03-07-2010, 09:45 AM
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#11 |
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Originally Posted by Promelas  Well technically I'm not using a sponge filter.... I have a maxi jet 400 powerhead in my 29g with an attached prefilter sponge. From what I have read, an actual sponge will restrict the flow and increase the velocity in the jet. I'm going this route at the suggestion of a friend who has numerous planted tanks and only runs a powehead/prefilter setup. They are porous enough to grow bacteria, and you just need to rinse them once a week in treated water. It is 100% silent and so far my water has been nice and clear without any changes in parameters. I'll keep you posted if things change! | There's no need to use treated water to rinse filter media in established planted tanks. First, the amount of bacteria on the media (sponge, pad, whatever) is so minimal by comparison to what exists on every surface in the tank including all the plant leaves that destroying it is of no consequence. I have canisters, and when I clean them all the media goes into hot tap water in a bucket and back into the filter. I have never in 20 years done anything else.
Second, you do not want to "encourage" bacteria in planted tanks anyway, because this has been shown to be detrimental to plants. I detail this in Part 3 of the sticky series if you want more.
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