Making your own sponge filter is extremely cheap and easy to do. All you need is a few pieces of PVC, tubing, an air pump of any kind and some filter sponge. Having a tile or flat aquarium rock will help to create a stable base allowing you to securely position your filter in any tank.

 

     When it comes to aquarium filtration, the DIY sponge filter is one of the most common and widely used filters. It has several applications and it’s very handy for holding and hospital tanks. The sponge filter works by pulling water through the sponge as it follows the air escaping through the top. These aquarium filters may be preferred by aquarists with smaller tanks looking to aerate as well as efficiently remove toxic ammonia.

 

     The biggest drawback to this filter type is the fact that mechanical and biological filtration is achieved within the same media. The only way to remove debris is to ring out the filter material which can disrupt the community of bacteria that preform ammonia oxidation.