Sponges to baffle?

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Quick question: Can I use normal, unused kitchen washing up sponges in a filter? Not necessarily long term, I've bought a new block of filter sponge, but it's not due to arrive for a while. I added an internal filter to a guppy tank because I need more surface disturbance in that tank, but the flow is a bit too strong. Can I trim the green scouring bit off and use some kitchen sponge to fill the internal filter more and slow the output a bit?

 

[vanalisa]

It has to be a certain kind of sponge...not cellulose, which is a natural based product, but the manmade stuff, which is more plasticky. Sorry if the terms are wrong...I found the info online, though, and I do remember there was a difference...

 

[seangee]

No reason not to. That sponge is quite dense so you may need to rinse it out more often.
FWIW I have this stuff in a drawer https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009EB5PT2/?tag=. Cheap and extremely versatile.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Awesome, thank you both so much!

It's only temporary, and using this filter just to add more surface disturbance at the moment rather than filtration, the canister filter on that tank does a great job, but the output isn't very strong and the surface on the other side was developing a film from some water lettuce leaves that were failing, and I want to make sure there's enough gas exchange, so it doesn't matter if it isn't the best filter material

Saying that, I was worried the flow was too much for the guppies, but they seem to be having a great time swimming into the current! Their is a smoother area of the tank they could go to to avoid the flow, but they're actively swimming into it now.

 

[Colin_T]

Be careful using kitchen sponges in aquariums. Many have a yellow or green dye in them and this can leach into the water. Sponges are also available in soap and soap free varieties, and mould inhibitors are sometimes added to the more expensive ones. Check the packaging to make sure it has nothing added.

Wash new sponges with warm soapy water. Use a perfume free soap and rinse well afterwards. If there is a yellow or green dye in it, most of the free dye should wash out with the soapy water.