Sponge filter only!?!

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by Reef Madness, Jul 13, 2012.

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  1. Reef Madness

    Reef Madness Flamingo Tongue

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    Anyone ever tried a FO SW tank with just a sponge filter/large weekly water changes? Kinda like some a QT tank but long term. Probably add some cuc though.

    Been in FW forever, and out of all the equipment I've used I switched to this and have never had better results.
     
    Reef Madness, Jul 13, 2012
    Reef Madness, Jul 13, 2012
    #1

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  2. NanaReefer

    NanaReefer Fu Manchu Lion Fish

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    As long as you keep the sponges mega clean. Otherwise they'll become nitrate factories. IMO sort of a pain all in all. Just one more thing to worry about :(
     
    NanaReefer, Jul 13, 2012
    NanaReefer, Jul 13, 2012
    #2
  3. Reef Madness

    Reef Madness Flamingo Tongue

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    FW setup is always mega clean, and IMHO has been MUCH easier then other setups. P.S. the hydro sponges filters on boss!
     
    Reef Madness, Jul 13, 2012
    Reef Madness, Jul 13, 2012
    #3
  4. Reef Madness

    Reef Madness Flamingo Tongue

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    Anyone out here actually tried it with or without success?
     
    Reef Madness, Jul 13, 2012
    Reef Madness, Jul 13, 2012
    #4
  5. chelseagrin

    chelseagrin Fire Goby

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    theres a reason you have never seen one used on saltwater, if they worked, people would use them. they just are too simple a filtration system to remove all unwanted substances.
     
    chelseagrin, Jul 13, 2012
    chelseagrin, Jul 13, 2012
    #5
  6. Reef Madness

    Reef Madness Flamingo Tongue

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    Fair enough view point. What about QT tanks aren't many of them ran this way? Probably not used long enough for much of a bioload build up, but if this is a ticking time bomb I wouldn't think it the best approach to QT'ing already stressed livestock.

    I've gotten alot of the same response from FW boards, that a top notch tank is unattainable in this way but I've been running a couple for quite some time now.

    Anyone tried it or another supper low tech approach? In my experience these get very similar results as the old undergravel filters, but are much easier to care for/not a nitrate factory if properly cared for. One big question.... What does salt/sand do to a sponge filter? Clog it easily? anyone use it with other forms of filtration?

    P.S. not being argumentative just a thought and this is how I iron out ideas/diff. projects.
     
    Reef Madness, Jul 13, 2012
    Reef Madness, Jul 13, 2012
    #6