It shouldn't cause any problems. As other have said you will lose some, what you lost will be replaced fairly quickly.
Will sqeezing sponge filter kill bacteria?
- Thread starter j-lor
- Start date
OP why would you squeeze the sponge in the tank?
Seems to me to defeat the purpose, making water cloudy, and having the sponge just get gunked up with the same stuff you just squeezed out?
I usually squeeze the sponge in a bucket of old tank water, dump the water on the garden, and return the sponge to its spot.
This allows old weak bio film to keep from being smothered by gunk, allow more robust bacteria, to be in a more aerated situation.
Seems to me to defeat the purpose, making water cloudy, and having the sponge just get gunked up with the same stuff you just squeezed out?
I usually squeeze the sponge in a bucket of old tank water, dump the water on the garden, and return the sponge to its spot.
This allows old weak bio film to keep from being smothered by gunk, allow more robust bacteria, to be in a more aerated situation.
I missed the inside your tank part. I was assuming it meant during washing/maintenance. Though you could do this in your tank, it would foul your water up pretty good. I would recommend doing it as duanes said. I do the same but with tap water.
Just another perspective; my sponge filter that's between my mechical and biofilter in my sump is used to reduce detritus flowing to other parts of my sump. My polishing pads after biofilter and before my return chamber is to help for additonal and final water clarity.
I rinse the foam and replace the pads every two weeks. I figure BB throghout the tank and dedicated biofilter is sufficient in my case so would not hesitate to rinse in tap water.
Of course if foam is your primary source of biofiltration than it makes sense to be cautious. But if there are other sources then I wouldnt be too concerned.
I rinse the foam and replace the pads every two weeks. I figure BB throghout the tank and dedicated biofilter is sufficient in my case so would not hesitate to rinse in tap water.
Of course if foam is your primary source of biofiltration than it makes sense to be cautious. But if there are other sources then I wouldnt be too concerned.
What Duane said.
I tend to pair (air driven) sponge filters with box filters (and run lots of air through the boxes and less air through the sponges) to minimize the amount of mechanical filtration that the sponges do and to keep from needing to squeeze them out as frequently.
I typically squeeze them out in a bucket every month or so. Allowing them to clog reduces the flow through them and chokes the bacteria (and archaea) from oxygen and "food".
Honestly, I've been rinsing sponges under chlorinated tap water and de-chlorinated tank water for years. Never seen a difference, although I would recommend cleaning in extremely hot water.
Any bacteria that die as a result of cleaning a sponge filter will be back quickly. They're tough little buggers and cover everything in your tanks (not just filters).
Matt
I tend to pair (air driven) sponge filters with box filters (and run lots of air through the boxes and less air through the sponges) to minimize the amount of mechanical filtration that the sponges do and to keep from needing to squeeze them out as frequently.
I typically squeeze them out in a bucket every month or so. Allowing them to clog reduces the flow through them and chokes the bacteria (and archaea) from oxygen and "food".
Honestly, I've been rinsing sponges under chlorinated tap water and de-chlorinated tank water for years. Never seen a difference, although I would recommend cleaning in extremely hot water.
Any bacteria that die as a result of cleaning a sponge filter will be back quickly. They're tough little buggers and cover everything in your tanks (not just filters).
Matt
