Pre filter for wet/dry filter

Our over flow and sump came with two sponges. One is a cylindrical one in the overflow box leading down to the sump that is rather porous (sp?) to catch the big stuff. The other a a 9x9x0.5 inch sponge bad. These things get NASTY, so every water change we just rinse them off in the WCW in the 5 gal bucket. The water turns an alarmingly sickly green, and the sponges are cleaned with the good bacteria on them still intact. works like a charm. We water change or clean the sponges once per week btw.

 

For me I noticed the cylinder one reduced flow, clean or not, that's why I went the ghetto filtersock route...

 

If food particles get caught and start to decompose in the FFP, I would think that would lead to a pH drop along with other problems (i.e. ammonia, etc.). My 150G tank had a huge drop in pH last week (7.9 from 8.3). I forgot to wash the FFP in my sump and it was NASTTTTYYYYY. When I checked it last night, it was back up to 8.1. I'm glad I didn't stock that tank yet.