JBJ NC6 sponge - in or out?

[schiavonir]

I currently have the stock sponge in the first chamber and carbon and LR rubble in the second chamber. I'm debating taking the sponge out. What do you guys do? I know some say leave it in to catch detritus, and some say to replace with LR rubble because the sponge in a nitrate factory. Any other opinions?

If you leave yours in, how often do you clean it, and how?

Roger

 

[danielwatson]

In

In

Every saltwater book I have read or professional I have talked to recommends keeping sponges (or some other detritus filter) in a reef tank. As long as you rise out your sponge(s) during your water change you will be fine (I rinse mine out in the aquarium water removed during a water change). I have never had a nitrate problem. The problem with removing sponges or other mechanical filtration of the like is that larger or even medium sized objects can pass through and clog your filter or even worse these objects can also get caught in your live rock rubble or carbon bag producing a real nitrate problem (and removing rubble can be a pain).

 

[UnBr0k3nH3r0]

if you want to keep it alot of people cut it down I have taken my out and put puriclean in its place and getting some phosban

its purely mechanical that can become a nitrate factor if proper maintenance is not done clean it real good

 

[lisajulia]

I have mine in the first chamber, smooshed way down. My nitrates have always been zero. I have about 12lbs LR, one hairy green mushroom and a small yellow tailed blue damsel (i will be giving the damsel a new, bigger home at some point and get a goby and pistol shrimp, maybe.)
The tank has been up about a year, iirc.