Please Help - Not Sure What To Do?

[saz326]

please don't do this no need to thro wthe non carbon sponges away as they will only help the fish not hinder them = much worse off without them

Im not sure you know. My fear of keeping the carbon ones in is that the carbon will simply suck up the ammonia so the nitrogen cycle never starts - and the tank never cycles. Next thing you know - the ammonia readings are sky high coz the carbon has lost its strength and there are no bacteria to eat the ammonia.

I dont think you can get a cycle going when using carbon media. I'd opt not to use it. Get the cycle going and then use it only to remove excess nasties like medications.