Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

really? I love em
Do you use sump filters ?

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My System

Nope, sponge filters.
I use one large airpump to run 20 tanks.
Cleaning them is easy, you pull them out while doing a water change and give them a squeeze in the old tank water, and they aerate the water in the process.

Cleaning out 20 cannisters in a day when I do water changes just wouldnt work, they take too long.
And I find that you get bigger temp swings using them as the pipes act like heat exchangers.

I use 2-4 of these http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/catalogue_products.php?prodID=4790&catID=29 in my 6 and 8ft tanks, and 2 of the 720L capacity ones in the 3 and 4ft tanks.

Andrew

Those sponge filters look like they might be a good add on for my 500L system for a bit of extra bio action.

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IBC system
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Horsham Aquaponics

Cool, look cheap too. I only have one running tank 4'x2'x2' so I only have one to clean. It very annoying to clean too, and harder to clean than the Fluval. However I only clean it 2-3 times per year. Totally different story when you have lots of tanks
Can you post a photo or 2 of your tanks and fish ?

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My System

+1 for some photos of tanks

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Aquarium System
IBC System
Blog

I dont have any current ones of tanks.
I'll take some shots and upload later today.
Fish photos I posted here http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11532

What is the size of the air connection on those sponge filters Werdna. I just ordered 3 and have a new air pump on the way.

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Horsham Aquaponics

It is your standard 4mm airline fitting.
I have run a 19mm retic pipe around my shed for air, then used the barbed retic fittings to make connections to plug the airline in.
You can even use the 4mm black retic pipe if you feel so inclined.
Aquarium shops will sell it for the hugely inflated price of around $1/m.
Aquarium products sells it for $0.45 a metre, you could probably email off Ben and ask him to add it to your order if you want.

I got a roll of 4mm air line a while ago so no shortage of that. Thanks for replying. I am very interested to see how these filters work

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Horsham Aquaponics

The rising air draws water with it, which is sucked through the sponge.
Very similar to an under gravel filter, but replacing gravel with sponge.

They work on the KISS principle

Andrew

Yeah, I have been wanting to add some filtration to my small 500L system but because it doesnt have a sump the water level changes a lot. So an airlift with K1 media in a pipe like I have in and aquarium and in my big system would not work so good.
These could be a good addition

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Horsham Aquaponics

Three of the big ones arrived today and one is in the greenhouse system and two in the big tank. So simple and should help out a bit

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Horsham Aquaponics

i'm using small sponge filters in my (3x10 gal) daphnia tanks.. so far so good! one 8watt, 4 outlet air pumps runs 3 filters and 5 airlines to greenwater tanks

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my basement system;
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=8354

I run them in every single tank.
I love them, its the only filter I use now

Do they clog up with solids often??
The aire that gets pushed out of the little stone really erupts at the surface

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IBC system
Bigger system
Greenhouse system
Horsham Aquaponics