Inadequate filtration?

I've run a HOB filter ( 2 filter bags, 2 sponges) in my 55 gallon for
several years. I am setting up a small tank for someone by runnig his
sponge filter in my tank for a couple weeks to minimize the cycle
time.... The sponge contained more of a biological mass than I'd
expected. Ya' think this is a sign of insuffitient filtration in my
tank? I know that bacteria will grow on anything that holds still long
enough, but I actually had to clean the sponge at about 10 days.

TIA

http://www.geocities.com/spiral_72/Spirals_page.html

"spiral_72" wrote in message
oups.com...
I've run a HOB filter ( 2 filter bags, 2 sponges) in my 55 gallon for
several years. I am setting up a small tank for someone by runnig his
sponge filter in my tank for a couple weeks to minimize the cycle
time.... The sponge contained more of a biological mass than I'd
expected. Ya' think this is a sign of insuffitient filtration in my
tank? I know that bacteria will grow on anything that holds still long
enough, but I actually had to clean the sponge at about 10 days.

TIA

http://www.geocities.com/spiral_72/Spirals_page.html


It suggests that you need more mechanical filtration, however if you put a
new sponge beside a used sponge, is it possible that most of your water flow
was diverted into the new sponge until the resistance was similar to the
older more clogged sponge? This is only applicable if your sponges are side
by side, and not stacked as would be in an AquaClear filter for example.

In a 55g, I would be running two entirely separate filters, unless heavily
planted (so the plants are your filter backup). Incidentally, planted tanks
can sometimes be hard on filter sponges (from a mechanical point of view) if
there is a lot of decaying plant matter getting caught up. This may mean
you need more filtration, or at least a better way to keep plant matter from
getting into the sponges and restricting the water flow. In planted tanks,
I usually have my filter intakes behind a few rocks (to act as the first
plant screen), and I keep them several inches above the substrate. Some
people use a sponge pre-filter and clean it out regularly, ymmv.
--
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