SpongeLoop-Filter 110

Product no.: SL110

In stock
Delivery period: 2-3 working days

from 354.60 €

Price incl. VAT, plus delivery

Model size

Ask question

In coral reef aquariums with little decoration, there is very little non-illuminated and constantly flowing surface available, so that hidden living (cryptic) sponges only grow sparsely and the sponge loop process can only function to a very limited extent.

In the AquaCare Sponge-Loop filter, the water flows from bottom to top through a special filter material, which is colonized with hidden living sponges over time. It is important that the flow rate remains constant. A flow meter is installed in the inlet for monitoring purposes. The outlet of the filter should be fed directly back into the aquarium and not into the skimmer. Inoculation with fresh live rock (sponge larvae) is necessary in order to colonize the filter.

The sponge loop is a fundamental ecological process that takes place in marine ecosystems, especially coral reefs. It involves the transfer of nutrients and other organic matter by sponges to the environment and thus to other organisms, including corals.

Sponges are sessile filter feeders that suck in water through their numerous pores, absorbing dissolved organic matter, bacteria, small particles, released coral mucus and plankton. They then filter and digest these substances and use the organic matter for their own growth and survival. Other organic substances are released as waste products and thus made available to other organisms. This function gives sponges a key position in the marine food web, as they act as nutrient recyclers.

In the context of corals, the sponge cycle plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and productivity of coral reef ecosystems. Corals and sponges live together in close proximity and share space in the reef structure - one on top, the other hidden in the crevices and caves. The waste products produced by the corals, such as mucus and excretions, are quickly absorbed and processed by nearby sponges. The sponge cycle influences the entire nutrient cycle in the reef ecosystem by recycling the valuable substances such as phosphorus, nitrogen and others in a loop.

Overall, the sponge loop is an important process that contributes to the overall health and stability of coral reef ecosystems. Its efficiency in transferring nutrients and organic matter plays an important role in maintaining the biodiversity and productivity of these fragile marine ecosystems.