Floating foam pads in sump for aerated bio?

[knifegill]

If I let a layer of sponges float in my sump, is that as useful as I'm imagining? Lots of oxygen-rich surface area = more nitrifyers, right?

 

[Khemul]

Depends how useful you are imagining it. They will allow bacteria to colonize. They just won't be as efficient as if you had water directly flowing through them.

 

[knifegill]

Cool. I'll look for ways to improve it!

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Only the submerged part. The floating part would eventually dry out and become useless.

 

[karak]

does it have water flowing on the floating part?

 

[knifegill]

Well, they're completely wet, but they float right at the surface. They're in a sump so there's a lot of water movement.

They are these synthetic open-cell plastic ones from the dollar store. I've rinsed them and they have been in use in other tanks as well. They do house bacteria well.


http://www.makeandtakes.com/floating-sponge-boats