prefilter sponge question

[dax29]

I use prefilter sponges on my tanks that have a sand substrate so sand doesn't get into my filter impellor as easily. Do these prefilter sponges provide much biological activity? I don't know if I need to be careful cleaning them or not.

[Voodoo Chilli]

Yes, bacteria will colonize your pre-filters (another benefit of using them). Gently squeeze them out in the bucket of tank water (after doing water changes) so you won't destroy the bacteria.

[crazycat]

on the other hand, my prefilter sponges usually get so gummed up from all the crud, that they end up restricting the flow from the filters and powerheads. i usually clean them thoroughly in the tank+tap water coming from my python when i do water change. i rinse them until no brown stuff comes out. i figure that, between the 2 filters and my substrate, the bacterial colony will hardly be affected by the small loss from the sponges. i have never had an ammonia spike afterwards.

[dax29]

I've been thinking of using a small wet/dry vac to clean them. What do you think of using that?

[crazycat]

personally, i think it's more trouble than it's worth. how big is your tank and how stocked is it? and how often do you have to rinse the sponges. i have to rinse mine twice a week--so a vac would be too much a pain. i really don't think you'll have a problem just rinsing them out--especially if you do it in tank water. jmo though.

[dax29]

The problem is that I sometimes don't think I'm getting enough of the gunk out. By pulling it out backwards I may be getting a little more stuff. The tank is a 100 gallon Hap/Peacock tank that has 12 half grown fish in it. I try not to overfeed and I never see a piece of food hit the bottom of the tank at feeding time. I have Filter Max prefilters on an XP3 and 2 AC 500s.

[crazycat]

you might get more stuff out. i just squeeze the heck out of mine until they run clear. i did just change the sponges out for new ones (after 6 months). hey, if you have the time and the inclination, i don't see that it could hurt

[Fishyfanatic]

I really wouldn't worry about saving much bacteria from the pre-filters. After all, you do have the actual filters collecting bacteria.

What kind of sand are you using? How far from the substrate is the input?

[dax29]

I use pool filter sand and the intake is about 3" from the substrate. I like having intakes at different levels. Plus, cichlids spit sand all over the place.

[Fishyfanatic]

Have you pulled sand out of your filter before?

I have pool filter sand in our 150 with Africans and don't use prefilters. The sand is alot heavier than most sands.

I wouldn't worry about saving the bacteria from all of the pre-filters. If you have any intakes above 5 inches above the substrate, I wouldn't even worry about the prefilter as heavy as the pfs is.