QT Sponge Filter

[ClownieTang]

I have been using filtered tap water for my reef aquarium lately to top off, and I am not sure if we use copper pipes. Even if, is that copper from the copper pipes, after filtration, enough to affect a 100 gallon glass tank?
Oh! and also, you say that we should replace the sponge filter after each use with copper, does that mean we have to cycle a new sponge filter in the main tank sump again for 2-4 weeks?
If I did not use copper based medications in the QT but used other types of medications, can I place the sponge filter along with the HOB filter back into the main tanks sump?

[leebca]

Regarding the tap water, it depends on what you mean by 'filtered.' If the water is just going through a mechanical filter (to removed particles) this is basically not a good choice. The water that evaporates is 'pure water' so you want to replace it with pure water, not water with dissolved chemicals in it (e.g., tap water). If by filtering you mean a chemical filter, then it depends on what chemicals the filter removes and if it isn't copper, then you are introducing some copper into the system; then removing some when you do a water change. How the copper will affect the marine life pretty much depends on their tolerance to it. However, it is a poison and most life forms are affected by it. You should check to see how much copper is in normal sea water. It is suprisingly very low.

If the sponge filter being used in the QT will be contamined with medication and thus going to be replaced for the next quarantine process, then yes, the new sponge is to be seeded in the display system. How long it takes depends on Nature. It could take up to 8 weeks for the seeding.

If the sponge filter being used in the QT will be contaminated with medication, but the QT will be kept up and running, no need to change out that sponge filter -- it is that only a used sponge filter with trapped medication like copper, should not find its way back into the DT system.

You can put several sponge filters into the sump of a running DT system. Dont' need to just put one in there. BUT, it has to be running (water has to pass through the sponge) for it to become seeded with the bacteria for biological filtration.

[ClownieTang]

If the sponge filter being used in the QT will be contamined with medication and thus going to be replaced for the next quarantine process, then yes, the new sponge is to be seeded in the display system. How long it takes depends on Nature. It could take up to 8 weeks for the seeding. How will you know if the sponge filter is done seeding?

If the sponge filter being used in the QT will be contaminated with medication, but the QT will be kept up and running, no need to change out that sponge filter -- it is that only a used sponge filter with trapped medication like copper, should not find its way back into the DT system. After QT'ing a fish and putting it in the DT, can you immediately put a new fish into that same QT? by immediately, I mean putting a new fish 1 minute after placing the QT'd fish into the DT.

You can put several sponge filters into the sump of a running DT system. Dont' need to just put one in there. BUT, it has to be running (water has to pass through the sponge) for it to become seeded with the bacteria for biological filtration.

So I can grab like 2 new sponge filter from the LFS and place them directly under the return pipe in the sump? .. too bad it's going to be difficult for me because I use a filter sock!

+add, if I will be seeding a sponge filter in the sump without the power filter itself, (refer to the red words) when I put a new fish into the QT, I can just replace the sponge filter I was using for the QT'd fish with the in-sump seeded sponge?
Will I need to replace 100% of the old fishes QT water before adding new fish[es]?

[leebca]

This topic is no longer about cleaning/cleanup of aquarium equipment, so I moved them into their own thread.

You'll know the sponge is seeded by the fact that it is able to act functionally like a biological filter. No way to do it otherwise.

Yes. You can immediately reuse the filter. I am assuming you are cleaning it out -- squeezing it out to get the dirt out of it, but not destroying the bacteria.

'Under the return pipe' is not running the filter. I mean, you put the sponge filter in the sump, attach it to an air source, turn on the air pump and run the filter. IF YOU HAVE TO (or want to) THROW THE SPONGE (in the QT) AWAY, the other sponge filters running in the sump can be immediately used in the QT.

Gotta step back a bit ClownieTang and take in a bigger picture. You and I are writing about/spending a lot of time about an item that costs less than $3. After the QT, you'd follow the clean up recommendations given in the clean up post, depending on the circumstances: Marine System Clean Up Recommendations. If the QT'd fish didn't require treatment and was healthy, no problem using the same water. If the clean up procedure calls for cleaning out the QT, then dump the water.