Biological Media Substitute

[CataphractMSH]

Just last week I came across an unopened package of commercial sponges.

I'd said it’s a lot like the porous structure in steel wool except without the steel.

I had placed them in a 5gal with water for about a week changing the water every morning and afternoon
(shaking and stirring them to remove debris).
I thought I could place these sponges right underneath the water flow of my Whisper 20 Power Filter.

As I have yet another 10 gal , now going on two.

Where I’ am getting to is that I think I can use the sponges to replace the regular bio and mechanical filter media.

Hoping that these can mechanically strain waste particles and become a ground for beneficial bacteria.

There are no fish in the tank as I ‘am doing a Fishless Cycle

Any suggestions, comments or concerns I should have regarding the materials in the sponge.

It is plastic but I don’t think that is any grantee.

 

[SkiFletch]

As long as its a freshwater setup and there are no detergents used in the pad it should be fine Might take a little longer than normal for your cycle to go but it'll work out eventually on most spongy or stringy plastic media

 

[Spinal]

Also, make sure the sponges are totally artificial. Anything naturalish (cotton, sea sponges, etc) will rot over time....

 

[Torrean]

yeah you don't want a cellulose based sponge. You should really check on this cause many sponges are cellulose based.