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Re: Sponges/scheeli/hardness



Guy Wren wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
>         thanks for all the responses regarding sponge filters. Many of the
> types you are recommending I have not seen in my local shops in London.
> If I see some I may give them a try. Another problem I have is that I am
> quite limited in the space I have. My killie racks hold 2' tanks end-on
> so it's a tight squeeze to stick sponges on at the back.

Most of the ones we like sit on the bottom (weighted a bit), and don't use
suction cups.

>         Wright, I am a bit concerned about your point that floss is less
> efficient than sponge, though. Do you know by how much.. roughly? What
> about cutting foam to fit the box filter? Has anyone tried this? 

A number of box filters come with optional foam inserts, so it certainly
works.
I don't have any quantitive values for the relative merits, just long
observation. Also the sponge is way easier to clean without losing any
nitrogen-converting bacteria (if you don't have enough plants for it to not
matter).

> Would
> the type of foam you see down the market for repairing chairs or foam
> pillows be OK? 

I have used a lot of it and of cheaper kitchen sponges. You just have to be
sure some turkey hasn't treated it for "fungus" or some such, like the
pricier kitchen sponges that often are treated with bactericides to make
them "smell sweet.".

> Suppose i could put some ehfisubstrat in (bit pricey), or
> as Bob suggests use gravel. I was using gravel at one point with floss
> above but I don't think it was inert and tended to clog up the air tube
> with gunk. This still happens with my hard water, but a good blow sorts
> it.

That sounds more like an algae problem than a hard-water effect. Cyanobacter
(blue-green algae) just *loves* airlifts if enough nutrients are present.
:-)

>         Like Lee, I don't filter my fry tanks, relying on water changes until
> they're big enough to take a filter.

I've even filtered *them* in the past, making tiny sponge filters out of
foam paint-brush heads, a rubber band, and a bent soda straw. [More cute
than effective, I fear. ;-) Water changes beat them all hollow in really
small containers.]

Wright

-- 
Wright Huntley, Fremont CA, USA, 510 494-8679  huntleyone at home dot com

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