clean or not to clean?

[gistsc]

I am about to clean my skimmer for the first time and it has a one of those sponge type filters on the intake for the PH. Do I clean it, or is it imbedded with good bacteria? Same with my power heads two of them have foam/sponge type filters on them.

Thx

 

[AnimaliA]

I have always washed my sponge(s) thoroughly. I have always worried that it would become a nitrate trap. I would image the benefit of any organisms living in those sponges is not as significant as the challenges caused by having detrius accumulate and have the sponge "leak" nitrates.

 

[demonsp]

These sponges are made to lesson the amount of micro bubbles. Cleaning them is very important cause they can creat a nitrate problem and creat more bubbles.Mine doesnt have sponge on the pump only the outtake.

 

[plummike]

I change the filter media on power heads. I cut pieces of the blue filter pads and change them every couple weeks. There is to much bad stuff on there to leave them in the tank. Sponges must be cleaned to keep the flow high.

 

[gistsc]

Clean them I will!

Thanks

 

[tk1360]

after cleaning mine the first time and watching the murky brown water emerge I now clean them religiously.

 

[ebauman75]

AMEN!

 

[ljsreptiles]

I have never had a problem cleaning the sponges

 

[drummereef]

I would definitely clean the sponges.