Gross black filter sponge...why?

[allied123]

So about 2 weeks ago I moved and long story short had to get all new filter media and ended up also getting black sand. Everything has been going okay except for a large nitrite spike 2 days after I did a 95% water change >.< So I immediately did another 95% water change and noticed the filter media was disgusting. ( and yes I ruined the charcoal thing thoroughly before putting it in so I don't think it's just that leaking on everything...but I could totally be wrong!)

Any opinions would be great! I'm just really not wanting to start over again with a new filter sponge just because it turned ugly if there's no real issue...

 

[Boomsloth]

I wouldn't even bother with the charcoal but that's most likely the culprit since it's the only black substance. Was your tank cycled before?


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[rachel1]

I think it's fine. All my sponges are a lovely shade of yellow brown, and they have had black areas as well. It could be a bacterial bloom, or it could be from the sand or charcoal. Just rinse in dirty tank water and put it back in. You only have to see it when you clean the filter, so it doesn't matter if it's ugly. It will still do it's job.

 

[allied123]

thanks! that was my real concern if it was gonna hurt anything ( totally with you rachel) and it was cycled a while before the move and the sponge was always the same kinda yellowy color but I left town for a week and basically had to scrub everything because of a horrible like bacteria/fungus/ everything terrible that comes from rotting food and had to throw the media away.

I did go ahead and rinse it with dirty tank water before sticking it back in but I didn't see any sand or even that much gunk, could it have like black dust from the sand (you can only rinse so many times before losing your patience lol...)? and when the tank was cycled before the sponge stayed that yellowy color even with the charcoal pack..

Anyways, I think I am gonna toss the charcoal if there really is no point, should I put another sponge in there instead?

 

[keiko]

If you put in new black sand then that's probably it. My filter always has some sand dust in it when I clean it. Even if you've rinsed it very well and it has been in the tank a while there will always be some little particles/dust that'll get in the water and the filter.

You can toss the charcoal and just put in another filter sponge. All you really need is a place for bacteria to grow on.

 

[snuggly time]

I took the carbon out of my filter as it's supposed to be replaced every couple of weeks otherwise it starts to leak all the bad chemicals it absorbs back into the water. I just put a normal sponge in to replace it which should have boosted my bioload. Also, you should wash filter media in dirty tank water so you don't kill off the bacteria. Not sure if you were washing it in the sink or just had it there for a photo. :happy:

 

[allied123]

I just used dirty tank water and dumper the tank water down the sink, but thank you everyone for your imputs! I'm gonna take the carbon out and just stick another sponge in there, I've never heard that about the chemicals leaking back in that's terrible!

 

[snuggly time]

Yeah apparently if you don't replace it often enough it starts to leak it back into the tank water.

 

[layna]

Another option instead of another sponge would be ceramic media, this has lots of little holes which means more surface area for the 'good bacteria' and literally lasts for years and years

fluval do a 'ceramic bio max'

 

[allied123]

I believe that's what is in the bag on the right? (I mean no offense I honestly have no idea until a few months ago I thought filters magically cleaned tanks) should I put another bag of those in or another sponge..?

 

[keiko]

There's also this kind of gravel like ceramic media Layna might have meant? But pretty much anything will do that provides a place for the bacteria to grow.

 

[layna]

Yeah looks like you already have some, the sponge will filter the water and collect any big bits that get sucked into your filter but the ceramic media will provide more surface are to grow 'good bacteria', either will work really

 

[bugdozer]

Yeah apparently if you don't replace it often enough it starts to leak it back into the tank water.

This is largely an urban myth.
The charcoal adsorbs (not absorbs) chemicals onto its surface. When it has done this to its maximum capacity, it simply stops adsorbing any more. Some will, from time to time, be released from its surface and go back into the water. However, as soon as this happens, the bare spot on the charcoal will pick up some more molecules out of the water. It does not, at any time, start releasing adsorbed substances faster than it accumulates them.
The exception to this is if there is a dramatic change in temperature or pH, which, one would hope, will not occur in your tank.
In addition, the porous nature of the charcoal provides an excellent surface on which bacteria can flourish. There is no need to throw it out and replace it with a sponge as it can probably host a similar amount of bacteria for the same volume.

 

[Cacique]

Since you already have some ceramic media, I would either add another sponge or some filter floss/quilt batting (from the craft store).

 

[keiko]

Carbon usually has phosphates in it that will leak in the water and can then promote algae outbreaks.

 

[bugdozer]

Carbon usually has phosphates in it that will leak in the water and can then promote algae outbreaks.

Yes, and you can get rid of almost all of them by rinsing the carbon well before placing it in the aquarium. They come from plant ash residues left behind in the manufacturing process. Also, whenever you do a water change, you're getting rid of a good portion of any still remaining in the water. Since any carbon in your filter is being rinsed through many times each day, by the time 24 hours have passed it will have washed out practically all the phosphate and ash residue remaining in the carbon. Simply change the water to dispose of these phosphates and no more will appear after that.
Very few people get algae outbreaks when their tank is that new, so I think the contribution of these phosphates to occurences of algae outbreaks is probably very much overstated.

 

[allied123]

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments