What do people use to clean their used sponges after cleaning their tanks?

[kymob]

Would love to hear what others use to clean their sponges they use to clean their tanks. . I use just warm water but does that really clean it enough? I have many tanks so I always worry about cross contamination? should I be using a new sponge for each tank.

 

[mattgirl]

Water hot enough to almost burn my fingers. I keep my water heater turned higher than some folks. I know some things live in vents in the ocean floor hot enough to boil and kill most things but just about any of the things we will encounter in our tanks should be killed with very hot weter.

 

[BigManAquatics]

Hot water for everything! And as above, my hot water heater is set a little warmer than a lot of people as well. Also, i really don't use sponges on my tanks, other than my algae sponge.

 

[aquachris]

Same as others, very hot water... Let it sit and dry for multiple days before possibly reusing.

Although lately I've been taken to buying some cheap ones from the dollar store at 2/$1, so just been tossing it.

 

[AquaBaby]

I don't use sponges. I purchased bulk 50 micron polishing felt filter (it was on sale at the time, so that had a lot to do with the 50 micron size), and cut pieces about the size of a sponge. I don't share between tanks, and there's plenty to have several "sheets" per tank, with quite a lot more left over to cut up later when I wear these out.

I rinse them out when I'm done cleaning the tank with tap water, then just hang them over the edge of the bucket to dry.

Since they aren't as thick as a sponge, they fit into crevices in the filters better. They work great for wiping down the inside of the glass, edges of the rim, etc. I don't know if I'd use them on acrylic tanks without testing an inconspicuous spot, as it might scratch.

And, with the felt filter, you don't have to worry if you're going to get a sponge that's been treated with something. You know it's aquarium safe.

 

[John58ford]

Wait, you guys use sponges? I just use a scraper in the tank, old ratty towels to clean the lids. What part do you clean with a sponge? (I bet what ever it is, mine is very dirty)

 

[AquaBaby]

I wipe down things like my thermometer, hob intake tube, tank rim, inside and outside of the hood including the glass, sponge filter tube, prefilter internal supports (I'm sure there's an actual name for these!), etc. Anything that looks like it needs wiped, LOL. Every wc? Heck no. Some things maybe once a month. Some things maybe once every 6 months.