Will this be a nitrate factory?

HawkeyeDJ · Jul 11, 2021

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 · Jul 11, 2021

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 · Jul 11, 2021

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 · Jul 11, 2021

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

chiefifd · Jul 11, 2021

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

fachatga · Jul 11, 2021

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 · Jul 11, 2021

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

JumboShrimp · Jul 11, 2021

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 · Jul 11, 2021

Yes to that!

fish farmer · Jul 12, 2021

HawkeyeDJ said:
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.