Filter Intake Sponge Question

[DrgRcr]

I recently put a piece of an aquaclear sponge over the intake for my cannister filter. From what I understand this is supposed to help keep the water clearer and keep larger debris from getting into the filter. My question is, how do you all clean the sponge? When you turn the cannister off for servicing, don't all of the trapped particles fall off the sponge back into the water?

[toddnbecka]

Most of the trapped particles will stay with the sponge. If you do see a load of debris falling off just use a fine-mesh net when you pull out the lift tube (don't need to unplug the filter first if it's out of reach.)