Cleaning A Sponge Filter

[LionessN3cubs]

I am getting ready to add fish to my tank (finally!) and I need to get the tank cleaned up before I do that. I plan on doing a big water change (probably 90%) and vacuuming as I empty. However, I have a huge sponge filter in the tank and I know its just chock full of gunk.

I read how to clean them by gently squeezing them into a bucket of the old tank water...but my question is .....will this cause a "mini" cycle? Is it worth cleaning it at all or should I just leave it be? It works well enough that the gunk in there now isn't being released into the water, but Im sure its not actually filtering as much stuff as it should, if any.

 

[waterdrop]

That's a hard choice. I remember that MW or someone suggested to you that you keep the sponge in and very gradually taper off any dependency on it, right?

The reason it seems hard to me to choose is that you could leave well enough alone and it wouldn't be hurting anything and you know you then probably wouldn't get any mini-cycling, as you say.. I agree with that. But then again, a gentle squeeze out, not too agressive, probably also wouldn't necessarily cause a mini-cycle, thinking that the sponge is only carrying part of the load, possibly less than your main filter (in your case its sort of hard to know which filter is really harboring more bacteria - is that your feeling too?)

I recently squeezed out my sponges, lightly, just like this and I have indeed observed more nitrites left at the 12-hour mark than were getting processed before, so it did seem to mini-cycle a bit. It was the first time I had not only squeezed the sponges but also swished the media trays and dumped out all the dirty water in the filter cannister itself and I was nervous about losing the bacteria. But even though I saw a bit more unprocessed nitrite, I saw the reassuring drop of nitrites to zero by the next morning, so they are alive and working.

All of that is to say I think you would be ok either way Lioness, best as I can tell. I don't think its a big concern either way.

~~waterdrop~~
edit: spelling

 

[wackystarfish]

I wouldnt do as big a change as 90 percent. It would ruin the cycle you have been waiting on finishing. If the tanks stae really is bad, you should do 40 percent one week, then 40 the next. Patience is the key

Happy Fish keeping!

 

[Rooster]

The water in your tank holds ZERO "wanted" stuff, so you could theoretically change the lot, but I would opt for around 75%...
As for cleaning the filter, do as you say - syphon a bucket of water from the tank, and squeeze the gunk out... I doubt you can overdo it, but if you really want to be belt and braces, after refitting the sponge... refill with fresh DECHLOR'd water and tip a couple of mug fulls of the gunky bucket water back into the tank... this will be the same as seeding, and will not do any harm.

Dont forget to add fish as soon as possible, or feed with ammonia, or the filter will be dying !

 

[Tolak]

I'll tell you what is going to happen when you pull that sponge out of your tank. Once it breaks the surface all the water, along with the debris, will run out, and into your tank. It is made of open cell sponge, which does not hold water like a kitchen or car wash sponge.

The solution is to find a clean bowl or container large enough to hold the sponge, without letting water run out. Put this in the tank, remove the filter bowl, water & all. You can then rinse it in a bucket of old tank or other dechlored water.

I take sponge filters out, and squeeze them half to death in a bucket of water. I'll set up a tank with this newly cleaned filter, 100% fresh water, and add fish. I do this with everything from fry to adults, that bacteria adheres stronger than you think.

Your tank water holds so little nitrifying bacteria in a cycled tank that doing a large water change should have no effect on the cycle, provided the replacement water is properly treated.

 

[backtotropical]

Just to back up Rooster and Tolak, 99% of the beneficial bacteria is colonised on your filter media. There is virtually none at all in the water column, so even a 100% water change would in theory have little or no effect on the bacteria, assuming that the replacement water isn't of a radically different chemical make-up.

Too many people are afraid to do large water changes in this hobby, whereas water changes are absolutely beneficial in almost all situations.

Don't be afraid of water changes, not even large ones. They will almost always help!

Cheers

BTT