Apollo Bio Filter - leave sponge in or out?

[Scoobidoo]

I have the Apollo Bio Filter and it works very well in moisturizing the air so I don't get dry mouth. According to the manual, one shouldn't leave the wet sponge in the filter unit and should be taken out to dry.

I find it very annoying to have to dissemble the hose to get the wet sponge out every time I finish diving, especially I'm using a long hose, it's a hassle to get the sponge in and out all the time.

What do you guys do? Do you take them out all the time or leave the sponge in and don't care about it?

[terrillja]

Originally Posted by Scoobidoo

I have the Apollo Bio Filter and it works very well in moisturizing the air so I don't get dry mouth. According to the manual, one shouldn't leave the wet sponge in the filter unit and should be taken out to dry.

I find it very annoying to have to dissemble the hose to get the wet sponge out every time I finish diving, especially I'm using a long hose, it's a hassle to get the sponge in and out all the time.

What do you guys do? Do you take them out all the time or leave the sponge in and don't care about it?

I take it out, if you leave it in there and it starts to mold, you could be in for a lot of issues. I personally take it off by unscrewing the base while holding wick assembly, then unscrew the wick assembly. This way you don't have to twist the hose a bunch of times.

[CompuDude]

I don't have problems with dry mouth, so I don't use a bio-filter. If I was concerned enough about my rig and safety to be using a long hose (commendable to be sure), I would choose a metal regulator that does not encourage dry mouth, rather than adding a complicated tool inline with my air supply that adds multiple failure points.

[rox@ucf11]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

I don't have problems with dry mouth, so I don't use a bio-filter. If I was concerned enough about my rig and safety to be using a long hose (commendable to be sure), I would choose a metal regulator that does not encourage dry mouth, rather than adding a complicated tool inline with my air supply that adds multiple failure points.

I would agree with compudude if you are using a long hose and getting into say cave diving the bio filter just adds a failure point its stroke gear lol

[puttzer]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

I don't have problems with dry mouth, so I don't use a bio-filter. If I was concerned enough about my rig and safety to be using a long hose (commendable to be sure), I would choose a metal regulator that does not encourage dry mouth, rather than adding a complicated tool inline with my air supply that adds multiple failure points.

Can you be more specific with some examples of "metal" regulators?
I just assumed all regs were plastic on the outside and some metal inside.

I did like the Sherwood Oasis but one broke and came apart on a dive and I'm not sure I'll buy another.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by puttzer

Can you be more specific with some examples of "metal" regulators?
I just assumed all regs were plastic on the outside and some metal inside.

I did like the Sherwood Oasis but one broke and came apart on a dive and I'm not sure I'll buy another.

As I sent in my response to your PM, so others can see:

Older regs with metal bodies (and internal parts) retain moisture better and are quite reliable, and very popular with the cave/tech crowd. The vintage ScubaPro G250's among others.

Any of these are only going to help but so much, however... you're breathing REALLY dry air, so there's only so much a reg can do. The options are:

1. Add the Apollo Bio-Filter to add moisture to the air (strongly NOT recommended for caves)

2. Deal with it.

3. Stick a Capri Sun in your pocket, and take a sip underwater when your drymouth gets too bad.

You might want to post over on TheDecoStop if you want more cave-specific recommendations, but fair warning, it's not a very friendly environment over there.

[LRDWILDER]

I'm happy I never have had dry mouth issues so haven't needed one. At the same time if I did use it I definately would take it out and not keep it in there...I agree with the above in the mold would be horrible to breath in all sorts of nastyness could happen.

[Splitlip]

Take the sponge out!!!

Makes my after dive a PITA now, but worth it.

I normally drop my rig (wing/tank/regs) pressurized in a rinse tank at the house. With the bio filter, I have the extra step of removing the sponge.

The bio filter is much more effective than a metal barrel 2nd.

[TommyB]

Take sponge out or it will mold.. something you really don't want to sucking into you lungs.
My wife uses it, and if she can take it out and clean it / rinse it after the days diving, pretty sure you can too

Just be advised, if I recall it's only rated to 130fsw so don't push the depth limits on this thing.

[ScubaToys Larry]

Originally Posted by ntburchf

Just be advised, if I recall it's only rated to 130fsw so don't push the depth limits on this thing.

It's not that the bio filter is rated to 130, they just say if diving those depths and deeper, take out the charcoal filter. Since the air has to go through that, the denser air at depth might affect reg performance. Actually, I don't bother with the charcoal filter at any depth, but I like the moisture - so I use the sponge, but not the filter, and mine is one of the older ones, where you have to unscrew it to wet it, so I do it on each dive, and then take it out to dry at the end of the day.