Sponge Filter Size for QT

[Fermat]

[Moved to new thread.]

If I have a 10g QT, should I get a sponge rated only for 10g? Would getting a sponge rated at 50g produce too much nitrate in my (35g) display tank?

I ask because I have a sponge filter for 50g, but wonder if I should get a smaller one instead to keep nitrate to a minimum. (I suspect this is what I should do.)

[bertoni]

The amount of nitrate generated doesn't depend on the sponge size, only on the ammonia input to the system (assuming the filter actually converts all the ammonia). I'd probably go for the 50g model out of paranoia, but only if it's fairly cheap.

[Fermat]

It was very cheap, and the same price as smaller sponges. Your reasoning was why I got it, but then I started having second thoughts thinking it might become a nitrate factory while I had it in my main tank.

Thanks.

[kfowler]

I would do the smaller. You're typically not putting a heavy bio load in a QT tank anyway. However, I think you'll be fine either way. I'm looking right now for a Aqua C mini/20.