i have discussed with many people how long it takes a new sponge filter to have a well established bacteria count to sustain the aquarium it will maintain. I know it must be properly sized for the tank. Many people have different opinions on this topic. So lets hear your experience to assist many of the new members to aquatic fish keeping!

I buy mine before I need them. I change my spoonge filters once a year. Before I change them I leave the new ones in the tank about a month before I use them.
I do not connect them while in the tank soaking for a month.

Just what I do. I have never learned or herd how ....just all based on my thought on how to do it.

I like to rotate the sponges from my grow out/quarantine tank to get them going

i got 3 sponges in my aquaclear, i rinse one once a month and rotate it to the back

Today I added 2 Hydro Sponges #3 to my 90G and 2 Hydro Sponges #2 to one of my 29G (from kensfish) just in case I need them in the near future to cycle.

Great Topic you Cajun you ,

Would like to hear what others have to say also.

I keep several sponge filters going in different mature tanks for if and when I need them to help cycle a tank.

do sponge filters work better than hobs? i have never used sponge filters.

I use them in fry tanks . And some Grow out tanks . And they are real good Bio holders , so when kept in a mature tank with the air running they gather bio. Then , when I need to cycle a tank fast , I just move the sponge filter to the new tank . One LFS near me , only has Sponge filters in all his fresh water tanks.