Fluval 204 Replacement Foam

[BLASK]

I am about to upgrade my filtration from a whisper 20 to a fluval 204. In the whisper 20 I used to buy an 8pack of their media, it came with seprate bags of carbon and the sponge cartridges. I have a planted tank so I didnt even use the carbon, I would replace the sponge cartridges once a month.

The fluval 204 uses foam sponges, my questions are:

A. How often do these foam sponges get replaced? about the same time intervals? (1mo?)

B. Is there a cheaper alternative to buying the fluval brand replacement foam sponges? (like any ol' sponges?)

Thank you

 

[modernhamlet]

I am about to upgrade my filtration from a whisper 20 to a fluval 204. In the whisper 20 I used to buy an 8pack of their media, it came with seprate bags of carbon and the sponge cartridges. I have a planted tank so I didnt even use the carbon, I would replace the sponge cartridges once a month.

The fluval 204 uses foam sponges, my questions are:

A. How often do these foam sponges get replaced? about the same time intervals? (1mo?)

B. Is there a cheaper alternative to buying the fluval brand replacement foam sponges? (like any ol' sponges?)

Thank you

The sponges don't need to be replaced unless they are falling apart. Simply rinse lightly and squeeze them out in a bucket of tank water every 2 or 3 water changes.

 

[ncjharris]

As MH said, a good rinse will see them lasting you for months or years.

But when you do need new medium, essentially any sponge will do. Or a bag of filter floss.
What you are looking for is something that water can flow through with a big surface area for the colony of 'friendly bacteria' to grow on.