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09-14-2007, 11:55 AM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Torch Coral
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Age: 47
Posts: 1,178
   |  Sponge Filter in Sump
I have an EShopp sump that has a sponge for filtration between two of the compartments. I know in the freshwater world whenver I do a water change I clean the filter pads with the old tank water that has been removed during the change. I am assuming I should be doing the same thing with this sponge. The tank has been up 9 weeks now and I started with a hair algae problem two weeks back and I am thinking this is part of the problem. I have a Tunze 9010 in the sump, just replaced a Euro Reef Rs 100 with the Tunze. There is also a phospate reactor in sump.
So my question is, should I clean the sponge at every water change? I know when I cleaned it this morning it was loaded with gunk...
Thank you _________ 72 gallon bowed 150lbs LR 60 lbs LS
2 Percs
1 Chevron Tang
Hippo Tang
Six Line Wrasse
Coral Banded Shrimp
Cleaner Shrimp
Starry Blenny
4 Lyretail Anthias
Long Polyp Toadstool
Montipora
Long Tentacle Anenome
Short tentacle plate
Pulsing Xenia
Green Star polyps
Frogspawn
29 gallon
2 Clown
1 Coral Beauty
1 Fairy Wrasse
24 FOWLR
Dwarf Lion
125 gallon African Cichlid Tank http://home.comcast.net/~pizzal/index.html 
"The more you learn, the more acutely aware you become of your ignorance" | 
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09-14-2007, 12:12 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Skunk Shrimp
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Williamsville, NY
Posts: 257
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Definitely clean it. The last thing you want is to have it full of uneaten food, etc....... Good thing to clean it every week.
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It's ok to be crazy - just don't let it drive you NUTS!!! JB | |
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09-14-2007, 02:13 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 44
Posts: 3,963
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As glampka stated clean it sooner than later! It will impede water flow, cause nitrates, phosphates etc. to rise and detritus etc. to accumulate! _________ 125gal.w/Mag9.5 return(dual megaflow)>Mag7 pump Aqua Cev180skimmer.Wave2k Hamilton Reefstar(2)250watthqi(mh)pend.a Yellow, Naso Tang Red Lip Blenny Percula Clown Demoiselles Niger Trigger F. Wrasses Ceriantharia Orn.Shrimp and Stars Hermits Queen Conch asst. snails> Stars Zoos shrooms Montipora Brains Gorgonians Favia Turbinaria(large+small polyp) Acropora Xenia Tridacna (CroceaMaximaSquamosa) Leathers <35+75gal.reef tank as well> 
"IF THE PHONE DOESN'T RING...IT'S ME"  jb  | |
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09-14-2007, 08:35 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Torch Coral
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Age: 47
Posts: 1,178
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Thanks guys, that is what i thought. Just was making sure. I know it was impeding water flow and I have a sneaking suspicion it was probably one of the root causes of my algae bloom.... | |
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09-15-2007, 04:11 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | 3reef Sponsor
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Va/Ct
Posts: 4,359
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I would yank it totally as the sponge or sock just pulls the food from the water and the corals can't eat naturally. If more stopped scrubbing their water and let the fish waste and food particles float in the water colume so the corals will eat that as food.. I have a power head to come on several times a night to stir the sumps up to feed the corals.. Marine snow (: _________ Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible (Doug Larson) | |
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11-29-2007, 11:00 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunrise, FL
Posts: 11
Karma: 2
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actually I usually don't clean it using the theory that that sponge is full of anerobic bacteria and helps remove nitrates. _________ Tips I Wrote On Maintaining A SaltWater Aquarium | |
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11-30-2007, 05:22 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Tassled File Fish
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: joliet,il Age: 41
Posts: 1,998
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agree with tangster, take the sponge out. they clog constantly and prohibit some good stuff for the corals | |
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12-08-2007, 02:21 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Bristle Worm
Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: East Liberty, OH
Posts: 131
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But by removing the sponge, wouldn't it let all that crap get caught in the pump? Kas | |
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12-08-2007, 02:51 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: TITUSVILLE, FL Age: 31
Posts: 55
Karma: 60
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i cut a little hole in mine to let tiny amounts of the good stuff back in the tank and still have the cleaning of the spnge there | |
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12-09-2007, 10:11 AM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Tassled File Fish
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: joliet,il Age: 41
Posts: 1,998
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sponges clog and prevent flow to easily. the stuff that it keeps will feed the corals or settle in the sump or fuge or goes back to the tank and settle for the clean up crew and helps to balance the eco system better. during a water change the siphon hose can be directed near the bottom of the tank or the sump if your concerned about it. | |
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