Have I Ruined My Mature Filter?

[Miss Wiggle]

it depends really, if you cram the media in too tightly the water won't flow properly through it all, water will take the path of least resistance so they can end up going round the outside or just through one path in the media if you do this. Yes if there's room then by all means add some more media, but don't have it all squashed in as it can hinder more than help.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, agree with MW, you want the holes and passages of the sponges to retain their original size and shape so that they can do the best job possible of catching debris as it flows through and so that there is water, oxygen and food for all the bacteria down all these little passages. If you cram things too tight, you are simply closing off passages in your sponge and reducing your filter's effectiveness.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Tolak]

Most of my tanks run sponge filters for bio filtration. I squeeze the living daylights out of them to remove debris.