Thursday, December 28, 2006
What is the proper care of bio sponge media in an aquarium?
QUESTION:
What is the proper care of bio sponge media in an aquarium?
ANSWER:
PROPER SPONGE MEDIA CARE;
The main problem with sponge filter media of any type is clogging due to mechanical filtration. The better designed sponge filter media is one that maximizes the amount of time between cleanings that the sponge media will not clog under normal use.
When the flow slow or water begins to flow around the sponge media (such as in many Aqua Clear Filters), you need to rinse/clean your sponge filter media.
The best method is to use used aquarium water from a water change and squeeze the sponge several times until nothing more is expelled form the sponge. You also may use de-chlorinated tap water or well water (without added chemicals) for rinsing your sponge media. I often will use both methods and I will use the de-chlorinated tap water for the final rinses until the rinse water in no longer dirty.
The reason to rinse with used tank water or de-chlorinated tap or well water is to not destroy beneficial aerobic bacterial colonies that form in the pores of the sponge media over time. This is important to note when your sponge media starts to degrade and needs to be changed. At this time it is best to add an additional sponge to your aquarium ahead of time to allow this sponge to “seed” with aerobic bacteria.
This can be achieved by simply placing the new sponge in an area of high water flow and high dissolved oxygen or adding a second sponge filter, pre filter, HOB filter, ECT in your aquarium an allowing the sponge media to “seed”. The time I generally allow is from 10-14 days for proper bacterial “seeding”.
Adding additional sponge filters, pre-filters, or similar is very beneficial to maintaining a healthy bio media in your aquarium, as this allows an easy change of sponges without the worry of destroying beneficial bacterial colonies in your aquarium, not to mention the improved bio filtration and mechanical filtration when all the filters are functioning properly.
Additional sponges in your aquarium can also be used to “seed” the bacterial colonies of a new aquarium.
SPONGE FILTRATION BASICS;
How a Sponge Filter works:
When your Sponge Filter is attached to an air pump, the rising column of air in the tube pulls water with it. A larger lift tube allows for a higher flow rate (this is where Hydro Sponge filters excel).
You can measure the water flow (which can be useful to know) by slightly tilting the filter with the top of the outflow just above the aquarium water line and timing the fill rate into a pitcher or gallon jug. If it fills the jug in 30 seconds, you multiply 2 times per minute times 60 or 120 gallons per hour.
You can also add an air stone to the end of your tubing in the outflow tube to produce more bubbles and more lift.
When attached to a power head, the pump pulls the water thru the sponge. With this method I recommend using an air diffuser that generally comes with most power heads to improve dissolved oxygen levels.
The water is pulled through the sponge filter media where debris is mechanically trapped and aerobic bacteria remove nitrogenous waste such as ammonia and nitrites. For ponds, a more porous sponge media is better to allow a better flow rate and less accumulation of debris from mechanical filtration. For aquariums with either an internal, pre-filter, or standard sponge filters a medium porous sponge media with many tiny pores to trap bacteria is best (again this is where the Hydro Sponge Filter excels with its patented design).
For more information about sponge filtration, please see this article: Sponge filtration; How sponge filters work and the benefits of using sponge filters in aquariums and ponds.
What is the proper care of bio sponge media in an aquarium?
ANSWER:
PROPER SPONGE MEDIA CARE;
The main problem with sponge filter media of any type is clogging due to mechanical filtration. The better designed sponge filter media is one that maximizes the amount of time between cleanings that the sponge media will not clog under normal use.
When the flow slow or water begins to flow around the sponge media (such as in many Aqua Clear Filters), you need to rinse/clean your sponge filter media.
The best method is to use used aquarium water from a water change and squeeze the sponge several times until nothing more is expelled form the sponge. You also may use de-chlorinated tap water or well water (without added chemicals) for rinsing your sponge media. I often will use both methods and I will use the de-chlorinated tap water for the final rinses until the rinse water in no longer dirty.
The reason to rinse with used tank water or de-chlorinated tap or well water is to not destroy beneficial aerobic bacterial colonies that form in the pores of the sponge media over time. This is important to note when your sponge media starts to degrade and needs to be changed. At this time it is best to add an additional sponge to your aquarium ahead of time to allow this sponge to “seed” with aerobic bacteria.
This can be achieved by simply placing the new sponge in an area of high water flow and high dissolved oxygen or adding a second sponge filter, pre filter, HOB filter, ECT in your aquarium an allowing the sponge media to “seed”. The time I generally allow is from 10-14 days for proper bacterial “seeding”.
Adding additional sponge filters, pre-filters, or similar is very beneficial to maintaining a healthy bio media in your aquarium, as this allows an easy change of sponges without the worry of destroying beneficial bacterial colonies in your aquarium, not to mention the improved bio filtration and mechanical filtration when all the filters are functioning properly.
Additional sponges in your aquarium can also be used to “seed” the bacterial colonies of a new aquarium.
SPONGE FILTRATION BASICS;
How a Sponge Filter works:When your Sponge Filter is attached to an air pump, the rising column of air in the tube pulls water with it. A larger lift tube allows for a higher flow rate (this is where Hydro Sponge filters excel).
You can measure the water flow (which can be useful to know) by slightly tilting the filter with the top of the outflow just above the aquarium water line and timing the fill rate into a pitcher or gallon jug. If it fills the jug in 30 seconds, you multiply 2 times per minute times 60 or 120 gallons per hour.
You can also add an air stone to the end of your tubing in the outflow tube to produce more bubbles and more lift.
When attached to a power head, the pump pulls the water thru the sponge. With this method I recommend using an air diffuser that generally comes with most power heads to improve dissolved oxygen levels.
The water is pulled through the sponge filter media where debris is mechanically trapped and aerobic bacteria remove nitrogenous waste such as ammonia and nitrites. For ponds, a more porous sponge media is better to allow a better flow rate and less accumulation of debris from mechanical filtration. For aquariums with either an internal, pre-filter, or standard sponge filters a medium porous sponge media with many tiny pores to trap bacteria is best (again this is where the Hydro Sponge Filter excels with its patented design).
For more information about sponge filtration, please see this article: Sponge filtration; How sponge filters work and the benefits of using sponge filters in aquariums and ponds.
# posted by Carl : 11:44 AM
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