Finally got some "Hydro Sponge" filters...

[BrownBullhead]

Well I finally found some complete unused "Hydro Sponge" filters today... I've seen the sponge replacements at Petland but no complete setups... I saw them at a Winnipeg shop today... I got four of the Hydro Sponge III (#3) for $17.99 each. I wasn't sure if that price was worth it but I checked MOPS web site today and I saw they sell them for $13.99, so I guess it would be the sme as having bought four from that online site, and paying $16 shipping. The above prices do NOT include taxes. All dollar amounts are Canadian --- Multiply by 0.85 to get amount in US dollars.

I hooked one up tonight in my 55-gallon as a supplementary filtration method to the Rena Filstar XP3. Has anyone else noticed sponge filters don't seem to be available in their home areas as theyy once were? Mind you, every tank in the shop where I bought these had one (or more) sponge filters. No one wants to sell 'em it seems. Anyway, I bought all four #3 the store had, so they were happy I think.

 

[Lotus]

I don't think sponge filters are popular these days, except with people who have breeding setups or fish stores that use them in their tanks. I'm guessing that's why they're hard to find.

Our LFS recently got some in, but I don't think I've seen them in any of the chain stores.

 

[Orion]

yeah they seem to be more of a specialty item anymore for the reasons that Lotus said. They just aren't very popular with the average hobbyist.

 

[Pure]

I make my own sponge filters. I take the long blue sponge that goes in a wet dry cut it in half then take a 1 inch uplift tube for a UGF plug one end drill holes and insert it into the blue sponge. Works great. 1 of these has no problems handling a 55 gallon, and since the blue sponge has large open pores it does a small amount of mechanical filtering.