I am looking at getting a emperor 400 filter in the next couple of months. I have been reading on differnet sites about people using a homemade/make our own filter media in these. i really dont want to spend 40 dollars every six month for filters when i know there is a cheaper way out there for filters. so if anybody can help please put ur input in. fo thows who do make there own filters please list what u use and were u got the parts to make the media
emperor 400 filter media
- Thread starter truck_317
- Start date
Yeah, you definitely don't want to go with the cartridges - it will get expensive. If you change the cartridges as much as you should, you will be paying more than $40 every 6 months.
I use 2 Emperor 400s and 2 Emperor 280s. I just buy the Polyfil quilt batting from Walmart and cut it to size for mechanical filtration. For bio, I use the cartridges that come with the Emperors that you can put more media in. They don't hold much bio media, so I just use half of the cartridge as a divider. I put the Polyfil in so the water hits that first, then I use half of the cartidge as a divider, then I stack in Seachem Matrix after the divider. This allows me to put quite a bit of the Matrix in the filter.
This works pretty good on my tanks, and is SO much cheaper, and probably more effective, than using the cartridges.
I use 2 Emperor 400s and 2 Emperor 280s. I just buy the Polyfil quilt batting from Walmart and cut it to size for mechanical filtration. For bio, I use the cartridges that come with the Emperors that you can put more media in. They don't hold much bio media, so I just use half of the cartridge as a divider. I put the Polyfil in so the water hits that first, then I use half of the cartidge as a divider, then I stack in Seachem Matrix after the divider. This allows me to put quite a bit of the Matrix in the filter.
This works pretty good on my tanks, and is SO much cheaper, and probably more effective, than using the cartridges.
can u post pictures of of top view of what it looks like and then pictures of the polyfil and where do u get ur seachem matrix and show me a picture of the seachem with the divider. please explain and pics would be great
A would just get a pair of the super cartriges. There about 15 bucks for both and is a better option then to stick with the cartriges even if you decide to keep reusing the cartriges. The super cartriges can be filled with what ever you want and doesnt need replacing, only the media that you use will be replaced. Another option is to use the regular cartriges that come with the filter and just slice the top and bottom of the cartrige so its only held by the sides , then dump all the carbon out and place a filter pad or whatever in the area were the carbon was. This way is good but over time the cartrige frames will start to fall apart and then youll be stuck with buying a new cratrige. Thats why I perfer to go with the super cartriges. Hope this helps 
Also I wouldnt bother with bio media like ceramic rings and such, thats what the biowheel and other filters are for.
Also I wouldnt bother with bio media like ceramic rings and such, thats what the biowheel and other filters are for.
I HATE THE CARTRIDGES!..they dont work worth a crap on my biowheel filters... I just use the media containter and fill it with polifiber.. as stated above, they work well.
good idea about filling the container.I personaly never buy the new blue filter pads I simply every 2 weeks rinse them in de-chlorinated water and put them back, tons of brown waste comes off.I have been told recently though and not sure this is true,but the manufacturers are on to us and now the new filter pads start to fall apart after a month.I have some that are tough as nails after 4 years.
I have 4 400's and 2 280's currently running strong. The newest is 4 years old. I have never bought a new cartridge yet. When they get to dirty the water will flow over them and then I take them out and spray them off with my shower head on jet. I care more about getting them clean than preserving bio- bacteria. And my gray containers are filled with bio-max.
I spray mine off too. I have never bought replacements. My oldest ones are around four years old too.