sponge filter

[kangster]

this question use be a separate forum itself but i thought i should ask here

i have a sponge filter attached to my HOB power filter intake tube so it prefilters before the water reaches the main filter cartridge
i recently set up a DIY CO2 injection with an airstone and it was set up so the bubbles were sucked up by the sponge
i have noticed the sponge was building up this slimy thick clear layer the constricted the flow of water and now i have to squeeze the sponge more often to open up the flow
what is this build up and can i get rid of this? i decided to move the location of the airstone far away from the sponge/intake because of this

 

[mgamer20o0]

algae build up or bacteria build up. how often do you clean the sponge?

 

[kangster]

if i go longer than 10 days the flow is so constricted the water flow of HOB powerfilter stops completely
i do PWC once everyweek and thats when i clean the sponge with the old water

 

[mgamer20o0]

i would use a bigger sponge. some times they need to be cleaned every couple of days.

 

[kangster]

every couple of days? that often?
i dont mind the work but where do i get the water from
dechlorinated tab water? that sounds too risky