Sponge filter or not....

[flashback3003]

Im planning to get a filter for a 7 gallon tank.
I have a few requirements though.
1.must be quiet
2.must work with shrimplets
3.compatable with shrimp(crs)
i heard of sponge filteres working great with them but i also dont know what filter i should use,also how they work.

[Ghanguss]

Sera have a sponge filter. There are pictures on the sera website. For really quiet operation, use a small powerhead about 60 litres per hour instad of air bubbles.

Most work with air bubbles running up a tube which draws the water up with it. This creates the water flow through the sponge. Instaed of using bubbles you can put a powerhead (water pump) at the top of the filter tube and suck the water through the sponge that way.

[flashback3003]

how much do powerheads cost?

[flashback3003]

Oh! i found this site and its around my location,but anyways which one do you recommend?(cheap)http://www.bigalsonline.com/edealinv/servlet/ExecMacro?nurl=control/BrowseCatalog.vm&ctl_nbr=3684&path=c3684-def-USD-16695%23%23-1%23%23-1%7E%7Eq706f77657268656164%7E%7Enc3684-def-USD-43625%23%231%23%23u&query=powerhead&offset=0

[Ghanguss]

The rio mini 50 looks OK.
You need to get a very small one or the water current will be too strong in a small tank.
This one has a valve on the output so you can slow down the flow rate.
The last hurdle is fitting this to the top of the sponge filter. Im a bit of a DIY person, and I would have a go at it.

The other option is to get an air pump and run the filter that way.

[imke_j]

Hi,

I use Sera F 400 Filter for smaller tanks and Aquael Turbo Filter for bigger tanks. Both have a sponge unit, are doing a good job and don't kill shrimplets.

Imke

[flashback3003]

i dont really know much on powerheads so yea i have a few questions.
1.the powerhead sucks in right?
2.is it enough for a 7g or do i need to get something else?
3.anything extra i need for it like an airpump or something?

[Ghanguss]

i dont really know much on powerheads so yea i have a few questions.
1.the powerhead sucks in right?
2.is it enough for a 7g or do i need to get something else?
3.anything extra i need for it like an airpump or something?

1. The powerhead sucks in water through the cone shaped strainer and pushes water out a diifferent hole, just like a pump.
If you look at the photos from that website youll see what i mean. The small rio powerhead has a separate cone strainer for the inlet, you can see it in the pic. You put the cone peice on the powerhead and sit it ontop of the tube on the sponge filter, (so the cone sits inside the tube) and it will suck water in through the filter sponge, up the tube into the pump and push it out into the tank.
2. For good filtration you want all the water in the tank (7g) to pass through the filter twice an hour, so the pump flow rate needs to be at least 14 gph. The rio is more than that, and you have a valve on the outlet to reduce the flow if its too strong.
3. You dont need anything else.

BTW. I suggested this method because you wanted a really quiet setup. The easiest way to run the sponge filter is with an airpump.

[flashback3003]

oh.ok thank you