new sponge filter with strange odor

Bought a sponge filter sold on ebay, which was shipped from China. It was cheap and just wanted to try it with my bubbler. However, I noticed that the product has a strange smell - kind of plastic-like but not quite. Has anyone used these filters? Is the odor safe for fish? How will I make it go before I put it in the tank? Thanks.

 

The link doesn't work when I clicked on it.
Do you know who makes it? Is it a common brand sold in stores?

Also, go by your gut feeling. If it doesn't seem right, then maybe its not good for your tank. Its hard to tell ( especially if the product was made in a foreign country ) what standards they use for materials and such. Personally, I wouldn't want to chance putting in something in my tank without knowing if the materials will poison my fish or not. If you can't at least get a good reply from the vendor, I would return it. Better to be safe than sorry

 

Sorry about the link. Here's a pic:


I've let it air out in my garage. Hoping the hot air will take the odor out. Actually, it seems like it worked somewhat... Will let it for next couple of days and see... Thanks.

 

ive got the same 1 seeding in my big tank to put in my shrimp tank, mine just smelled like a new smell, just give it a rinse and it should be fine

 

Kind of like that "new car smell" but it's a sponge.

 

but, I like the "new car smell" this one i'm not so sure!!

 

Soak it in hot water and see if it goes away.

 

Hopefully that fixes it... I would be worried it was treated with some weird chemical but then again, if its supposed to be for the tank, its probably just my paranoia

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I just got one of these and was going to ask if anyone had tried them but ran across this thread. So does anyone have any opinions on them yet? It would be to supplement a power filter for me (just a little extra filtration). I figured they are so cheap what's the harm in trying it? The sponge is going to grow bacteria so as long as water actually flows through it, I would think that it would have to work to some extent?

One of the more reputable fish stores in my area has something similar in every tank though probably a better version I would guess (I'm pretty sure they breed but I do know they distribute fish and plants to other states and Canada).