Is this reef safe?

Cory · Nov 7, 2014

I got a stippling sponge from the paint department at Home Depot. I'm going to use it around my powerhead so that my bta doesn't get sucked into it. Is it reef safe, or are sponges reef safe in general?

Cory · Nov 7, 2014

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 8, 2014

Sponges are likely reef safe, but things they have been treated with might not be. Be sure it says nothing about being mildew resistant or some similar indication of antimicrobial activity.

If it is a natural sponge, it may slowly decay.

Cory · Nov 8, 2014

I put it in my tank and the skimmer increased foam production more than double. I think I read something about fire retardants. I use polyester batting for my filter bag, I cut it and replace it every few days. It does the same thing for a half hour. Does that sound like fire retardant?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 8, 2014

Could be all sorts of things, such mold release agents or whatever they used to allow foaming of the product to make it (assuming it is not a natural sponge). I'd take it out and rinse it more before using it.

Cory · Nov 8, 2014

I'm not going to use it because it looked rediculous and was too dense for the propellor powerhead to push any water through. I took it out after a few minutes of use. But now I'm thinking of the new Maxspect riptide.

Any problems with mildew inhibitors? Activated carbon remove it?

Btw does your bta get stringy tentacles? Mine doesn't get those bulbs like it first did. I've read low magnesium can do that. Mine tested at 1200ppm Salifert. I'm raising it to 1300ppm. Also got a digital scale at wal mart for weight measurements.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 8, 2014

I can't be sure what was on it, but GAC removes many troublesome organics.

My BTA (don't have it any longer) would get bubbles in brighter light, and not when in lesser light in the same tank.

Cory · Nov 8, 2014

Too bad they are really beautiful to watch. I noticed too about the light. I was thinking maybe since magnesium causes muscles to relax in humans perhaps it has a similar effect on the tentacles of a bta causing it to exspand. What do you think? Here's a pic of mine under 3w LEDs.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 8, 2014

I don't think magnesium would play a similar role in anemone tentacles.

Cory · Nov 10, 2014

I raised magnesium and my bta bubbled. But I think it's because I fed it some silversides for the first time. But I'm worried about all those shiny fish scales floating around, they look metallic.