Cleaning Filter Pads

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Zhewitt04

Exodon
MFK Member
Oct 22, 2015
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I have some filter pads that have sand in the middle of them. I obviously turned on the filter when the water was cloudy with sand, like an idiot. What can I do to remove the sand? I don't care about the bacterial loss I may receive. I have tried a high pressure air hose... hot water and using my hands to work the sand loose. Nothing is working. I would love to put in the washer but my wife won't let me. I might be screwed but thought I'd ask before pitching them.
Thanks
 
I think it would be a crap-load of a lot less aggravation to just buy new filters.
.......or what you can try is: pound the filters hard on a solid surface to loosen things up internally and then throw it in the dryer(no heat) with tennis balls for several hours. Good luck
 
If the sand is trapped within, why not just keep using the filters as they are. BB will still grow on sand
 
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xraycer said:
If the sand is trapped within, why not just keep using the filters as they are. BB will still grow on sand
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That's another option I thought of but was worried about sand loosening over time and making it to the pump but I guess if I can't get it out with beating the $hit out of it then it might not ever come loose.
 
Zhewitt04 said:
I guess if I can't get it out with beating the $hit out of it then it might not ever come loose.
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Exactly.

I have sand in all my tanks, and sand frequently gets sucked into the filters.....I don't sweat it. However, I pretty much only use cheapo Chinese canisters(3 Sunsuns and 3 Odysseas) which costed me under $90 a pop, so its not a big investment. But, they've been running for years, sucking up sand and all, so I've gotten more than my moneys worth, should the sand ruin them at this point
 
This is what I do, so it may help you as well: use Poly-fil (polyester pillow stuffing) in the initial stage of filtration. This stuff catches nearly everything and is super cheap. I just toss the stuff and replace with a new wad during filter maintenances
 
I use Odyssea as well. I have 3 CFS700s anyways I think I might just use the filter pads and move on as you said the pump goes out its like 40 dollars to replace. I could always fill it with pot scrubbers too. Or Ceramic rings.
 
I do work in a plastic factor and can get plastic beads do you see any reason to use them as a filter media. I can also use small plastic parts. Do you see any benefit to this?
 
Zhewitt04 said:
I use Odyssea as well. I have 3 CFS700s anyways I think I might just use the filter pads and move on as you said the pump goes out its like 40 dollars to replace. I could always fill it with pot scrubbers too. Or Ceramic rings.
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$20 w/ free shipping
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CFS-700-Spo...28-/290941021513?_trksid=p2385738.m2548.l4275

I just fill the top of the CFS700 with Poly-fil. A $5 bag from Walmart should refill 3 CFS700 for an entire year even with monthly replacement
 
Zhewitt04 said:
I do work in a plastic factor and can get plastic beads do you see any reason to use them as a filter media. I can also use small plastic parts. Do you see any benefit to this?
Click to expand...
This all depends upon the surface area of the beads. If the surface is fairly smooth, then its not really providing much surface area to maximize colonization
 
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