Home-made filtration media?

[EastBay]

I have an AC70 that I was running on a 29g goldfish tank. I broke it down because it was supposed to be for my daughter, but she didn't show a whole lot of interest and I was constantly having to change the media in the filter.

I don't want to spend all that money to constantly replace the media so does anyone have any DIY filter media for these filters? Anything cheaper than buying the OEM media?

Thanks in advance.

 

[importracer]

I have an AC70 that I was running on a 29g goldfish tank. I broke it down because it was supposed to be for my daughter, but she didn't show a whole lot of interest and I was constantly having to change the media in the filter.

I don't want to spend all that money to constantly replace the media so does anyone have any DIY filter media for these filters? Anything cheaper than buying the OEM media?

Thanks in advance.

What's there to replace, carbon????Carbon is really not needed, so you do not have replace the stuff eveerytime it is "done..."Aqua Clear HOB's are the best hang-on-back filter out there.......I own several.......Just clean out the sponge once a month, squeeze it and wrinkle it............Empty a box of cermaic rings on top of the sponge.........The rings do no have to be in a container or pouch, just pour on top of the sponge..........The biological stuff will grow automatically on/within the rings.........Do not change rings.........If there is any build up of large debri(highly not because of the sponge), then do a quick rinse..........

 

[EastBay]

Don't have to change the sponge? My problem was the sponge would get so clogged that it would push the carbon and the ceramic rings up out of the water.
Although I guess that's just because goldfish are such a mess! Maybe with less messy fish, the sponge wouldn't get as clogged so quickly.

 

[College fishman]

just rinse the sponge out like said above. if i notice a slow in flow i rinse out my intake tube and the sponge.

 

[MartinBoy]

Ya I've got a few AC110's and the first thing I did was throw out the carbon and added some Acurel Filter Fiber. Add another hang-on if you have room even a real small one!!

 

[ziggy2]

I think the goldfish have a lot to do with your problem.

 

[Angler]

A cheap, effective alternative to buying the AC sponges is polyester quilt batting from a craft store. Just buy the roles, and cut them to size.

 

[EastBay]

A cheap, effective alternative to buying the AC sponges is polyester quilt batting from a craft store. Just buy the roles, and cut them to size.

Ah! Good idea! When it gets clogged, do you just replace, or rinse out?

 

[EastBay]

Ya I've got a few AC110's and the first thing I did was throw out the carbon and added some Acurel Filter Fiber. Add another hang-on if you have room even a real small one!!

I have one of those "Sandman" filters. They basically suck by themselves, but might last a little longer as just a supplemental filter.

 

[Angler]

Ah! Good idea! When it gets clogged, do you just replace, or rinse out?

When I used it in several HOBs, I just replaced it every two weeks. It also rinses out pretty well if you want to wait longer to replace it.