Berlin Sump Sponge

[liverock27]

Picked up a new Berlin Sump the other day for my new build.

It has a large sponge between the middle chamber(protein skimmer) and the 3rd chamber(return). Should I take this out or run the sump with it?

It has 2 filter socks that the water from the overflow runs through, so I didn't know if this was necessary or just a nitrate trape.

Thanks.

 

[acroholic]

The purpose of the sponge is to keep microbubbles from getting into the return pump and going back into your tank. If you have a high sump flow rate you may need it, if it is slower you may not. My sump came with the same thing, but I don't use it. If you do use it, rinse it regularly like you would filter socks, as it will trap organics and let them decay and do mechanical filtration as well.

 

[markgsu]

I have the same sump sounds like, I clean my sponge about once a week. I can tell because the water flowing into the pump area starts to slow down almost stop... As of the filter socks, I am still debating on them. I bought a second set to see if maybe I transfer in two out two if that would work. Thats still up in the air tho.

 

[liverock27]

Thanks yall. I was worried about it becoming a nitrate factory, but didn't really think about the microbubbles.
I am going to be running an external pump that should be around 750-800gph after head lost to my 90g DT, so I am not too worried about too much flow in my sump.
I bought 2 extra sets of filter socks, so i can swap them out easily. I guess I could do the same with the sponge.