The Ista Bio-Sponge Filter is a two pronged filtration system making use of both mechanical and biological filtration methods. The biological filtration is provided by the healthy bacteria that colonizes on the foam section of the filter and the mechanical filtration comes from the consistent filtering of water through the minuscule holes of the sponge. The Ista Bio-Sponge Filter dramatically improves the quality of water by adding high concentrations of oxygen. The unit is compatible with air pumps and external filters and boasts a silent operation by reducing air pump noise output. The cylindrical shape and design allow for more effective filtration and more efficient space management.