Sponge Filters - Tube

[julzhull]

Is it OK to take off the tube on sponge filters? (I'm sure there's a better name for that but I can't be bothered to look it up right now).

My reason in asking is my baby plecos seem to be getting caught in them. I think as they get bigger their fins get caught (they're long fin) and then they can get super stressed and if I don't catch them in time then they die.

So, I'm not sure how beneficial that tube is but I want them gone.

 

[Mike16T]

Is it OK to take off the tube on sponge filters? (I'm sure there's a better name for that but I can't be bothered to look it up right now).

My reason in asking is my baby plecos seem to be getting caught in them. I think as they get bigger their fins get caught (they're long fin) and then they can get super stressed and if I don't catch them in time then they die.

So, I'm not sure how beneficial that tube is but I want them gone.

Which tube? The tube inside the sponge? Or the tube that sticking out on the top of the sponge?

 

[julzhull]

Which tube? The tube inside the sponge? Or the tube that sticking out on the top of the sponge?

The top!

 

[Betty]

I think that tube helps draw more water through the filter and would make it more efficient, but if it's causing harm to the fish, I would try to cover the opening on top with some sort of netting/mesh fabric that would allow the water and bubbles to flow, but keep the fish out. Or remove it if that didn't work.

 

[julzhull]

I think that tube helps draw more water through the filter and would make it more efficient, but if it's causing harm to the fish, I would try to cover the opening on top with some sort of netting/mesh fabric that would allow the water and bubbles to flow, but keep the fish out. Or remove it if that didn't work.

I can try to rig something up like that. Maybe mesh with a little slit for the tubing.

 

[VickiK]

The top!

Neither of my sponge filters have this tube. The airline just goes right in the top on both of them. There is a very short rim around the opening where the bubbles come out but nothing that could hurt fish. Maybe you can just take them off?

 

[FishBeast]

I take off all the riser tubes (i think that's what they're called) on my sponge filters. I don't think they can really hurt fish but aesthetically I like "tubeless" better