Sponge filters and airpumps

[Steve]

Since I'm having more and more fish starting to breed I plan to keep and raise the ones that I know for sure are not crossbred so I amgoing to need to set up another 20g fry/grow out tank soon. I've been looking at sponge filters so that I don;t have to worry about tiny fry getting sucked up into an intake of a HOB but I really know next to nothing about sponge filters setups. What size/type of sponge filter and air pump would be good for a 20g fry/grow out tank? and is the sponge & pump the only things needed in a sponge filter set up or is there anything else needed?

[linuxrulesusa]

For growout I'd just go ahead and get a Hydro III/IV/V, possibly a Pro (because coarser foam and won't clog as quickly) and then you can repurpose it later.  The fry will pick at the stuff that grows on the sponge though you still need to feed them.

Air pump...any 2W+ should be fine.  Most of mine are 3-4W that I've gotten used.  In fact, I don't think I have any new ones.    I have used Tetra Whispers and some other brands I can't think of right now. 

You also need silicone airline tubing.  Ask your LFS when you buy the sponge/pump and they should throw some in for free.

[Steve]

Okay thanks that's exactly what I needed to know 

[four_by_ken]

I think I am the minority here with this...

But, we use an small AquaClear on our 20 gallon fry tanks.  We put a nylon piece over the intake strainer and have yet to have one fry get stuck to the intake.

But, we also have backgrounds, rock, gravel and plants in our fry tanks.

[cranialdisturbance]

Hydro Sponge (ATI) also make a HOB prefilter if you are worried about fry getting sucked up the intake.  I have a few and am very pleased.

http://www.atisponge.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Filter-Max-Pre-Filters-1024x480.jpg

[Steve]

I've actually tried covering the intake of the HOB I have on my fry tank with a nylon and it cut the flow down so much that the filter would only drip water back into the tank. I then tried cutting the mesh from a small fish net and using that to cover the intake figuring that the mesh would be a bit less apt to clog like the fine mesh of a nylon. It worked okay for about 5 days but then started to clog and cut the return flow back down. So guessing the flow of the little $14 tetra HOB filter I have is just not strong enough to flow through any sort of prefilter, so figure I might as well just go to a sponge filter in the next fry tank and not have to mess with it again.

[four_by_ken]

I just need to swipe my fingers over the nylon once every few weeks or so.

[JG]

Hydro Sponge (ATI) also make a HOB prefilter if you are worried about fry getting sucked up the intake.  I have a few and am very pleased.

http://www.atisponge.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Filter-Max-Pre-Filters-1024x480.jpg

Can those fit over the intakes of an Aqua Clear intake?