Skimmer Prefilter

Hi

My skimmer has a prefilter, Do I really need it ? Somewhere I read that prefilters are nitrates factory's it's this true? All of my pumps has sponge prefilters. and my hang on the back filter has one. So i'm I filling my tank with nitrates.

 

I wouldn't sweat it that much if you rinse them out occasionally.
That said, I did remove mine from my sump pump because I didn't like the fact that I was restricting it's flow when dirty and I was getting lazy and didn't want to keep rinsing it as it was a pain to shut everything down to get too.

 

I do the same thing, when i dont have time, i just take it out, but when i baster my rock, or stir my sand, i put the sponge on fast to my overflow and sump.

 

What is "baster" your rock????

 

Thats when i get a turkey baster and blow the rocks with it making all the junk on the rocks mixes with your water and eventually cleaned with the sponge filters. Sorry for the poor use of words!! lol