Return pump set up

[Madreefer]

Throw the sponge away. Unless ypu plan on cleaning it often, it just acts as a nitratre trap. If your worried about critters being sucked up you can build a little cage out of eggcrate and zipties to put around the inlet. The only thing that will hurt the pump is shells.

[ILIKECOUGARS]

You don't need the sponge, my mag 12 been running for over 1 1/2 years now. I took the pump apart the other day (first time) to clean, and it only had a little scum inside. Make me wonder why most said that it should be clean every 6 months.

[Palmer]

Thanks I removed it and my return flow looks like it more than doubled. I think the sponge was just getting clogged and I only incrementally noticed my flow going down.