Will this be a nitrate factory?

[HawkeyeDJ]

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.

 

[chandavi]

My Fluval 32.5 has 2 of these chambers with tight fitting foam. As far as I can determine they clean the detritus quite well as my water stays crystal clear.
They haven’t been “nitrate factories” for me as I have to over feed some just to keep my nitrates at 5 ppm.

 

[josephxsxn]

Had an aquaclear sponge on a big frag tank for a long time. Ended up with tons of micro serpent Seastar living in it. Don't know if it was a nitrate factory but sure seemed like a home to alot of aquatic life.

 

[TheDragonsReef]

You just ring them out and clean them often and itll be fine.

 

[chiefifd]

Is there any difference if you rinse the sponge in tank water or RO/DI water?

 

[fachatga]

Yeah. Clean them and you’ll be fine. I have a fluval 32 AIO and use it in one side. I only rinse it once a month since my nitrates stick between 2 and 4 so I like having it to be a small nitrate factory. If you have lots of nitrate issues with it not coming down at all over a long time maybe try something different. But they’re not inherently bad.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Should not be. Add a small pouch of chemipure blue to the sump. Will help with purification

 

[JumboShrimp]

Generally speaking, when people say “nitrate factory” they should qualify it by saying “IF you don’t clean it.” (Which could apply to lots of filtration options.)

 

[chandavi]

Yes to that!

 

[fish farmer]

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.

Did you tell the LFS that some actually DOSE nitrates in their reef tank.

What the other said above, pull and rinse if needed.

 

[HawkeyeDJ]

Did you tell the LFS that some actually DOSE nitrates in their reef tank.

What the other said above, pull and rinse if needed.

Yes, I'm pulling and rinsing these at least every week. They look like a bunch of fish wiped their butts on them.