prefilter sponge in overflow box

Michigan kelly · 07-21-2002, 08:24 PM

I just got finished rinsing my prefilter sponge that is in the overflow box of my drilled tank. Yuck! I hate that chore. I figure I need to keep this sponge clean to prevent a build-up of waste that increases nitrate levels. But I was just wondering if any of you just go without this sponge. Every time I clean mine, there are always some small critters living in them sponge that are lost in the rinsing process. Seems like it would be a good thing for this life to pass down to the refugium. What do you all think? TIA.

Kelly

nickg · 07-21-2002, 10:16 PM

No sponge, makes more chores. When I had one, I was cleaning it every other day. JMO

fishinchick · 07-21-2002, 11:11 PM

I took my sponge out of the overflow. It gets too dirty too fast. BUT now it makes this popping noise. I think I'll put the sponge back on. Unless someone can give me a solution.

paulF · 07-22-2002, 06:21 AM

i took mine out ahwile ago, and ive had no problems with the parameters. trust me i dont miss cleaning that thing. and yeah it makes a little bit more noise but nothing unbearable

thebigblue · 07-22-2002, 04:44 PM

i had em on my mag pumps in my sump and on the durso standpipes in my 2 overflows...i took em all off after reading that they will become "nitrate factories" unless you clean em all the time...

...when you do clean em you wash a bunch of little critters down the sink...

i have no "mechanical" filtration on my reef at all now and everything looks great...

FWIW

brad

Michigan kelly · 07-22-2002, 08:44 PM

Gee, looks like I might be the last person to use that sponge. I am going to see about removing mine this week. Thanks for the replies!

Jimbo · 07-22-2002, 08:56 PM

I use plastic gutter screening ($2 and HD) in my overflow, fold it up several times and stuff it in, makes my tank nice and quiet and the critters can ride up and down. LOL