Hang on Back Filters Vs. Sponge Filters: Which Is Best?
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2023
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Zenzo and Irene duke it out to answer the age-old question: which aquarium filter is best? Both hang-on-back (HOB) and sponge filters are very popular types of filtration, so let's talk about their pros and cons.
- Sponge filter: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
- Intake prefilter sponge: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
- Nano hang-on-the-back filter: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
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I like both in all my tanks.
I'm one who loves the sound of the waterfall. My Lady doesn't though. Lol
My daughter's red ear sliders bite through the air lines.
Just putting that out there.
@@t3dwards13put a pvc pipe, painted to match your background, over the top and run your air line through that, almost to the surface of the water
I wouldn't recommend putting your heater in the basket of the hang on the back filter. Power(electricity) went out on my house for a couple of seconds. Once it came on everything was fine but not my HOB. HOB didnt start running by itself and the basket had been drain out half ways when the power went out. So that would leave the heater out of water expose to air.
I run both HOB & sponge filters in all of my tanks.
Lol. Same. Have done for close to 20 years. 🤣
I do the same as well! I like the reliability and simplicity of the sponge filter but I also like the flexibility and fine filtering the hob. I've also had times where the power has gone out while i wasn't home and some of my hob didn't start back up but all of my sponge filters are always back up and running.
I run both in my heavily planted tanks as well.
how big are your tanks?
Hang on backs are great since you can easily transfer cycled media bio rings to new tank filters to jumpstart them
Awesome video!
I use both. Sponge filters are new to me because I come from turtle keeping primarily.
This channel and all of you sold me on your sponges and pump for fish. I also got the air stones you offer and check valves.
Every topic is informative, easy to understand and delivered with enthusiasm. The devotion and love for the hobby shows with all of you.
I once ran an 80’s era aqua clear 200 at a 4” water level exclusively. That filter took abuse from a younger me and different turtles at different times. Custom inside to battle the turtle funk. And I used a short length of 1/2 tubing to prop aqua clears forward.
This is my first comment I love yalls videos im 22 almost 23 and have been watching since i was 16 Thanks so much for all yalls effort in these videos it doesn't go unnoticed
Excellent discussion! I raise groups of killies in 55 liter plastic tubs with 4 inches of airspace to discourage jumping, so sponge filters are perfect. Both the carbon/chemical filtration option with hang-on filters for aquariums, and the idea of putting a heater in the filter box, are very timely for me. Thanks!
Great video! I was thinking of switching to a sponge filter for my Betta. Thank you
I like the hang on back because I find that I just hate taking the sponge filter apart to clean. I am more likely to clean the HOB because for some reason I find it easier.
So valuable to me showing me how to put a plant inside the filter and grow it from there to start growing plants in my tank so valuable that information you just learned me thank you guys
Yes! I agree with Zenzo and Irene here. I have both filters in my tanks, but I prefer sponge filters far more than hobs. I had a hob that drained half of my 29 gallon while I was at work one day. If you put a check valve on your airline tubing, a sponge filter will never have that problem, even with a power outage. And something Zenzo didn't mention is that the bubbles, especially when you add an air stone inside the sponge filter, provide oxygen to the tank, which is just another pro for your fish. I don't understand why sponge filters don't get more recognition, especially for newbies. They are foolproof. I get it if some people like hobs for high flow, but for bettas and smaller fish, sponge filters really are the best.
On a few of my aquariums I've built hybrid HOB/Under Gravel filters by using rubber tubing to connect the intake tube of the HOB to the up flow tube of under gravel filter. This give a huge amount of space for beneficial bacteria to grow and results in crystal clear water.
I have found that rooted plants hate under gravel filters. Epiphytes probably wouldn't care.
I alternate between the two depending on my stocking. In my 29 gallon I have a HOB because I need an area with strong flow for my bamboo shrimp, which the HOB easily provides. I really like this method for my bamboo shrimp because I have strategically placed a piece of wood right where the flow comes out, so she just sits there filtering the water right in center view, which means I can always see her. This also allows me to directly feed her by putting ground flakes into the water where the flow comes out and it will get caught by her fans.
I just set up a 60 gallon tank with 2 large sponge filters because I want to have a lower flow environment. I’m going to get a group of African Butterfly Fish which really prefer slow to stagnant water. By using the sponge filters I can ensure that the flow isn’t too strong, while also not making too many ripples on the opposite side of the tank, making it easier for the ABF to sense vibrations from bugs.
Like the Heater in the filter idea...thanks
Love HOBs. Easy to get to. The only drawback is the space needed behind that tank. Some work around that by mounting the HOB on the side which might not work with some lids. Customization is a huge plus. I cut sponges and use them over and over. Much less expensive than the filter inserts sold by the manufacturer. The splashing of water can get loud but some find it relaxing. Both of you made excellent points. Pre-filters rock! If I had a ton of tanks, sponges would make a lot of sense. I run a Co-op filter in my 20 gal tall live bearer tank and I'm shocked at how much gunk that little sponge collects. Truth is I'm on both teams. Thanks!
I like the water splash sound so relaxing. I have a doubt that, only sponge is enough for hob? Or we need extra media ? Coz my hob case is very small . Pls help.
I run both in each of my tanks. Having the sponge filters is nice during power outages with battery powered air pumps. I was without for 7 days from Ian and had no issues. I did pour tank water over the HOB media every so often also.
Super great video, thanks ❤❤❤❤
Great video with excellent points/counterpoints. I left hang on back filters a few years ago for sponge and never went back…I run 2 medium sponges in my 40 breeder with my shell dwellers. Water is clear and tank has been healthy. Thanks for the info! Something for everyone!
I have sponge filters on my hobs as pre filters, I have used used hobs drawing from under gravel filters, it all worked great.
I also use both. The sponge filters are the insurance for the HOB’s on my 120 gallon tanks.
Thank you! very informative!
I use both at the same time. Obviously, a HOB is more versatile than a sponge. But sometimes a HOB can get clogged up, especially if you have polyfill or an intake sponge on it, and the flow can become drastically reduced if you aren't monitoring it daily. Therefore, I like having the sponge filter in there to take up the slack in case the flow drops too much. Also, it's very useful to have a cycled sponge filter that you can drop into a quarantine tank when needed, or when recently I did a hardscape upgrade and needed to put all my fish in a bucket for the day.
Also a fan of using both together! Plus, with a sponge you can use a battery powered air pump to keep filtration/aeration going during a power outage. I have a 20000mah battery pack that I use for my phone when camping which could run my tanks for days if necessary with the USB air pumps I keep on hand.
I like the sponge filter for my quarantine tank too.
This was a very fun video. I really enjoyed
I am team both. I like using HOB for mechanical filtration, to prevent cloudy water. I have a tendency to forget to clean my sponge filter as often as I should. 😶🌫️ When I go to clean them, I leave a trail of debris removing them from the water.
Do you bag your filter before you remove it?
I rarely vac my substrate, but I do vac my sponges periodically. Makes it easy to bag, remove, and clean.
@@Lazy_Fish_Keeper You should vac your substrate. That's more important than any filter.
@@bguen1234 I have heavily planted tanks. Vacuuming my substrate is counterproductive.
There is no one solution that fits all tanks.
I live in the desert, so water changes are fiscally and environmentally irresponsible. I top off tanks and work very hard at creating mini ecosystems inside panes of glass....much like the original vivarium keepers that started our hobby.
Sometimes, less really is more.
Check out Cory's videos on the Aquarium Shop in San Francisco, that never does water changes.
I like both hobs and sponge for different tanks, also have a couple canisters and a build in sump too, it just depends on the size and what sort of requirements/positives/negatives work for your application
The tidal hob filters have some advantages that negate some of the downsides covered here. First, the pump is on the inside of the tank. So if there are power outages (sometimes short ones once per day where I am) when the power comes on, the filter primes itself so its back in action right away by itself. Second is there is an overflow. There is a float indicator in the filter basket that rises as the filter medium gets dirty. So a quick glance gives a status of when it needs a cleaning. Also, when the filter gets too dirty, the overflow directs the water back into the tank to prevent flowing out of the back or sides of the filter.
I tried sponge filters, not a fan. Finding a place to put the air pump is just another device to take up space. But I do appreciate their simplicity and ease of use.
That's a good point
but with a spongefilter you can put the pump anywhere, with a hob you have your tank removed from the wall by having the filter behind your tank
@@shackleDev my largest tank is a 20 long so it’s not a huge issue for me. The filter stays on the tank and doesn’t take up more space on the stand I have. I may give them another try once I set up my betta tank but I worry a sponge filter in a 5.5 gallon would cause too much water movement for a betta even at the lowest pump setting.
@Cherry Barb Fan just add a valve to bleed off excess air you'll be able to dial it in as much as desired.
I use both in my 60 gallon. I run two well hidden sponges nonstop, but I use two oversized hang on backs when I do tank cleaning. I cram them full of filter floss and carbon to clear up the water as a do a water change.
I use both for my Lion Head goldfish
The results are clean and easy maintenance . The only drawbacks I faced is the air pump sound, in 2 years of using
I have change time to 3 air pumps, I really like a recommendation on a silence air pump if you can recomend. I like the sound of flowing water from my top filter and the bubbles as it give me a calm relax enviroment, but it would be nicer to have no air pump vibrations sound. Thank you
Your reviews are awesome. 😘
9:29 the way i would solve the power outage problem is by buying a UPS system (Uninterruptible Power Supply) which arnt too expensive can get some decent ones from $100-$300 depending on the watage/size and you can hook multiple tanks up to one UPS system
i use both, hobs are really nice for keeping planted tanks clean because the flow is similar to a canister filter and helps suck up the mulm. i also have a crayfish tank so using a sponge filter for him would give him a way to escape by climbing the airline
The top fin they show is really my favorite. The motor is outside the filter so it runs on magnets only, no electricity in the water. It's still really quiet. Also self primes no problem.
I really like it.
I made a “custom” filter that i feel gives me the best of both worlds . My first aquarium had a filter that would pump the water up the pipe in the corner then send it through the foam filter tube up top and dump out the end. I took the pump and attached a sponge filter to the bottom of it and up top i cut down and outlets into a clear mesh disk container filled with activated charcoal and filter media . So the sponge filter inside keep the beneficial bacteria and the top down portion deals with chemical.
If you're worried about getting your hands wet, you're in the wrong hobby. LOL!
I had a hang on back filter, but it moved too much water around and made it hard for my betta to swim around. Sometimes he'd get stuck a little bit on the intake too. Recently bought your nano-sponge filter with adjustable air stone and it's much nicer for him now!
As a complete beginner the HOB seems more effective because you can have so much more mechanical and biological media. However the sponge filter is very appealing do to its simplicity and I would probably choose that for any low stocking setups.
That's honestly only the case if you are buying sponge filters. If you make them yourself you can have infinite amounts of biomedia. Some of my largest sponge filters are over 100cm long and hold a lot more bacteria than numerous large HOBs would.
Go sponge, you'll never go back.
Once you go sponge,
You never go splunge money
For HOB my go too is the Title series several advantages motor is inside the tank so it will auto start in power outs, also has and adjustment screw to set the filter level and our leaning more towards the tank. Also I love the aquarium co-op sponge filters and the battery back air pumps I own 3 pumps and several sponge filters. I love it all.
Can confirm the Tidal HOBs are baller, no cap.
@@Kraus- yes sir the title series HOB come in title 35, 55,75, 110 number is respective to tank size. I have 2 titles a 55 and a 75. The media baskets you can put what ever you desire in the they have flow control that works great. Has an indicator that pops up when your filter needs maintenance. For me personally only 2 draw backs flow control dials are blue (minor complaint) then the other thing I don't like is the skimmer feature so I just silicones a piece of plastic over the slots. But either way I feel they are the best on the market. But they are higher priced than other HOB.
Who remembers the OG air-driven HOB? 😅😅
The Seachem Tidal filter is self priming. So if you’re prone to power outages or just don’t want to risk your motor running dry when power goes out, the tidal is your solution. Great filter too! If your not worried about having to prime a filter your self, the best of the best hang on back filter is the Aquaclear, and best of the best priming is the Seachem Tidal.
I'm with Irene, I used sponge filters in all my breeding tanks, but hated pulling them out and have all the waste fall into the tank (yes, I know Cory uses a plastic bag, but that's kind of a pain). Plus the HOB filters look much better, take up no valuable tank real estate, give the nice water trickle sound (if you want it) and are just as easy to move to other tanks as sponge filters.
I also use Seachem Tidal HOB's on my 20G & larger tanks! They have the motor in the tank.
🔥 I use all the different types of filters. They all work good for different situations. None of them are better than the other.🔥
I run a micro internal canister filter, with a small sponge filter hooked to a battery air pump for power outages. I took the guts out of the Tetra canister filter and replaced it with sponge for easy clean up. I don't have to worry about water getting outside the tank or noise. The little filter moves the water gently . I even customized it so that it is mounted with magnets instead of frustrating suction cups.
Omg putting the heater inside the filter is a great idea
Good information I run both
In my fishtank I hove both: Tidal 75 & small sponge-filter with additional airstone on the same airline.
I like to run a sponge whether I need one or not, just in case I want to set up a new tank or so that I always have a backup.
On my 55 gallon I run a tidal 75, basically a better aquaclear. Larger media basket and self priming. But in my 10 gallon tank, I do use a sponge filter.
the main point I started my small aquarium was that I fell in love with the hang on back filter. I ove the waterfall effects it produce. my late grandfather used to have a big aquarium but at that time there was no these hang on back filters as far as I can remember or maybe those are too expensive. there was maybe 20 years since he stopped having aquarium and during that time i never get into aquarium shop or anything related into aquarium. then one of the youtube recommendations showed me a video of the hob filter, i just got excited and the stuff was cheap too. now i am considering buying a bit larger aquarium.
The longest running tank I've ever had without a full teardown is a 35gl. Hex. With DIY under gravel filter and a HOB filter.(self priming) Using the lift tube on the under gravel lift tube (rising above waterline) as placement of the HOB inside it. The rest of filtering is done by Amazon sord, java furn, java moss. 5gl water remove once a week cleaning gravel with RO top off. 7 years and still running. Use the back filter as receptacle for an air tube syphon for top off water.
I like to make box filters for some of my tanks, especially the nasty ones I.E. my goldfish and red eared sliders. Tanks with lighter loads I do like a HOB sponge/ or small box filter mix. Also a diy trickle filter will help wonders where a aquaclear gets clogged constantly.
My hob has a led alert so if it has a blockage or water level is to high, a red light shows up. Im pretty adamant about watching my tanks because they're pretty heavily planted and the melt tends to block my filters pretty easily. So im able to see when the filter is full. But I have 2 hang on internals and i ADORE THEM. I don't have to worry about the leakage, and having planted tanks, they're covered really well. I prefilter the intakes so no little critters get sucked up and my loaches love to feed off those filters.
I use Aquael PAT Mini. I like it. its like a mix between both.
I love the sound of running water
I would have to say a con of the sponge filter is it doesn't have the ability to create water flow if you do need it in a larger tank
Great job
The SeaChem Tidal 110 HOB is self priming. I like to use both sponges and. HOB. I also use my own media like poly fill
I've just bought a new tank for my blue lobster. It came with a HOB. Mine is mostly submerged. Has room for charcoal/zeolite and could easily take diy foam pads. Sounded terrible...then I added some stone caves.. raised water level by only 1/2 inch, waterfall is now completely different. And adding a small bit of soft foam between plastic lid made all the difference.
Time will tell. But previously I had an under substrate foam and biomedia filter that needed cleaning after two months. In both my lobster (messy eater) and my snail tank. Worked excellent. I'm trying my new lobster tank with the HOB (Interpet ) for now..
Team all filters! I run a hodgepodge of systems and techs. Keeps life spicy
Both. One complements the other or backs up the other . Used to run Aquaclear but switched to Seachem as of late
the issue i have with hang on filters is the water flow , there is not much water flow around the aquarium cause the intake and outlet of the filter are almost at the same spot while it would be more effective if the intake and outlet were at the opposite sides in a way that they made a gentle flow to carry all the impurities toward the filter's intake pipe.
Battery backups work with hang on back filters to.
Gute Tipps! 👍
Irene is the best!
I have used all types of filtration, HOB, sponge, underground, canister... Each has their use and it depends on what you like. Space in an aquarium is a premium, and in my situation currently, space behind the aquarium is also at a premium. I'm currently running a sponge filter that suctions to the wall of my 10 gallon betta tank, and a fluval canister filter that sits in the cabinet of my 40 gallon breeder. I love how quiet my canister filter is. I enjoy my tanks to be as quiet as possible, and airstones make so much noise it absolutely drives me insane. I've finally found one that is relatively quiet, but man, they drive me crazy.
Omg 😳 perfect .. but where do you fit the sponges and what not to filter
I run both. I do like the hang on back filter as I can add filter media as needed for water quality. Never thought about adding fine media for water polishing. Good ideas here.
I like HOB’s in bigger tanks for maximum customization of the filtration media. Currently in the process of setting up a 5.5G tank and I’m going to go with a sponge filter.
Forgot about HOB filter being a water polisher.
I only run sponge filters cause the drip loop caused by the HOB filters pretty much ruined the first aquarium stand
Power Outages For HOB Filter Has A Solve If The Pump Is Submerged In The Water Some Brands Come With The Pump Submerged
Both , aquaclears are my favorite hob
@6:30 pro 'quiet' tip - you can hang certain things (like live plants) into the aquarium from the filter spout - it diminishes the sound
I use both but I like sponge filters better 😊
how long do u usually go inbetween cleanings?
@@jamesnguyen7069 usually 2 weeks or so and I use fish or spring water so I don't ruin the cycle
@@jamesnguyen7069 I go a month, but there's also another filter in the tank with the sponge.
Sponges also don't do a great job of filtering out debris in the tank. And when you clean them, it creates more mess within the tank. I don't have any problems with HOB spilling onto the floor (as long as you set it up right) and for some reason if the power goes out, then it turns right back on. I pack my HOB with media to where water does not empty out when it is turned off. I use both HOB and sponge together in my quarantine tank to keep my options. Some times certain fish don't like the flow or power of a HOB. And sponges are useful when you want to medicate fish but keep the tank relatively clean and cycled.
Both
I currently have sponge filters and canister filters. All my HOBs are sitting dry in boxes on the storage shelves right now.
Regardless, the longer you're in the hobby, having spare equipment can really make or break some experiences. Get them all!
I bought about $100 of plants from you and they were pretty, but they didn't live. I have one anubius that is alive from that bunch but all of them had root rot. Even the valisinaria didnt do too well. It made about 5 shoots and then it never grew past 3" tall and it looks sickly. I have tabs in my substrate and I added fluval stratum to plant areas. I dont know what I am doing wrong at this point.
I think all filtration is great, but I personally love sponge filters. It is easy to go overboard on filtration even on a bigger tank without spending an arm and a leg. I have a 125gal sponge filter in my 75 gallon goldfish tank and it was around 60 bucks for both the filter itself and the air pump. Whereas a 125 HOB would be around double that. I have mine paired with a filter powered by a water pump and I can’t see myself ever looking back to HOBs.
I've always found hob filters to be more trouble than they are worth and most seem to have a pretty short life span. When I started dating my wife I gave her a custom 55 gallon tank. She had never had fish before and I wanted to make the tank easy and bullet proof for her. I bought two coffee can sized pond foam filters. I removed the risers and replaced them with 1" pvc pipe. I cut the pipes off short enough to mount a submersible power head of each. I'd say around 800 gph of flow total. I told her each week to remove four gallons of tank water and wash one sponge out in the old water and then return it to the tank and top up the tank with fresh water. The next week to clean the other filter always alternating. I stocked the tank with one inch africans. In no time she had a tank full of five to six inch fish in a variety of colors and never had any issues with that tank over the years.
i want both =)
you guys should start a podcast or live stream together
I use both a HOB and a sponge filter in all my tanks. That way when you do maintenance on the Hob you still have the sponge filter with biological bacteria in the tank. And when I maintain the sponge filter I don’t touch the HOB that way they can back each other up. Also I only use self priming HOBs so if there is a power outage my hobs will start right back up
I love the sond of the waterfall
I use two HOBs on my 20 gallon(way too much i know but i bought two sizes not knowing what size tank i was getting and ended up just using them both) but I'll be getting a 40b soon and they'll be a perfect fit then
Edit. Also love the waterfall sound. And I do put a pre filter sponge i made myself on both of mine and it acts like a sponge filter too
Sponge filters, no question. Simple, safe, and versatile. All I need.
If you have shrimp then sponge filter is the best choice, HOB's have their place but not every tank is best suited.
Tidal 110 for the WIN. Best HOB filter ever. solves every problem you mentioned.
She didn't mention you can take an established bag of bio media from one hob and move it to a new hob on a new tank for instant cycle.
something that really makes me consider switching to HOB from my sponge filter is water splashing and hard water. i have no issues with my spongefilter itself. however i have really hard water, and with the spongefilter constantly putting a bazillion bubbles out on the top, water is literally splashing EVERYWHERE from the bubbles popping. the top part of my tank looks like a white gunk sprinkled mess within a week.
I have hob, sponges and cannisters. All have pros and cons. The noise created by hob and sponge filters both drive me nuts, so my main display tanks run cannisters because they are silent. My fry and shrimp tanks all run sponges, and my grow out tanks are hob.
Irene, you are looking better than ever 😊👍
I use both and my tank looks crystal clean !! Fish are happy too . 🤗 🐠 🐟🐡 🐠 🐡 🐟 🐌
Great video! Really like the combination of Irene and Zenzo.
Do you know why internal filters seem less popular in America than Europe? Seems like nobody really talks about them in the US but they are everywhere here in Europe.
It might be due to what the manufacturers focus on making for each market. There does seem to be more internal filters in the US market lately though. ~ Zenzo
They are the norm in Australia too, very easy to clean and use, never going to run out of water. Just real estate cost like a sponge.
@@neth77 yes, also no risk of water on the floor and no noise as the motor is in the water. So no reason for your partner to get angry about your tanks ;)
I have two tanks by Juwel, and both came with their "all in one" filters, seems like way to go. With a filter and heater in one unit, you get a nice even temperature, no risk of water on the floor, quiet operation and easy maintenance. Sure, the box may look a bit ugly, but it's easy to hide behind a large plant or something. I have watched a lot of fish videos, but haven't seen one of these filters in any of them, it left me wondering too.
I run a aquaclear 70 with a wave maker in a 20 gallon long. No mulm ever settles anywhere, but since there is such a high flow the tank is dedicated to my corydoras, hillstream loaches, and my bristlenose pleco.
Water is always clear.
I was never happy with my sponge filters, too much mulm keeps accumulating and the bubble noises annoyed me. I rather hear a silent humming noise.
.
I'm using a sponge filter for my 15gal planted tank and it works very well.. I change my water 25% every month and it's always crystal clear.. the only problem is the poop its stuck in the bottom and I can't use siphon because I'm using garden soil and pebbles as substrate..
I don't know.... Something a bit odd about the constant conversation that people have about "use this!" In the hobby. I understand the Pro/Con format and how that helps get information across for new hobbyists.
Maybe something to consider is to do the exact same type of video, but instead of "why is this the best vs. this" the conversation is tailored around:
What is the scenario where one filter works more effectively than another type? What is the best for a given situation or fish stocking? How do you decide what route to go when setting up a tank, and why? Power IS a requirement, but so is having air pumps fail on you and salting your experience, or low current. Etc.
Definitely one of the more interesting topics of the hobby and one I think where we have the biggest chance to set people up for success as opposed to stress.
Edit: yep! That video at the end is a good one to view next. I think going a level deeper might be useful for new hobbyist to only have these two as an option and decide which to use. It's literally a conversation on the Co-op forums now.
I bought feeder goldfish. They are several different types and now they are 4-6 inches. Need advice on maintenance and best practices. I have HOB and have to chance filters around every 10 days. Have air stones also in the tank.
Sponge filters always dump a lot of gunk when I take them out to clean, even as I lift them into a baggy. I like HOB because they are adaptable. Beside the primary sponge and bio-balls, carbon can be used as needed (after medication mostly) or a fine filter floss crystalizing type media can be used. I have actually taken to using both together in the same tank. I pre-filter my HOB so that I can go longer without pulling the basket. (I also pre-filter cannisters on my bigger tanks.) I have added sponges to my 20s and 30s incase of power outages or just if my HOB clogs and slows waterflow. This way, I never have ammonia issues. I found it is better to not rely on any one type of filter in any given tank except the nano tanks.
I prefer sponge filters by far. But in my heavily planted 12x48 inch tank (33L) the sponge filters were not creating enough flow for what I would like. A hang on back wouldn't work with the tight fitting lid I need to control evaporation in a dry desert climate. Sicce's shark filter solved everything at once. It has an attachment to collect the full power of flow into an aimable tube and it only takes up the same space inside the aquarium as a sponge filter. The most significant drawback for me is that I had to dig out the substrate all the way to the bare bottom to fit the filter under the water line since it's tall af. And it has a detachable filter media compartment that keeps everything neat for maintenance. It's like the best of sponge filters and HOBs combined.