What are the risks of sponges growing over your sump equipment?

[JoJosReef]

Anyone have their sump or their back chamber of AIOs completely packed with pineapple sponges? I have them growing everywhere. Are there risks of them causing your heater sensors to read incorrect? Heaters themselves to break? ATO level detectors (in my case, titanium level detectors for the Helio)?

 

[dangles]

Yes I would make sure to keep things like that cleaned off. However otherwise (from what I understand) they’re pretty harmless. They will actually assist in nutrient uptake.