sponge?

[TrashmanNYC]

when i set up my hospital tank i use a sponge filter that i keep running in another tank.......when im done with the hospital tank, is it okay to just put the filter back in the tank that it was in after using meds in the hosp tank? what do you do?

Thanks,
Robb

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

I wouldn't do that your adding any residual meds to the healthy tank and possibly transferring the parasites as well.

[Afreakin]

I wouldn't do that your adding any residual meds to the healthy tank and possibly transferring the parasites as well.
Agreed, Clean it some way and let it dry and then return it to the main tank.

[TrashmanNYC]

thats why i was asking....how would you clean it......?

[Afreakin]

I would probably rinse it well in hot water and then let it soak. I would then let it dry and and then reintroduce the sponge. I have never done this so maybe someone who has will chime in. You could also soak it in bleach solution and rinse and soak in de-chlorinator.

[AlishanAS]

If the meds you used are toxic to the bacteria then it doesn't matter if you simlply squeeze it under hot tap water as the flora may already be non existent. Squeeze until the water runs clear.
Let it dry out and start over.

Here's a sponge filter article by the renowned Paul V. Loiselle who, btw, will be speaking at the January meeting of the North Jersey Aquarium Society.

http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-health/healthy-aquariums/portable-biological-filtration.aspx

[TrashmanNYC]

Thanks.....

[why_spyder]

I would rinse the sponge out well in hot water and let it dry out for a week or more. Fortunately I have the option of having extra sponges so I can set any questionable sponges aside for months and use already dried ones.

Another option, if you are fearful of a contaminated sponge, would be to freeze it. This should kill off most bacteria - but I'm not sure if it would do anything against a virus....

[EMTBMIKE]

I would put the sponge in boiling hot water. I would not simply let the sponge dry and put it into your tanks later. FYI you can contact HIV_AIDS and hepatitis from dry blood. The viruses stay alive for a decent amount of time even though the blood is dried. The Hepatitis will out live the HIV virus in dry blood though.

[EMTBMIKE]

Also freezing it might just put the virus or bacteria in a hibernation period. If you do not want to boil the sponge in hot water. You can also soak in in bleach. 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Once you are done soaking it rinse it thoroughly with tap water and chlorine conditioner. Then let it soak overnight in tap water and conditioner.

[TrashmanNYC]

thanks..

[EMTBMIKE]

You can also soak it in vinegar for a half hour, and rinse it out thoroughly. The acidity of the vinegar will kill any virus or bacteria. You can also use hydrogen peroxide after you clean the sponge in hot tapwater. As the peroxide reacts with the organic matter in the sponge. It suds and creates two different pure oxygen and hydrogen cast into the air. At the same time it will uplift any pathogens out of the material. Once the sponge stops bubbling rinse the sponge in tap water a couple of times.

[vinman]

Yo Trash, Why would you want clean the sponge?? the fact is the chemical you used to cure the fish will kill the problem in your sponge leave it alone and you wont disturbe the bactira in the sponge.

as for freezing This can work to hurt you, Freezing does kill most bactira it just make them dormant. when defrosting it will only acclerate the growth with the temp changes. Freezing will only kill a small number of parasites , most will remain dormant and then be activated once warmed up. The same goes for most Viruses. I have found this out through from Ganesvill College Animal Veternary of Medicine.

[TrashmanNYC]

Also freezing it might just put the virus or bacteria in a hibernation period. If you do not want to boil the sponge in hot water. You can also soak in in bleach. 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Once you are done soaking it rinse it thoroughly with tap water and chlorine conditioner. Then let it soak overnight in tap water and conditioner.
wouldnt boiling it melt it?

[vinman]

Yes some sponges will shrink or get deformed. I would do the hydrogen peroxide if you were going to do anything . Bleve it or not a lot doctors use it to disinfect their counter tops. It is non toxic to the fish I have pored some into a tank once . I was told it would add Ox to the water in times of stress. A 10% water change does a better job.

[ValleyAquatics]

I would just rinse it out and let it dry.

[nick a]

That's pretty much all I do. Just have a few spare sponges around so you can let it dry after rinsing it out real well. Boiling is usually not such a good idea with the foams--sometimes it causes it to break down and disintegrate.