Bulk filter media **input needed**

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oneyedfish

oneyedfish

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jan 7, 2006
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West Chester, PA
I want to break away from cartridges in my HOB filters (3 oxy bio system Dr Fostersmith, a wisper 30-60, and marineland penguin biowheel 350) Just wondering what is the best/most cost effective DIY conversions for mechanical and biological filtration. I'm sure there's bulk filter pad I can buy (found a few on ebay) but don't know if there's a re-useable option that could just be rinsed and reused instead of just throwing away clogged filter pad.
I'm sure there's a better way...please shoot me some ideas!!
Thanks in advance!!
 
So no one has tried to get away from replacement cartridges in HOB filters? (Yeah, I'm a little impatient. LOL)
 
You can rinse filter pads a few times before disposing of, just cut to size with scissors and make sure the pads are before the bio media, laguna ceramic bio is one of the best bulk deals i know of on ebay, no need for carbown unless taking meds out of water!

Mechanical (pads and foam) clean debris and bio (ceramic) converts waste/nitrites/ammonia to nitrates which are easily removed through w/c!!!!

Its very economical to make ur own filter pads!

#1 S. Vettel
 
For the whisper go to drsfostersmith and buy the bio3 reusable filters for it. Once you have the clamshells you can use quilt batting or cut to fit bonded padding for mechanical and toss some seachem denitrate in a media bag in both sides for bio.

On the marineland buy the replacement clamshells from drsfosterandsmith use some netting on two of them and fill with seachem denitrate for bio, or just use the biowheels for bio, and cut to fit bonded pad for mech.

On the bio3 HOB the filters for those are already refillable, just open up the clamshell and replace the bonded pad once a month for mech, and again toss some seachem denitrate in a media bag for additional bio.

Only reason for the seachem plug is its dirt cheap on big als right now. 15 for 2 litres and 25 for 4 litres.
 
Thanks Thacarter! That is the route I'm probably going to go, unless i can find some sort of thicker re-useable mech filter material that I can use to replace the plastic frames.
 
I goto petsmart and fetch a 3' by 12" sheet of filter padding for 6.99$!

Id just upgrade ur hob to canister if ur going to spend this much time and money!

Imo the best bio is api chem stars, fluval cnodes, fluval bio max. Ive heard seachem matrix is good but i cant see how it has more surface area then ceramic.



#1 S. Vettel
 
Seachem denitrate and matrix are just about the same just different granule sizes from what ive heard. My biomedia in my canisters is a mix of biomax, rena stars (I think these are way overpriced and cant see how theyd have much surface area) and seachem denitrate.

Oh and I get the same bonded pad at petsmart!
 
thacarter546 said:
Seachem denitrate and matrix are just about the same just different granule sizes from what ive heard. My biomedia in my canisters is a mix of biomax, rena stars (I think these are way overpriced and cant see how theyd have much surface area) and seachem denitrate.

Oh and I get the same bonded pad at petsmart!
Click to expand...

Lol like your style!

I put chem stars in a full glass of water and the water level did not move at all meaning they absorbed all of it! Did the same w/ fluval bio max and it overflowed so i think that proves how pourus api chem stars really are but at about 1$/star the price is ridic!

Have you tried fluval cnodes? U can cram about 1/3 more in cuz they interlock, their a bit pricey to but on ebay i picked up a 7gram box for 13$

#1 S. Vettel
 
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