DebD Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 (edited) Thanks in advance for any advice. 😃 I run 1 or 2 sponge filters w/ my HOB in my 20g. I presently have a bn, 8 ember tetras, and some cherry shrimp culls. I am planning on adding a betta that's presently in quarantine. (He's sharing quarantine w/ neon tetras for another tank to see if he is aggressive 😇) Will removing the HOB and just leaving the sponge filter ruin my cycle ? The HOB is a 20g Aqueon w/intake sponge and using ceramic + sponge Is there anything I should do special to avoid that possibility? Or should I just use the HOB ? Trying to control flow for the betta. 🤔 Edited September 7, 2021 by DebD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac M Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 Hello @DebD, just out of curiosity, why are you removing the hob? To add to the quarantine tank or just to reduce the flow for the betta? Removing the hob should not ruin your cycle. The sponge filter has beneficial bacteria along with all the other surfaces in the aquarium. I would only take precaution if your aquarium was very heavily stocked. Personally, I would not do anything special in this circumstance.  1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tihshho Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 You'll be fine removing the HOB, you'll just have a decrease in BB which isn't bad. If the tanks stock isn't going to spike and you're not over feeding no changes will be noticed with water quality. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 It wont ruin your cycle but with a bristlenose your sponges get dirty quick. Â BN also like flow though I know betta do not. I would leave the hob and slow the flow personally. Â 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebD Posted September 7, 2021 Author Share Posted September 7, 2021 (edited) On 9/7/2021 at 3:13 PM, Isaac M said: Hello @DebD, just out of curiosity, why are you removing the hob? To add to the quarantine tank or just to reduce the flow for the betta? Removing the hob should not ruin your cycle. The sponge filter has beneficial bacteria along with all the other surfaces in the aquarium. I would only take precaution if your aquarium was very heavily stocked. Personally, I would not do anything special in this circumstance.  Previously there were 3 bn growing out 2 of whom have been moved. I also keep extra sponges if I need a quarantine. I have several tanks I run extra sponge in and occasionally breed bn and bandit cories. Just traded a few bn for the tetras and a betta. While I'm used to a lot of other fish this is my first betta 🤓  On 9/7/2021 at 3:25 PM, Guppysnail said: It wont ruin your cycle but with a bristlenose your sponges get dirty quick.  BN also like flow though I know betta do not. I would leave the hob and slow the flow personally.  I have an intake sponge on and can always keep the water high. I was thinking due to the bn poop master using the sponge would be better. Choices choices 🤪 Edited September 7, 2021 by DebD 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intuos Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 If you want to reduce the flow off of a hob you can cut out part of a plastic bottle and put it underneath. If you search for a video by MD fish tanks called "betta cube aquarium" he does this about 13 minutes in. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tihshho Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 In my old BN breeding tank I had 2 sponge filters in a 40B with no additional filtration. Keeping up with water changes and siphoning waste out of the tank you should be ok with the two sponge filters for your stocking, especially with the BN population going from 3 to 1. Besides flow, which you can up with either the air rate in the sponge filters or throwing in an air stone, there wouldn't be a drastic change by removing the HOB. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griznatch Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 Â I have HOB on several of my tanks. I do the bottle trick with the big tanks, but on a 20 or a 10 gallon you an just put a small breeder box under the outflow. Some of mine have zip ties holding them in place, and a few have just suction cups. It keeps the duckweed out of the outflow and forces it either to the side, or straight down. Either case would probably work good for the betta. My Wife's betta is in a 10 gallon tank right now with this set up. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 On 9/7/2021 at 3:39 PM, DebD said: bn poop master Yes they are 🤣 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sudofish Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 Agreed with above it won't hurt anything but you'll just be losing out on flow. No airstone/sponge filter is going to come close to the flow you get from a hob. As long as you're fine with that go for it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 you are lightly stocked, going to just sponge filters is fine. you still have all the bb in the existing sponge, and in whatever substrate and decorations in the tank. you should have no issues with the "cycle". 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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