Should You Buy a Sponge Filter or Hang on Back Filter? Which Aquarium Filter is Best?

Hey all,
I am often asked what by viewers my opinion on which filter they should buy.
Starting today I am beginning a series of videos where we look at side by side comparisons of a number of popular aquarium filters and determine for your needs which one is best.
Hope you like it.
Please Comment, Like & Subscribe.
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#BestAquariumFilter #SpongeFiltervsHOB #BlakesAquatics

[@factsoverfeelings1776]

Sponge filters require an air pump so you should include those in the cost.

[@mr_k4tz]

$10 usb pump does the job for me.

[@Bobby11]

If you know you will be getting more aquariums in the future, those sponge filters with 2 sponges are great. I use them and when i setup a new tank i simply swap one cycled sponge with a new one, makes cycling the new tank very easy.

[@gedGOD]

Well presented. Covered all the points. 🙂👍

[@karlaisakepeseta8003]

Loving these vids!

[@Bobby11]

Handy Info, cheers

[@tanks_by_bev7395]

Love your work mate

[@eues803]

Regarding to the power issue, the HOB filter (Tidal) has the motor inside the aquarium, so you won't have problems when the energy is restored.

[@pelhamsaquatics]

I’ve found I need both types of filters. My bn pleco breeding tanks sponges. My red zebra mbunas breeding group I use HOB filters on that tank. And on some tanks I have both just for the extra bb biological. I had a canister filter once glad I don’t anymore, such a pain to work on. Great vid Blake see you on the next one🙂👍🏻

[@PlainsPup]

Use both together! 😆

[@idontexist6885]

Learnt more about my filter from this video than from the manual 🤦‍♀️

[@21CenturyBreakdownX]

I do both. never worry about killing bb when i clean one or the other on rotation

[@edstar81]

great job of explaining everything mate. Covered al the points really well

[@Johnjimo1987]

I'm going to combine an under gravel filter and a hob filter. Should be well filtered

[@westfishtanks6789]

I do love sponge filters in tanks with a lot of fish or shrimp in them because the oxygen they provide to the water is awesome, but hang-on-backs are perfect for a small to medium display or plant tank! Great for higher flow species or getting rid of dead spots in planted tanks (:

[@kathydoro1527]

Ive changed most of my filters to sponge apart from my 160litre which is a sump. But I prefer the dual sponge with the bio media at the bottom. They are so much easier to clean than the single sponge.

[@finnwiggles28]

Tried the sponges. Hated it for every reason you mention. Love my HOBs, So easy, Such clear water. I like the 'Marina' Slim Series for my smaller tanks, they have the pump inside the tank so no problem restarting, no noise, they come w/an intake sponge and are cheaper than a sponge + airpump.

[@madhatterjones4781]

Great video Blake. Keep it up..
Any thought on the new sponge filters w bio media compartments ?

[@BlakesAquatics]

Gday mate, they look cool but i think its a bit of a gimmick. I like them purely because they might help to weigh them down when the suction cups give way but sponge alone does a fine job of growing bacteria.

[@madhatterjones4781]

@@BlakesAquatics thanks Blake I thought that would be the case. I thought a bit of extra bio media in the compartments couldn't hurt though

[@herdy3699]

Nice, still don’t seem to see the coarse (like aquarium coop style) sponge filters in Aus

[@BlakesAquatics]

Hey mate, theres a bit of a shortage at the moment but what you want to search for is xy-380 hi flow 👍

[@calebwatson3023]

Sponges are nice

[@scottrobert2724]

blake whats your opinion? I was going to build a aio filter into a new 20 gallon long which I have one already like that but want to try only sponge which i always have put with HOB. So 20 gallon long tank with divider. put 2 nano’s on the left and right sides and Im good? It seems nano has better surface and looks better then the small. (I have 2 of your mediums now im using) Plus that divided tank may have 3 divides if the fish have fry. So divided into 2 but possible 3 how would you set up and which ones would you use? thanks 👊

[@BlakesAquatics]

Hi Scott, hard to understand your question but should be fine to just have some movement either side of the divider

[@xtreme_survival7879]

where do you get the sponges to protect shrimp and fry?

[@BlakesAquatics]

Ebay 👍

[@sam3d]

No flow with sponge filters? The bubbles do great surface agitation!

[@BlakesAquatics]

Flow =/= surface agitation

[@sam3d]

I want an aqua clear 110 so bad, but there $100 now

[@blakehowden5086]

Sponges all day, every day.