Oh what to do!!!!

[Hanfam1111]

As you can see my main return pump filter is teeming with life. Pineapple sponges everywhere, tube worms, snails, feather dusters and many many more. Well this pump is about on its last leg. Plus all this life is clogging the return. I don’t want to rinse it as that is important life to the stability of my reef. I’m getting a new Vectra. What should i do or how do I go about swapping out the pumps and keeping my little sponge life towers.

IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181102/d0aaca082634e796dee9a6bf62c7ca38.jpg[/IMG]

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

 

[DesertReefT4r]

It should not have gotten that dirty to begin with. Removing them will not effect your ecosystem. In my tanks those pineapple sponges seem to kind of come on when the tank is younger and disappear after a while. More will grow back if they have what need if not dont worry about it.

 

[Waters]

While they are filter feeders, in the long run, I can't image they do enough to your water to make a difference either way. I scrape mine off all the time because I am a clean freak

 

[count krunk]

If you really want to keep the life in your tank. Wash the sponge out in the sump.

But yeah you shouldn't let filter sponges (esp pump pre filters) get anywhere close to that clogged up