Filter Sponge vs Filter Sock?

[potatocouch]

In my sump, I am having difficulty in using filter sock but there is a slot between the return chamber & my fuge chamber for a sponge filter.

Although I have Tunze 9410 with its 300 µm (11.8 mil) nylon mesh, I am thinking to filter the water again when the water travels between the refugium chamber & return chamber. Overkill?

Do you folks use filter sponge? Which porosity do you use in your tank?

I understand some will say that it will become No3 factory but I think this filter sponge is much easier for me to maintain. Like take it out during weekly WC and just give it a quick rinse and slot it back between those chambers.

 

[reefwiser]

15 would be the best. The finer ones will stop up faster and cause the water to back up on the inlet side. And water to Lowe in the pump area of the sump.

 

[potatocouch]

15 would be the best. The finer ones will stop up faster and cause the water to back up on the inlet side. And water to Lowe in the pump area of the sump.

The intention of using filter sponge is just like the purpose of filter sock, right? that is to trap detritus and (we) clean/rinse them regularly.

or is the purpose of filter sponge is to house denitrifying bacterias, just like those Sera Siporax media?

 

[reefwiser]

It can be used both ways. Depends on how your system is set up. The fine sponge is better as a biological filter. Where a coarse sponge is better for particle filtration.

 

[Tenecor Aquariums]

Here is a writeup from our website you may find useful. We are not big fans of filter socks for all the reasons mentioned below. Over the many years, sponges have worked the best. Good luck!

Why Mechanical Filtration is Needed

The objective of aquarium filtration is to maintain healthy water quality. To do this we rely on probiotic bacteria to break down fish waste. For larger particles mechanical filtration is used.

Why Filters Clog

Overfeeding is the number one reason. Uneaten food eventually makes its way to the filter and becomes lodged there. When the water flow slows down the filter needs to be cleaned.

With filter socks this can happen quickly and be a messy nuisance. Cartridge filters can be even more bothersome since they require more steps to clean.

TIP: Reduce the load on your filter by not overfeeding your fish. Use the "Eyeball Rule" which is one fish eyeball amount of food per fish. Five fish, five fish eyeballs of food. Nine fish, nine fish eyeballs of food.

Why Tenecor uses Open Cell AquaFoam

Tenecor aquariums with AquaFoam have significantly greater capacity than filter socks or cartridge filters. Our AquaFoam filters are BIG and THICK. They also are easier to clean and last much longer. Tenecor AquaFoam has the added benefit of supporting larger bacteria colonies which increase your tank's bio-filtration capacity even more.

How to Clean Tenecor AquaFoam Filters

First, don’t clean the AquaFoam unless the water flow slows down. Remove the AquaFoam and submerge it in a container filled with RO or bottled water. Squeeze it a few times and that's it. There is no need to "deep clean" and it is okay to leave some bio gunk on the AquaFoam. Remember, DO NOT use tap water or any other water with chlorine in it because even small amounts of chlorine will kill off the probiotic bacteria..

After you place the AquaFoam back into the filter the aquarium water may turn cloudy for a while but will quickly clear up.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I used to use sponge in between baffles yes.
Does it work? Ya. Lol.
D