Miniature Water妖精 Aquarium Filter for Bacteria Cultivation, Using Dishwashing Sponges as Filter Material

My large fish at home spawned a multitude of fry—a veritable swarm. I separated them into a bucket with a water pump, but the pump was sucking up the tiny fish. So, I decided to create a miniature filter using readily available materials. I found two new dishwashing sponges (often called nano sponges online) in the kitchen and fashioned this filter. The lower section holds filter media (ceramic beads or even small, clean stones from outdoors will work), the upper section holds the sponges, and the aeration stone is simply inserted through the lid. For customized outflow, you can extend the tube using a short section of 20mm PVC conduit—the type used for electrical wiring. Alternatively, you could 3D print a short extension, 20mm outer diameter and 1mm wall thickness. Note that longer tubes require greater air volume, so adjust the length accordingly to match your air pump’s output.Crucially, this filter weighs only about 40 grams, making it both economical and practical; please print using PETG filament

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Assembly Instructions:

The lid can be used to hold the sponge in place while cutting and creating the holes

Place stones or ceramic beads in the lower section, and the sponges in the upper section

Ideally, extend the tubing slightly above the waterline. The housing provides some leeway for adjusting tube length, so the extension doesn’t need to be excessively long. If it’s too short, simply pull it upward.