Sponge Media

[austingirl]

I am trying to decide if I should remove the sponge inside my AquaClear 300 filter. I also have carbon and LR rubble above the sponge. I have a 30g hex with about 30lbs of LR and a 4" DSB.
As always thanks for your time and comments.
Sarah

 

[thomas712]

That sponge may contain much of your bacteria base depending on what else you have for filtration or live rock , live sand and what other surface area that your bacteria is on.
Not saying you can't remove it, many have done such things without worry, rinsed it and returned it or even removed the filter all together.
Just wanted to make sure that you know that bacteria colonies are attached to it and that you will be killing/ removing them from the system, other things can and will take thier place.
How old is your DSB and your system?
Thomas

 

[squidd]

The LR and LS 'should" cover the bacteria loss "If" you pull/clean your sponge... But why would you want to remove it?
The sponge is probably your main source of MECHANICAL filtration (getting the little floatie things out)

 

[austingirl]

I started out with about an 1 1/2" of LS and added another 2" or so early last week. My tank has been cycled for a little over a month now. I am concerned that the sponge is holding in nitrate and more garbage than good bacteria. My goal is to remove the filter all together and replace with a skimmer thus alowing my LR and DSB to be my filter. My nitrates have risen from 0 right after cycling to just under 40, which is why I added the additional LS for a long term fix.
Sarah

 

[fshhub]

I would remove the sponge. Removing it could cause a little bit of a spike, but having LR, that should help to compensate some. the thing wiht sponges is it will continue to build up junk. and needs to be cleaned. Cleaning and changing will affect your biofilter, untilt he sponge repopulates with bacteria. The main problem here is that it is an ongoing issue. Every time you clean the sponge, it will be the same(possible spike and always a mess). Tehre is no need at all for mechainical filtration in SW. Esp if you have a good biofilter. In fact, not only are they not needed, we are almost better off without them.

 

[squidd]

Originally posted by fshhub
The main problem here is that it is an ongoing issue. Every time you clean the sponge, it will be the same(possiable spike and always a mess). Tehre is no need at all for mechainical filtration in SW. Esp if you have a good biofilter. In fact, not only are they not needed, we are almost better off without them.
I would like to respectfully disagree...
If there is enough LS,LR,good established biofilter, cleaning the sponge would not adversly affect water quality...Cleaned often enough it wouldn't grow enough bacteria to become a part of the bio system...Hence NO "possiable" mini spike.
I know we are all looking for a less/low maintence type system but I believe that the organic junk that the sponge pulls out (when cleaned) would result in Less nitrates being built up through the biological process, Because it's not in there to decompose in the first place.
Nitrates would still need to be removed through water changes until the DSB becomes established, even then WC should be a part of regular maintainence.

 

[fshhub]

i have to respectfully disagree, as well
i did say POSSIBLE SPIKE.
as well, we are better off with a good biofilter instead. NOW, THE LATTER IS MERELY
JMEO.
the first, is not definite, but as mentioned, i did say posble, but the LR should help to compensate. BUT in either case, it WILL affect the biofilter(at least to some degree) even if we do not observe it fully.
AND you can observe a spike, from reintroducing uncolonized material(ie clean sponges) into the tank. UNTIL the bacteria has a hchance to populate it, NOT only form built up garbage.

 

[squidd]

O.K. I'll give you "possiable' and "to some degree"
I should Never say "Never'...
But, (and there's always a but) "observing a 'spike' from reintroducing uncolonized material(ie: clean sponges)"???
In reference to Austin Girls second post she states her main concern is that "the sponge is holding in nitrate and more garbage than good bacteria'...
The sponge is not holding in, nor producing, nitrates. It's the biological decomposition of organic compounds that produce nitrates.
Holding in the "garbage" is the "purpose" of the sponge. Cleaning the sponge removes this "garbage"(organic compounds) from the equation, hence less nitrates produced. (Which would still need to be removed or broken down further ie:anaerobic bacteria in DSB)
I do not like to empty/clean my protein skimmer nor do I "like' to clean the filters in my canister,But when I see the junk I am removing from the biological system (that would have become nitrates) the positives of my actions far outweigh the negative impact of a "possiable/to some degree" spike(?) from introducing a clean filter and clean skimmer cup.
respectfully,

 

[dreeves]

If someone was cleaning the sponge with freshwater you may have a point there Squidd...
But if they are rinsing it in saltwater...then removing the sponge would cause an amonia spike as with the amount of water flowing through the 300 would ensure a very strong portion of the tanks bio activity would be contained in that sponge...
I believe a more appropriate thing to do in removing the sponge would be to cut it in half..free float one half in the tank leaving the other half in the 300...after a couple of weeks...discard the one in the tank and put the other one in their...similar to removing your bio-balls...

 

[austingirl]

Thanks, as always for the great information.
How often would you guys recommend cleaning out the sponge? and will a skimmer be enough with 30lbs of LR and a 3 1/2" DSB?
Sarah

 

[dreeves]

Rinse the sponge about every 2 weeks or so...also you should be ok with the sand and skimmer.

 

[fshhub]

ok, squidd here goes
just a s with using a new tank, uncolonized, it needs to cycle(even if you use old water and other equipment). ANYTIME we add unccyled material or objects, there is always a possiblility of a spike, almost as in a cycle. with a strong enough biofilter, often this can be so minute that we even seem to miss it. HTH.