Aquarium Safe?

[Bear Claw]

This is a weird question to ask on a reefing forum, are the Scotch-Brite sponges aquarium safe? I have a package of them and they would be perfect for cleaning equipment and my sump. If they aren't, would like soaking them in a bin of RO Water do the trick?

This is the sponge

 

[Soren]

Sure, they should be safe as long as they are not (unexpectedly) a type soaked in some cleaning solution or something.
I use similar sponges for cleaning my tanks, primarily for scrubbing off coralline algae and mineral stains in between uses as necessary.

 

[Super Fly]

I use the blue Scotch Brite sponge w no issue (fresh sponge that's well rinsed prior to use). I wouldn't use the yellow heavy duty sponge as the scouring pad can scratch plastic equipment.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My concern would be if the fine gritty material (alumina and sometimes titania and silica) is released to potentially irritate organisms that ingest it.