When I bought my 24 gallon AIO, one of the chambers had this sponge block that fit the chamber perfectly. My LFS (where I bought it) said "Don't use that block. It will just become a nitrate factory."
Well, the tank is about 4 1/2 months old now, and that chamber just sat empty for the longest time. My water was never quite as clear as I would like it once the fish and algae began growing.
I came across some sponge cylinders I was expecting to use in the event that I would set up a QT or hospital tank. Turns out, two of these cylinders fit perfectly in that chamber side by side. They are pulling a boatload of crap out of the water column. I've been swapping them out at least weekly with a fresh or freshly rinsed other pair of identical sponge cylinders and my water is much cleaner these days.
My question is will these sponge cylinders become "nitrate factories" if I am swapping them out often and they are thoroughly rinsed and dried between uses?
I also use filter floss (in the next chamber) which is replaced with new at least weekly. Not recycling that stuff.
Well, the tank is about 4 1/2 months old now, and that chamber just sat empty for the longest time. My water was never quite as clear as I would like it once the fish and algae began growing.
I came across some sponge cylinders I was expecting to use in the event that I would set up a QT or hospital tank. Turns out, two of these cylinders fit perfectly in that chamber side by side. They are pulling a boatload of crap out of the water column. I've been swapping them out at least weekly with a fresh or freshly rinsed other pair of identical sponge cylinders and my water is much cleaner these days.
My question is will these sponge cylinders become "nitrate factories" if I am swapping them out often and they are thoroughly rinsed and dried between uses?
I also use filter floss (in the next chamber) which is replaced with new at least weekly. Not recycling that stuff.