[aquarist]

Yup, a sponge style filter is what is recommended for shrimp tanks.

 

[aquarist]

There is no way of keeping it from clogging, it will fill with detritus and will need to be rinsed out, this it just how it works, even the sponges in canister filters have to be rinsed out. With most sponge filters they will have two sponges, and when you do a water change you can take one sponge off and rinse it till the water runs clear, and then the next water change do the other sponge. This will help you maintain a decent Bio load while also providing good filtration for your shrimp.