Sponge Filter with fine sponge.

The first point to make about sponge filters are they are a very uncomplicated device and as such can be easily made yourself. There are many plans on the internet relating for DIY sponge filters. In fact I’m a big fan of DIY but only when “doing it yourself” saves a few dollars or if the design is better than the bought one. Therefore can I just say this about Sponge filters, these things are very inexpensive to buy, so unless you can find a design that is better than the one you want to buy for your Betta tank I’d just say, save yourself the trouble and just go ahead an buy one. It’s as simple as that.

I use an air pump to drive mine. Power heads can be added to sponge filters as an alternative but in a Betta tank an aquarium air pump should be sufficient. When used in a Betta breeding tank you will need to be able to adjust the air flow from barely any at all to a moderate air flow when the fry get larger. I use an air pump with adjustable air flow and an X Valve to decrease the air flow even more. Most come with a weight on the bottom and in some cases the filter may have to be used with a strong air flow for some time before the weight takes effect and secures the filter to the bottom of the tank.

One thing that I have also discovered is you can get some sponges that are finer than others. Some sponges can be quite open but I have a preference for the finer sponge in a breeding tank. Although it might not stop newly hatched fry from getting trapped in it there will come a time when the fry will be too large for it present a problem. This means you will be able to start using it more effectively at an earlier stage than one with a course sponge.

Albino Bristlenose Catfish foraging for food on a Sponge Filter

Another great feature of sponge filters is they allow good/beneficial bacteria to build up over time and as such increase to overall health of your Betta tank. If you have a new sponge filter in a new tank you can accelerate the process by sitting it in or using it in an established tank for a while so it absorbs some of the bacteria in this tank. If you place it in a tank against an established filter, turn the established filter off and turn the new filter on then it will absorb bacteria from the established sponge filter.

Sponge filters also have an advantage over corner filters in that the whole of their surface is used to filter where most corner filters have smaller inlets which means greater suction through a smaller area for a given air flow. This means small fry are more likely to get trapped in a corner filter. The exposed surface area of the sponge also attracts algae eaters such as Bristlenose Catfish and Apple Snails that like to crawl over the surface of the sponge and help clean it.

Therefore sponge filters have many advantages and despite this you may be able to get away with not using one in a small Betta tank but if you’re into breeding Bettas you will find that a sponge filter is a must have item for your Betta breeding tank.

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