Box Filters Vs Sponge Filters! Which One Is Better?

Box Filters went out of style years ago. Why is that? Should box filters be used instead of the ever popular Sponge Filters? I'll be adding this box filter to my Betta Fish 10 gallon tank to try it out!

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[Liaglezzz]

I see ugly the sponge filters, and that box filter is cute it looks clean and modern look.

[joshuab]

So many times I see this filter setup with the sponges in the wrong order (I think they sometimes come in the wrong order) --- you presented it in the right way! I personally use from top to bottom: super coarse, medium, polyfill, and rings (never use super fine sponges because they clog too easy --- easier to use polyfill that I can replace). I tend to use sponges and rings from aquaclears --- just because it is easy to get and works well. I use this layering in box filters, canisters, and even hang on back (when I used them in the past --- though I won't use hob anymore). I have tried sponge filters before --- they are good for breeding but don't work as well and are harder to clean. Nice to see someone else that loves boxf ilterss

[RJ-vbgh]

I've been using box filers for over 50 years in tanks up to 55 gallon and as small as 2.5 gallon. And the very best breeders in the hobby run box filters. You can uses lava rock, carbon or even crushed coral. Once you go box, you'll never go back to sponge.

[brentkunnen]

I have a sponge and box filter running on the same tank. I used to run a hang on back. The space for media was great, and it worked. I got tired of it getting to dirty, flow impaired, having to clean it so much. It killed a couple fish despite my best efforts to keep them safe. I switched to everything air driven. I use a box/corner filter partly because that's what I had when I made the change. Partly because I needed a way to still run carbon after medicating the tank on an air driven system. I like that I can put whatever media I want in it, it's not hard to clean, and it's easier to keep muck out so far.

[hj]

Sponge filters 'powered' by bubble flow are limited to coarse filtration because any finer filtering would quickly impede the weak current that bubbles can create.
HOWEVER, a box filters fine mechanical filter media can be changed out frequently enough, without disrupting the bio filtering that stay and a cleaner tank is much easier .
ALSO you can opt to put a very small water pump on the rise tube (not using air bubbles )and keep the flow going with fewer changes (these little pumps can be had for a few bucks.)
AND if you decide to go to an external filter you can draw the supply water through a container filter using it a as pre-filter mechanical filter letting only dissolved waste (ammonia and nitrites ) to go to external filter cutting any maintenance on that unit to once or twice a year.

[mulefan]

I had one I had bought and never used leftover from when I was heavy into fish. My sister took several of my fish including my favorite fish I've ever owned which was a green phantom pleco. She decided to tear down the tank and I wanted him back. So I went and bought a tank and used the box filter and I'm actually very impressed with it. I just added some of her media into the trays and it was up and going great. Clean clear water, happy fish, love it! I also bought some guppies, a shrimp, and a snail to go with him and the 3 cory cats in the tank. The guppies are already popping out babies. So all in all impressed with the filter and a big fan of the versatility and option to use media in your air driven filter "sponge filters".

[skyefox]

I bought the sponge filters you recommend and been running them for about 2 weeks now. My cycle is going along great with them and I like the ability to pull one sponge off to put in a new tank, that’s handy. I’d been looking at the box filters and intend to try them soon, too - I like that they will ‘trap’ the debris inside the box - and you can just take the whole box out to clean the gunk out without losing any back into the tank. That’s one thing I DON’T like about the sponge filters. Although my guppies seem to enjoy picking at the things that get stuck on the sponge. They can do that on the pre-intake filter sponge, though. I have concerns like what GenXGypsy said that the box filters look like they’ll crack easily. I don’t like that. If it’ll break, I’ll be the one to break it lol.

[goldfishlover]

My box filters are green, which I like! I also have my sponge filters attached to a stone media container. They are new and work great too!

[brucewilson]

Yeah, I ran box filters back in the 60's when I first started because, well, that's all we had. In the 70's I used box and undergravels. Now, like you, I'm an Aquaclear guy. I use undergravels along with Aquaclears. I also use sponge filters in my fry tanks and keep a sponge filter running in my cichlid tank to pull for a hospital tank if needed.

[mrdemocracy]

A box filter gives you a more media option for filteration

[robaquatics]

Good match up. I have sponge filters. Seen a lot of box filters like you said box filters are not the best looking but if it works most people won't worry about it. Great video 👍💪🤜🤛🐠🐠

[ksho]

Box filter are superior to sponge filter.

[rat_dragon]

Wow, I must be the only person who loves the look of sponge filters. In my opinion, my least favorite look are HOB's. Canisters look fine, as long as they're in a cabinet, etc. Box's are pretty ugly, I'll say that, but I like how they're clear. Internals are pretty darn hideous as well. Undergravel are absolutely fugly and they don't even deserve to be a thing! They don't help anyone...But overall, I think the most common HOB's are the ugliest. You have this stunning planted setup with beautiful inhabitants and everything you enjoy...then all of a sudden you see this giant box hanging off the back of the tank like a leech. Then you notice a bunch of thick, ugly tubes inside of your tank...In my opinion, I actually think *most* sponges are absolutely gorgeous!! They're black, so they look great in light or dark tanks with a bright LED, dark substrate, a dark background, and beautiful, vibrant plants! The sponges look really cool when they're full of water, and some of mine are even partially above the water in a humid tank...and they look so cool! Not to mention they're small and easy to hide, unlike an HOB...sure, there are tiny tubes sticking out of the tank, but if they're hidden correctly, you wouldn't even know they're there. And of course there are bubbles...but I think that's the best part!! So there! One person who actually likes sponge filters, 100%!!

[Fishaholic]

Great info mate, a hybrid filter would be more beneficial in my opinion.

[rayp]

Had boxes, AND UG filters, long before you were born. Still like UG's. Hooked connected to a canister in a 55. Pumped clean water down 1 riser, and drew dirty from the other. Would reverse stacks when cleaning the filter. This used the entire substrate (gravel) as an active bio filter and kept under the UG clear as well. Canister acted primarily as a multilevel sponge filter and polisher. Hard to find the UGs now days.

[shoobiefu]

I've always had powerhead HOBs. Running an air pump to power filters can get pretty loud, it can get expensive if you have large numbers of tanks, it's an ungodly sight, and it's not something I want to hear or pay for since powerhead ones are so good at what they do. One upside I see is they would be handy for smaller tank setups. Feel free to correct me on something maybe you've found cheap quiet powerful air pumps and can point me in the right direction.

[Shetasen]

I ran one when i was a kid. It was ugly, but the thing that annoyed me the most was how it vibrated the substrate and was constantly shifting in the tank. I should have gotten a suction cup something

[memetpajaziti]

Can box filters be used with fry, such as bristlenose ?

[Danceswithfishes]

What kind of air pump do you need to run the double sponge filter? Mine tends to offer a very weak flow.

[bipolaraquatics]

Nice comparison still prefer the sponge