Sponges in Filter smell BAD!

[Tigroscr]

Hello Everyone, about 6 weeks ago I decided to put Sponges in my filters just as extra along with the regular filter media. They're the kind you buy @ the store for household cleaning but without the scrub side, now whenever I open my tank lids it smells like an old dirty dish rag!!!! Should I remove them? My fish seem to be doing ok and all my params are good, I just don't think I can take the smell! :-( I also swish them around in tank water @ least once a week when I do PWC's anyone else had this problem?

 

[tarpon]

Id go buy some sponges actually meant for aquariums at the fish store

 

[Tigroscr]

Well the other ones are cheaper and I've read on here other people having good luck with them! They look pretty much the same as the regular household sponge!

 

[tarpon]

Hmm..i dont know why it would make the tank smell...the sponge would smell cuz it has old fish food and poop on it.

 

[BillD]

You should be doing more than swishing them in aquarium water. Squeeze the heck out of them in water until all the crud comes out. It will take a few changes of water. They shouldn't smell that bad, but they will have a smell. Regular open cell poly sponges can be used, but I wouldn't use a cellulose sponge.

 

[Tigroscr]

Yeah idk either but I guess I'll remove them I just hate to do it with all the BB on them and I'm getting ready to seed another tank with some of them when I get my other 55g back up and running in the next day or so.

 

[Tigroscr]

You should be doing more than swishing them in aquarium water. Squeeze the heck out of them in water until all the crud comes out. It will take a few changes of water. They shouldn't smell that bad, but they will have a smell. Regular open cell poly sponges can be used, but I wouldn't use a cellulose sponge.

What's the difference? Idk much about sponges, sorry! :-(

 

[Tigroscr]

Yeah I do squeeze them also in tank water and rinse them!

 

[Tigroscr]

Do you think the natural sea sponges would work the kind you can buy @ craft stores for painting would work? I've seen where u can get a whole bag of those for about $12 or so.

 

[Tigroscr]

Maybe it's just me, my sinuses are REALLY bad today I will ask my Hubby later if he thinks it smells unusual! Thx!

 

[Tigroscr]

I just did a pwc a couple days ago and I might have used a little too much Prime. Maybe that's what it is!!!