Today is the day...

[Barb]

for me to remove all my HOB's and go with all large sponges in all my tanks.  I have several going already, now to add to them, new big air pumps too.  I should have done this many years ago but I fell for the hype that you need all these expensive, high tech filters to properly filter the tank.  No more of that for me, just simple sponges and air, that's all.  Less power, less noise, tanks placed closer to the wall, plenty of bubbles and easy to clean.  I am downsizing so much in preparation to move, now it is happening in the tanks too.  I will be hiding the sponges behind my plants.  More on that later.
Barb

[Mugwump]

Great....You won't regret it, Barb......

[LizStreithorst]

+1  You'll never look back

[PaulineMi]

Reading this just made me realize I should put sponge filters in the family room display tank. It's been running with two big Eheim canister filters for years. My back problems have made maintaining those beasts difficult. The back room tanks are running with sponges.....I  should have figured this out awhile back.

So....thanks Barb.    

[Barb]

You know, thinking about it today, not all advancements in fish keeping are necessary.  Some of the ways we did things a long time ago, remember those little plastic boxes with floss and carbon in them, on an air pump, they worked great!  Simple and cheap.  How did we get to all these canisters and sumps and elaborate HOB's?  Must be for the $$$ for manufacturers.  With all the water changes we discus and angel keepers do, well we sure don't need the high tech and expensive stuff.  But I do think that people with the high tech filters think they can do way less wc's.  I would rather keep it simple and change water.
Barb

[wsantia1]

I am slowly switching over also. I think I'll get another Hot Mag (I have 2) and a new diatom filter ( mine is just about dead) for extra cleaning power when necessary.

[LizStreithorst]

In the Asian Discus farms they use no filtration.  They do 100% WCs twice daily complete with fish flopping on the bottom of the tank.  I've seen videos.  It's quite a sight.

[wsantia1]

In the Asian Discus farms they use no filtration.  They do 100% WCs twice daily complete with fish flopping on the bottom of the tank.  I've seen videos.  It's quite a sight.

I saw some of those videos too. I agree quite a sight.

[PaulineMi]

That "Lucky Tropical" discus WC video on you tube is where my current discus came from (via Chicago Discus). I often wonder if that speedy 100% water change and rushing water refill is why nothing seems to bother them.

[BillT]

I probably have about 20 tanks with little plastic box filters in them.
These tanks get automated water changes, so with low fish numbers, not so much filtration needed.

Any time I can replace a motor with an airlift driven device I consider it an energy gain.

[Barb]

Seems I have made a good change.  I am looking forward to some lower electric bills too.  Glad to hear the sponges are working as well as I hoped.  Thanks all,
Barb