Basic sponge filter question

[BAT]

I have noticed air bubbles intermittently coming out of the sponge of my sponge filter.  Much much fewer than come out of the tube, but I hadn’t noticed this since putting it in 3 mos ago.  Is this normal?

[BettaHomesAndGardens]

It is. If you have an air stone in it this can be mitigated by shortening the air line inside the sponge filter. Some air will inevitably escape out the sides though. As long as it’s not a huge amount it should be fine. Here’s a video Cory did on maximizing your sponge filters: 

 

[Dwayne Brown]

It usually happens to me after a couple of months of operation. It doesnt really hurt anything but I clean all the internal parts of my sponge filters ,and replace the tubing connecting the air stone every 4 months. 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

IME too I've seen it more often on coarse sponges than the finer ones that I run. 

[BAT]

Do i need to take it apart and clean it when I see this? Will it prevent proper functioning?

[Struggle]

On 2/6/2022 at 10:01 AM, Dwayne Brown said:

It usually happens to me after a couple of months of operation. It doesnt really hurt anything but I clean all the internal parts of my sponge filters ,and replace the tubing connecting the air stone every 4 months. 

Replacing the tubing is absolute dedication. 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

@BAT mine that do it I haven't even bothered trying to fix yet and they seem to work just fine. 🙃 Maybe not optimal but I've seen zero detrimental effects. 

Edited February 8, 2022 by xXInkedPhoenixX