Sponge Filter Lift Tube, Do You Need It, and Is Longer Better?

Last Updated on February 24, 2022 by cmoarz

Have you ever wondered if you could remove that unsightly tube from your sponge filter to make it fit slightly better, or maybe look a bit more attractive? Well, the answer is yes, But should you? Do you need the sponge filter lift tube?

Removing sponge filter life tube

Removing the lift tube can certainly make for a more attractive sponge filter, but it’s important to realize that the lift tube plays an important role in how your filter works.

The lift tube does 2 things:

Controls flow direction of bubbles: The tube serves as a way to control the direction of the flow of bubbles. This is important because it moved expelled water away from the sponge allowing dirty water to flow through, and helps keep suction evenly distributed.

Increase suction: The suction needed for the sponge filter to function is created by bubbles traveling up the filter lift tube.

The longer that tube is, the stronger the suction is, and the more efficient the filter will work.

So if you’re considering removing the lift tube from your sponge filter, keep in mind that it may impact the performance of your filter, and you may not be getting the most out of it.

However, Even without a lift tube, Your filter will still function

If you do decide you want to remove the sponge filters lift tube, Don’t fret too much. The filter will still function without it, it just won’t be as efficient.

So if you’re looking to just make your filter a bit more aesthetically pleasing, go ahead and remove the lift tube, but if you’re looking for the best performance possible, then leave it in place.

In smaller tanks it can make sense to remove the lift tube, however, in larger tanks, the less efficient the filter will be.

Increasing the size of your filter lift tube instead

Increasing the length of your sponge filter tube could be beneficial in larger tanks, as it will create more suction and help the filter work more efficiently.

If you have a large tank and are looking to get the most out of your sponge filter, then increasing the size of your lift tube is definitely something to consider.

There is a limit to how high you can go with the tube though. It must remain underwater to be effective.

So if you’re looking to improve the performance of your sponge filter, Increasing the size of the lift tube is a good place to start.

Just make sure that you don’t go too high with the tube, or it will no longer be effective.