need to clean out the lift tube near the air holes about every 3-4 months, but that is quite easy.  Aside from that maintenance, just let them do their thing.

[JamesHe]

I got mine from Angelfish Plus.

 

I used those back the days I bred angelfish.

 

Now I use 30ppi 4.25" black cube sponge filter with slate base.

 

Cost only 4.85 if you order 10. it's cheaper than SwissTropicals.

[mayphly]

I got mine from Angelfish Plus.

I used those back the days I bred angelfish.

Now I use 30ppi 4.25" black cube sponge filter with slate base.

Cost only 4.85 if you order 10. it's cheaper than SwissTropicals.

are the 4.25 filters a good size for 10 gallon tanks?

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[JamesHe]

are the 4.25 filters a good size for 10 gallon tanks?

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It's so great that I even use only one in 29 gallon with hundreds of CRS, so it's easy to do with 10G.

[mayphly]

Good to know.. I just upgraded to an 1744 gph air pump and will be needing more sponges. I might check these out. Thanks!

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