Does anyone else use a "pre filter" on their sump's pump intake?
- Thread starter pjewett
- Start date
cakemanPA
New member
You are probably not the only one. But I think you hit one of the many good reasons to not use it.
pjewett
aquariablog
Is there any good reason one SHOULD use one? If not then off it comes.
OK to use one on my skimmers powerhead? To prevent pods from getting skimmed?
noahm
Active member
I use mine as it keeps all kinds of crap from going into the DT when I mess around in the sump. It collects quite a bit of crap, so I wouldn't want to remove it. I take it out about once a week and clean it. I find bristleworms and gobs of pods living in it quite happily, so I doubt it does anything but bring them closer to the intake as far as getting them to the DT.
Arrgh Matey
New member
I use one, but not for the same purpose.
I used to use it on the intake, then came to the same conclusion you did about the pods. So I took it off the pump and threw it in the fuge. Now when I get a new fish and break out the old QT, I throw that sponge filter into the HOB filter on the QT tank, and it's chock full of good bacteria, ready to go!
I used to use it on the intake, then came to the same conclusion you did about the pods. So I took it off the pump and threw it in the fuge. Now when I get a new fish and break out the old QT, I throw that sponge filter into the HOB filter on the QT tank, and it's chock full of good bacteria, ready to go!
I just took mine off the other day for the same about pods...
marinetankdiver
New member
I too took off the sponge filter because of the pods. I do put it back on when I am working in the fuge because it does seem to help filter the water one last time before it is returned to the DT.
I did notice my fish picking at the rocks more once the sponge was gone. I assume that more pods were making it to the DT.
In looking at the sponge that came with my Mag12 the pores are fairly large, certainly large enough for the pods to work their way through to the DT. For convenience and one less thing I need to do before working on the tank I may put the sponge back on full-time.
I did notice my fish picking at the rocks more once the sponge was gone. I assume that more pods were making it to the DT.
In looking at the sponge that came with my Mag12 the pores are fairly large, certainly large enough for the pods to work their way through to the DT. For convenience and one less thing I need to do before working on the tank I may put the sponge back on full-time.
tangtang clown
New member
I recently added one for the first time in two years, to try and cut out micro bubbles. It is a sponge from my old Mag12 pump, it slid it over the bulkhead strainer which is the intake of my Snapper return pump.
I take it out and clean it every week and I leave it off for 3-4 days to dry. It is AMAZING how NASTY that thing gets. EEWWWW!
I take it out and clean it every week and I leave it off for 3-4 days to dry. It is AMAZING how NASTY that thing gets. EEWWWW!
noahm
Active member
No kidding. I throw mine right back on after cleaning though. I still don't understand the pod argument since they happily thrive in the sponge itself. You can't get much closer to putting them right in the intake. I would even bet more pods make it through since they have a place to reproduce right at the intake and a food supply constantly coming in and getting trapped.
tangtang clown
New member
I usually have pods on top crawling around my sponge, and when I take the sponge out to clean it, I drop them near the intake and they get sucked up into the DT.
lordofthereef
One reef to rule them all
I would say it is ok to use if you just have an open bulkhead leading to the intake of your pump... basically if something large like a snail or whatever else makes its way to the pump you don't want it sucked up into the pump. You can get around even that by attaching a strainer or the like.
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