Spong Filter Convert- School Me!
 

So, my dear friends... I'm making a change. And I have questions! (If you want, you can skip down from here to the marked section below.)

My filter on my 25g is broken. And though I think its an easy fix, I'm thinking this is a great opportunity for change.
I have a 10 year old but barely used (maybe a two weeks of use, total) air pump. I have airline tubing. And that's just a skip and a jump to the merry green land of *drumroll* SPONGE FILTERS!!! YAY!!! *applause*

My old filter just has WAY too much current for my fish, even with a baffle. It is a moderately planted tank now, on its way to becoming fairly heavily planted. I think this is the right move. Here is the pertinent stuff I have now:
25g high aquarium
sand substrate
dwarf hairgrass
hairgrass
vallisneria spiralis (Italian val)
hornwort (with plans for world domination)
Brazilian pennywort (3 stems that need a serious comeback after a lighting failure)
vallisneria americana (jungle val) (about 10 sad plants that need a serious comeback after a lighting failure)
MTS
ramshorns
air pump
airline tubing
t fitting

In the near future:
red melon sword
possibly a java fern or anubias nana

YOU CAN JUST SKIP DOWN TO THIS PART!
Brace yourself, here come the questions.
1. Will the Hagen Elite 801 air pump be enough to power a sponge filter on this 25g high tank?
2. Besides the air pump, airline tubing, a (checkity check yo self) check valve, and the sponge filter, what else do I need?
3. What are your opinions on the functionality (not appearance) of black airline tubing?
4. I'm getting a Lustar Hydro-Sponge. Do you think I should get a #2 or a #3?
5. Is it okay to place the air pump on the floor, or does it need to be at a specific height?
6. Do I place the heater near the sponge filter, like placing it near the intake of any other filter, or is there a better placement?
7. Are there any other tips, tricks, or suggestions you have?

Thank you all very much! You're awesome!

1. Hagen Elite 801 is reccomended for 15 gal.
2. You just need an air stone
3. I don't see y a black airline tubing would be any different from normal see through airline tubing.
4. A lustor hydro sponge 2 is for 20gal and a 3 is for 40 gal. not sure if 5 gal will make a difference.
5. Well, according to my tetra whisper air pump, it is better to set up the pump somwher tht is above the tank but I just keep my air pump behind my tank.
6. I don't think it really matters where u put the heater but if you put it by the filter, it might help heat the water more evenly
7. warning, the sponge filter may have a habit floating a little bit. Mine has a weight attatched to it but it still levitates a little and once my betta got stuck under it. So u may want to put gravel on top of it.

How your sponge filter works (here's some more info)

Me = Bold

Ive never had great luck running an air filter under plastic tops. Its gotta be glass imho or the water spashing against it from the bubbles will make the plastic hood window (for the light) cloudy and its hard to clean.

I put some gravel into a nylon stocking and tied it tightly around the bottom of my Lustar Hydro-Sponge. I did make sure I had a "drip loop" so that the water if it ever did back flow or water on the line dripped down, it didn't get to the pump. I fittle around with my tank a lot and it got moved from one side to the other. It didn't seem to make much difference as far as temperature. The water moved plenty with the sponge filter.

I used to just give my hydro sponge a little wiggle down into the gravel. Worked like a champ! Just food for thought, i was just thinking about it. Get the right size sponge for your tank. I havnt seen the 2 or 3, but the 4 was huuuge for my 55, as in it took up alot of room.

also, get some airline butt connectors, and spare air line. Airline will eventually get stiff and lose its elasticity, but it will do so 30x faster under water. SO... put a but connector in several inches ABOVE the aquarium water line. That way, when the airline goes to hell and it starts popping off the filter, you can replace the last 2 feet without having to buy ALL new airlines.

and FWIW ive used black airline, and it was almost identical in every way to the clear stuff.

I thought thats what a razor blade was for ;-)

lol ive done that too, but its never the same unless you cut off like, 6". but im probably just being obsessive :-)

1. Will the Hagen Elite 801 air pump be enough to power a sponge filter on this 25g high tank?
If the pump in gonna sit on the stand, yes, if you plan on setting it at floor level, no

2. Besides the air pump, airline tubing, a (checkity check yo self) check valve, and the sponge filter, what else do I need?
Nothing really

3. What are your opinions on the functionality (not appearance) of black airline tubing?
Black airline tubing is usually silicone tubing, it's more expensive, more flexible and tends to keep it's pliability longer.

4. I'm getting a Lustar Hydro-Sponge. Do you think I should get a #2 or a #3?
If the tank is planted I would go with a #2

5. Is it okay to place the air pump on the floor, or does it need to be at a specific height?
Most pumps list a' head', which is how far below the tank it can be placed and maintain pressure.

6. Do I place the heater near the sponge filter, like placing it near the intake of any other filter, or is there a better placement?
Don't really know, I don't usually place my heater next to the filter intake

7. Are there any other tips, tricks, or suggestions you have?
Nope

1. Will the Hagen Elite 801 air pump be enough to power a sponge filter on this 25g high tank?
If the pump in gonna sit on the stand, yes, if you plan on setting it at floor level, no

2. Besides the air pump, airline tubing, a (checkity check yo self) check valve, and the sponge filter, what else do I need?
Nothing really

3. What are your opinions on the functionality (not appearance) of black airline tubing?
Black airline tubing is usually silicone tubing, it's more expensive, more flexible and tends to keep it's pliability longer.

4. I'm getting a Lustar Hydro-Sponge. Do you think I should get a #2 or a #3?
If the tank is planted I would go with a #2

5. Is it okay to place the air pump on the floor, or does it need to be at a specific height?
Most pumps list a' head', which is how far below the tank it can be placed and maintain pressure.

6. Do I place the heater near the sponge filter, like placing it near the intake of any other filter, or is there a better placement?
Don't really know, I don't usually place my heater next to the filter intake

7. Are there any other tips, tricks, or suggestions you have?
Nope