Scrubbies in a bio-wheel filter?

[pwmin]

I'm surprised I couldn't find a topic on this, so here goes... I have a Penguin 350 and Emporer 400 on my 125 (going to add an XP3) and I am going to go away from buying the ready-to-use cartridges as they are expensive and I don't want to use carbon any more. For the Emporer, I have 3 of those plastic cages that come with them that are supposed to house more carbon or whatever, but I don't have any for the Penguin.

Could I just add some scrubbies into the Penguin chamber instead of the cartridges? I know the first layer will get used mostly for mechanical filtration, but I will have more than 1 layer. As for the Emporer, I was thinking about putting filter foam inside two of the "cages" and trying some peat in the other one (for lowering pH and creating tea-colored water). Do you think that would work or is there something else I should do?

 

[big train]

I have the same set up on 1 of my 125 gal on the emp 400 i took out all the standard cartridges and replaced with scrubbies only and u can get a ton of them in a 400. I also did the same with the 350 as well and the water quality has improved alot scrubbies have to be the best diy idea i have found on mfk get as many as u can in there.

 

[cichlaguapote]

I do the same with scrubbies on my hobs. I squash them down and get in as many as I can. As far as the emporer setup I can't help you there.

 

[sicxspeed]

im ignorant to this. what are Scrubbies? Like cleaning scrubbers for dishes?

 

[cichlaguapote]

yep plastic scrubbie dish pads. Sold at dollar stores/big lots stores/etc usually in packs of 6 for $1.00 or 99 cents. Same ones people use in their sumps for media.

 

[sicxspeed]

are these the very course scrubbies that are kinda steel wool like or the ones with foam and a course exterior? I know these questions kinda sound retarded but i'd like to give this a shot on my emp 400's......do you stuff them in vertically or horizontally?

 

[dimicel1]

Would they work just as well in a canister filter?? and how does it replace carbon??

 

[cichlaguapote]

Would they work just as well in a canister filter?? and how does it replace carbon??

It doesn't replace carbon, the original poster doesn't feel he needs carbon anyways. So he's going to go with out it. Alot of people feel if you're keeping up with your water changes then carbon isn't really needed. You could use them in a canister if you wanted.

sic: No retarded questions. Always best to be sure. These are what we're talking about. http://doitbest.com/Scouring+Pads-Do+it+Best+Imports-model-10044-doitbest-sku-632989.dib

You can even buy them from that link if you have a store close to you to pick them up(use the store locater to check your zip code), and that's about the best price you'll find. But dollar stores/big lots/etc sell them too.

I wouldn't use the foam ones, and never use sponge material as that will break down and make a mess. I would stick to the plastic pads I posted. Most people have them in their sumps too if you look at people building sumps. As far as stuffing them in I always stuff mine in vertically but it doesn't really matter I wouldn't think as you get the same surfice area either way.

 

[Fish_are_fishfood]

Maybe a dumb question, but are the nylon ones the same thing? Will those work?

 

[cichlaguapote]

Think they're all nylon.. In fact I think the ones at dollar stores say "Nylon Scouring Pads" or something to that effect.

Everyone uses scrubbie pads because they provide so much surface area for benifical bacteria because the way they're made. More than bio-balls even.