New (Stupid) Design (Fail) ATI Hydrosponge...

[Willie]

Re: New (Stupid) Design (Fail) ATI Hydrosponge...

I can see a black market developing for the old base on the Hydrosponges.

[Charlyc11]

Re: New (Stupid) Design (Fail) ATI Hydrosponge...

I would drill out the center of the base cover replace the river rock with matrix and use the base as a media section. It might work but might compromise the sponge part.

[brewmaster15]

Re: New (Stupid) Design (Fail) ATI Hydrosponge...

I can see a black market developing for the old base on the Hydrosponges.

I will be there cash in hand!

[brewmaster15]

Re: New (Stupid) Design (Fail) ATI Hydrosponge...

I would drill out the center of the base cover replace the river rock with matrix and use the base as a media section. It might work but might compromise the sponge part.

It's not a bad idea Chuck. I was thinking of maybe trying to fill up the base with a resin to make it solid . I could just poor resin around the rocks... Or maybe try it with stainless steel. I have alot of Stainless nuts from a demo project I worked at.. I've used them as plant weight with zero Corrosion. .. Encased in resin would be even safer.

[Trigger334]

Re: New Design on ATI Hydrosponge

I'm changing the title of this thread to
The Most Stupid design fail filter ever!

I really really hate this new cage assembly.
See pic.. Old cage LH.. New cage RH.

Hey there. New here, but saw this post Googling. I believe you wrote our store and said this same thing to us. We appreciated the feedback.
We thought the issue was that you have a large quantity of filters and wanted to change all the media over, which would be a task. Usually, opening one or a few filters is not a problem. You were trying to open 100s I believe.
Also, the base is now supplied with no media open allowing a person to choose what goes inside. Some suppliers may still have gravel in the base, but it can be requested without.
For a normal hobbyist, we still think the base design was a smart move. With talking to ATI, they would even double coat the bases and with extreme temps or time, they would crack causing lots of returns. It's a fair move to try something new with the flood of filters that have flooded the market copying the design.

[brewmaster15]

Re: New Design on ATI Hydrosponge

Hey there. New here, but saw this post Googling. I believe you wrote our store and said this same thing to us. We appreciated the feedback.
We thought the issue was that you have a large quantity of filters and wanted to change all the media over, which would be a task. Usually, opening one or a few filters is not a problem. You were trying to open 100s I believe.
Also, the base is now supplied with no media open allowing a person to choose what goes inside. Some suppliers may still have gravel in the base, but it can be requested without.
For a normal hobbyist, we still think the base design was a smart move. With talking to ATI, they would even double coat the bases and with extreme temps or time, they would crack causing lots of returns. It's a fair move to try something new with the flood of filters that have flooded the market copying the design.

Hi,
yes that was me.I contacted you to see if you had any old bases I could buy. ... and in the conversation we had you asked why and I pretty much said what I said here.

If you or Ati try and use these with fry you will find the design is not good as the fry swim in and die. If you have to sanitize them you have to take them apart to do it. .. rinse the substrate and put it back together. Mine came with gravel and it was a royal pain to take apart.

The fact they need substrate to weight them down is the design flaw. Without substrate they are no longer weighted. With substrate they are weighted but not in a great way. The selling point that they hold whatever substrate you want to add is really flawed. You are limited by the size of the base and honestly in order for it to be substrate that houses good bacteria in any appreciable manner you need it to have have oxygenated water that moves through it. This really doesn't happen as its designed.. its separate from the air flow of the sponge.

Im sorry but I understand the problem with old bases cracking and have these for decades but the new bases are in my opinion, terrible. They should be solid not hollow and requiring the buyer to do extra work. Its sad to me that a product that was really exceptional choose to make a modification like this.It ruined the hydrosponge cage . These maybe fine for the hobbyist thats going to bury them into sand or gravel but for a hatchery with bare tanks..they are a major fail . I have to wonder if cost cutting played a role.

Thanks for stopping by and I welcome further discussion if you want.

best,
Al

[brewmaster15]

Re: New (Stupid) Design (Fail) ATI Hydrosponge...

As a re: I said 10 not 100

No these didn't come from you guys.I buy in bulk and tried 10 of the new ones in my tanks. I let the vendor ,Jehmco, know my feedback too and don't blame them or any of ATI sellers. I knew you guys were big sellers so I was hopeful you would have spare parts on the old ones, your website still shows the old base(pic attached)...That was my initial reason for contacting you.

I know the old bases cracked and rusted a little..I just silicone over it. Its a real shame. I can see where your regular hobbyist might not have a problem, most probably just bury it in substrate, but bare bottom and hatcheries, its really a poor design.
Thanks again.

[Trigger334]

Re: New (Stupid) Design (Fail) ATI Hydrosponge...

Thank you. Yes. Most hobbyist have substrate, but understand what you're saying.
The change was not for cost as the mold to make the new base is expensive and from what I understand it will take some time for them to recoup the cost of the mold.
With supplying 100s of the new bases already, this is the only poor feedback we've heard of. Sounds like if you have a bare tank with tiny fry they are not suitable... we've had bare bottom tanks with the base with like sword tail fish, not issue with the fry getting trapped.

[brewmaster15]

Re: New (Stupid) Design (Fail) ATI Hydrosponge...

Do you understand my point about the added difficulty of sanitizing? Hatcheries and importers and hobbyists with hospital tanks routinely sanitize the tank. To do that now you need to open the base.. clean the media and replace. And by how tight the fit is..its sure to wear prematurely with opening. It adds work and it adds time.

[jeep]

Re: New (Stupid) Design (Fail) ATI Hydrosponge...

A hand full of pennies and some epoxy might work

[Trigger334]

Re: New (Stupid) Design (Fail) ATI Hydrosponge...

Do you understand my point about the added difficulty of sanitizing? Hatcheries and importers and hobbyists with hospital tanks routinely sanitize the tank. To do that now you need to open the base.. clean the media and replace. And by how tight the fit is..its sure to wear prematurely with opening. It adds work and it adds time.

I hear you.

I took some time and spoke with ATI. Email us back over at American Aquarium Products.

Looks like ATI is in the process of retesting the old base and seeing if they can resolve the issues. They said that they have some of the old bases that are cracked you're welcome to or if you're willing to wait they'll have a revised old base.
I guess there's a history to the base and the molding. They would be happy to still use the molding and not let it go to waste.

Need to know... If you still want them how many you need.

[brewmaster15]

Re: New (Stupid) Design (Fail) ATI Hydrosponge...

I hear you.

I took some time and spoke with ATI. Email us back over at American Aquarium Products.

Looks like ATI is in the process of retesting the old base and seeing if they can resolve the issues. They said that they have some of the old bases that are cracked you're welcome to or if you're willing to wait they'll have a revised old base.
I guess there's a history to the base and the molding. They would be happy to still use the molding and not let it go to waste.

Need to know... If you still want them how many you need.

Thank you! That would be great. I will wait for the new ones
Since I contacted you I was able to buy a bunch from other sellers.

Appreciate your stopping in and sharing the good news!
al

[Trigger334]

Re: New (Stupid) Design (Fail) ATI Hydrosponge...

New ATI website with more direct support:

https://www.aquariumtechnologyinc.com

[brewmaster15]

Re: New (Stupid) Design (Fail) ATI Hydrosponge...

New ATI website with more direct support:
https://www.aquariumtechnologyinc.com

Am I seeing they are offering the original bases again?






If so..thats awesome news!

[Trigger334]

Re: New (Stupid) Design (Fail) ATI Hydrosponge...

Am I seeing they are offering the original bases again?

If so..thats awesome news!

Yes sir... They heard you and said they are going to work to prefect the old base.
There's a limited stock of old base at this moment. Large orders inquire until they're fully back up.