DIY filter media

[guppyfreak2]

I was wandering if any one has ever used Cheese Cloth and Cotton batting in there filters insted of buying the expensive refills with the carbon i dont use ?

or any other cheap ideas are welcome too?

[kewlkatdady]

what kinda filter are you wanting to add media too?

and what kinda media...mechanical, bio, or chemical?

[guppyfreak2]

its just a HOB whisper filter

[kewlkatdady]

I'm not sure about the design of this filter...

what are trying to use the HOB for...
mechanical (water polishing), bio or chemical filteration?

or an overall filter that does bio and mechanical?

[guppyfreak2]

i think it is bio sorry dont know much about my filters

but it is this filter
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+3608+16729&pcatid=16729

[kewlkatdady]

I'm not familiar enough with these filteres to make bio media recomendations, but what I have done on similar filters....
is I helped my neighbor by putting a pantyhose stocking filled with a couple of cups of crushed coral.

He's had the tank set up for about 2.5 years no issues...
never had any spikes....

just make sure there is good flow over, the stocking... or through the crushed coral.

[Joe Reborn]

Whispers are really mechanical. The have a bio media after the filter that is not a very large area where bacteria can colonize. Its supose to be a all in one. I wouldn't Try anyting other than the filters. on the whispers i would just take the Filter and wash it out. do that a couple of time. every time you wash it change the carbon if you would like. Many people don't believe in carbon. I wouldn't try batting, i guess you could try cheese cloth as a prefilter but i don't think its needed. Are you tring to save on the filters? DNA the other day had a box of 8 filters for Whispers for 5 bucks, Normaly 12-16bucks. I bought them for neice (she has a 10gal with a Whispers 10I)

[cichlidkeeper]

i ditched the filter inserts a couple years ago. use the foam inserts for aquaclears- way cheaper, just rinse everytime you clean them..

[Stickzula]

I have been using scotch brite scour pads in my emperor and penguin hob's. Been doing it for years with no problems. You can rinse them out many times, but they are cheap enough that you could toss them if you wanted to.

You could also take the quilt batting and sandwich it in the "reusable clam-shell". I do that as a water polisher after the scour pads in my hob's. You could use window screen and polyfill pillow stuffing if you wanted to(I think that cheese cloth would clog too fast), but that's too much work for me. If you want to keep using carbon, you could sew some in-between 2 pieces of quilt batting or stuff some in a pantyhose sock thingy. The pantyhose clogs fast too IME.

The whisper is somewhat limited in terms of DIY media. A canister offers way more options, but for a smaller tank a hob works fine. IME you can't beat an emperor or aquaclear as far as hob's go.

[guppyfreak2]

Ya I DONT use carbon i havent the last year but i was still buying the inserts and just throwing the carbon away..

by Cotton Batting i ment the Polyfill pillow stuffing

i never thought of using scour pads thats a great idea thank you

[ayla]

I cut a hole in the brand name inserts, take out the carbon, and use the insert pretty much forever unless it completely falls apart. I've had the same 2 inserts in my Penguin for nearly 6 years.

[Typical Tony]

i buy those filter pads on ebay for like $6 for 20 ft or so and use those, they last awhile and i can cut it up however i like. I also use foams from the aquaclear filter as well.

[guppyfreak2]

betta lover who do you Buy from on ebay?

[Typical Tony]

hbfilters usually have an auction for $0.99 and free shipping

it's like 12"x60" and i won several of those. I like the pink pads they sell, it last much longer than the normal blue pad they sell everywhere.

[Stickzula]

Just a note about scour pads. I have only used the scotch-brite brand commercial size (6"x9") so I don't know if others are safe or not. They say not for aquariums on the back of the box. I think this is meant to keep people from suing them should anything go wrong. I have never had an issue with toxins or scratches on the glass. I am sure that if they were used as an algae scrubber on acrylic they would scratch the hell out of it. I have used them to clean glass with no problems. When you go to buy them, make sure that they don't say anything about microban or antibacterial/antifungal on them as any of that will KILL your fish.

You can get quilt batting at walmart. It is basically the pillow stuff woven together into a sheet. It holds together well in the filter. I also forgot to mention that crafting felt works well too. It is more dense than batting so it clogs quicker, but traps smaller particles. You can get it in paper sheet sized squares for pocket change or buy it by the yard. I think it is less than $2/yd so it is very cost effective. Good luck with it. If you have any other questions you can pm me.

[alta678]

Stickzula, thanks for all the options you mentioned. Good information!

[TheCanuck]

There is almost no bio in this filter. I would buy a new filter that can house all your filtration needs. Aquaclear 70 , they will hold your bio, and mech. Carbon is a waste of time and money. Aquaclears are equal to a 80$ filter and BIGAL'S has them for 20$.

[iron]

There is no reason why a person couldn't just use aquaclear media instead of the stock media. Such as the cram the sponge in the filter compartment, toss the bio media on top. Suddenly, all of your filters are cleaning like an Ac.
Like the idea of scotch brite. The biggest problem I foresee is the media riding up, up and away. I think I will try this on a couple filters I have tonight though.

[TheCanuck]

There is no reason why a person couldn't just use aquaclear media instead of the stock media. Such as the cram the sponge in the filter compartment, toss the bio media on top. Suddenly, all of your filters are cleaning like an Ac.
Like the idea of scotch brite. The biggest problem I foresee is the media riding up, up and away. I think I will try this on a couple filters I have tonight though.

The reason is because your filters wont add up to an Aquaclear. They have highly recomended because your normal filters don't add up no matter what you do. They don't have half the space. They don't have the space. An AC110 has 500gph thats double an xp4. I am all up for improving filters , but for 20$ that filter is amazing. The media you would buy for a POS filter would cost you more. :spend::spend:

Buy an AC70 or AC110. Quality over a filter that will never add up.

[Stickzula]

The reason is because your filters wont add up to an Aquaclear. They have highly recomended because your normal filters don't add up no matter what you do. They don't have half the space. They don't have the space. An AC110 has 500gph thats double an xp4. I am all up for improving filters , but for 20$ that filter is amazing. The media you would buy for a POS filter would cost you more. :spend::spend:

Buy an AC70 or AC110. Quality over a filter that will never add up. :bsflag:

Big Als Prices as of 5 sec ago are:

AC 20 = 22.99
AC 30 = 29.99
AC 50 = 34.99
AC 70 = 46.99
AC 110 = 79.99

I don't know if you have stock in aqua clear or what, but saying that others can't add up over and over again doesn't make it so. The question here is NOT "what filter should I buy", it IS more like "what is a cheap way that I can make what I already have work better"

Your comment about the media for a POS filter costing more is EXACTLY why the title of the tread is "DIY filter media". Some of can't afford to drop an extra $50 on a new filter . . . especially when we can make our old one work for what we need it for for less than $10.

Anyway, I don't know what your point was here, but so far you have NOT been helpful.

All I can say is :bsflag:

[TheCanuck]

:bsflag:

Big Als Prices as of 5 sec ago are:

AC 20 = 22.99
AC 30 = 29.99
AC 50 = 34.99
AC 70 = 46.99
AC 110 = 79.99

I don't know if you have stock in aqua clear or what, but saying that others can't add up over and over again doesn't make it so. The question here is NOT "what filter should I buy", it IS more like "what is a cheap way that I can make what I already have work better"

Your comment about the media for a POS filter costing more is EXACTLY why the title of the tread is "DIY filter media". Some of can't afford to drop an extra $50 on a new filter . . . especially when we can make our old one work for what we need it for for less than $10.

Anyway, I don't know what your point was here, but so far you have NOT been helpful.

All I can say is :bsflag:


http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp19169/si4408841/cl0/powerfilter70

Read it , 20 dollars. Also a whisper would never be able to hold any bio. I have diyed plenty of stuff, that is something that is not worth it. Twenty dollars is amazing for a filter, why wouldn't you buy it. I dont know why your raising a bs flag, everything i ever said was correct. It wont add up to a aquaclear. Theres no room for bio or good mech filtration in a whisper. It's worth it to get a 50 dollar filter for 20$. I understand that not everyone has 100$ , but 20 bucks for your fish? Man thats pocket change for my fish, i spend more than that a week feeding..... So before taking a personal level aproach make sure what your saying is accurate, and that you are looking out for their best interst as i am.

[Austin]

I ordered 4. 2 came in today. 2 more will be here Thursday. It's legit. They just don't come with bio. But for $20, who cares :)

[masroberts9]

im not sure if i can understand the "there isnt enough room for bio" comment. In my experience. you can filter a 20 gallon tank with a 1/2 a cups worth of sponge. I bet it would actually handle a larger tank, the problem is that I couldn't get this little filter to fit the rim of anything bigger. I have had an internal filter, http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-85300140756196_2089_61080920 , in a 20 long, with just sponge in it for close to 3 years with out any problem. Actually i don't think I've ever cleaned the filter either. Come to think of it. I never do water changes either... just top offs. I had some algea grow, i allowed it to grow in specific places and cleaned other places. now the algea is pretty stable in just that one place. so basically the sponge has been bio and mechanical.

[guppyfreak2]

ok first off (TheCanuck:)) if you look at the link of my filter you will see it is a BIO filter

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+3608+16729&pcatid=16729

it is the 75 which is used for up to 75 gallons and i have two of these on a 55 gallon tank

2nd all i wanted to know was is there cheaper (cotton) i can use NOT what you thought of my filter it is a GREAT filter i just DON'T want to pay for inserts that come with carbon since all i do is throw it away

thank you everyone else for the ideas i am now using quilt batting

[TheCanuck]

ok first off (TheCanuck:)) if you look at the link of my filter you will see it is a BIO filter

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+3608+16729&pcatid=16729

it is the 75 which is used for up to 75 gallons and i have two of these on a 55 gallon tank

2nd all i wanted to know was is there cheaper (cotton) i can use NOT what you thought of my filter it is a GREAT filter i just DON'T want to pay for inserts that come with carbon since all i do is throw it away

thank you everyone else for the ideas i am now using quilt batting


The bio is in the cartriges. So you throw away your benifitial bacteria everytime you change them. With just quilt batting your not going ot have any bio at all. Yea your tank may look clean but what about your water params? My suggestion was you should just upgrade your filters when you can for 20$. That seemed reasonable, but if you cant and just bought then tell me. Now ill suggest you run one with the quilt batting, and use the other for your bio. Load it up with cermic rings or other bio material. The only problem is it will get dirty because the filters dont have a prefilter to their bio area. A couple good swishes in some tank water should give them a quick clean though. Good luck!

TheCanuck:) added 1 Minutes and 7 Seconds later...

I ordered 4. 2 came in today. 2 more will be here Thursday. It's legit. They just don't come with bio. But for $20, who cares :)

:exactly: I plan on stocking up. Just think you can have 4 70's for one 110. Thats awsome.

TheCanuck:) added 8 Minutes and 27 Seconds later...

im not sure if i can understand the "there isnt enough room for bio" comment. In my experience. you can filter a 20 gallon tank with a 1/2 a cups worth of sponge. I bet it would actually handle a larger tank, the problem is that I couldn't get this little filter to fit the rim of anything bigger. I have had an internal filter, http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-85300140756196_2089_61080920 , in a 20 long, with just sponge in it for close to 3 years with out any problem. Actually i don't think I've ever cleaned the filter either. Come to think of it. I never do water changes either... just top offs. I had some algea grow, i allowed it to grow in specific places and cleaned other places. now the algea is pretty stable in just that one place. so basically the sponge has been bio and mechanical.

This will actually work too. Sponges have great surface area for BB. Though the problem is we throw them away because they get all dirty and such. You dont want derbis on your bio filter or media. Thats why a pefilter sponge should always be used. Im sure that sponge took care of it, they have a lot more surface area than half the bio stuff people use. Problem is people throw away dirty stuff, and they can get clogged easy ruining the bio bacteria.

[guppyfreak2]

i have used aquaclear in the past and in my own opinion they dont work i have replaced 4 of them with bigger and better filters

and i Never just throw away the insert i change / rinse them with old tank water my filters have 2 sides each so i only mess with one side at a time so i have never had an issue with the bio load in this tank in ever

[rolloffhill]

I ordered 4. 2 came in today. 2 more will be here Thursday. It's legit. They just don't come with bio. But for $20, who cares :)


What's the deal with them? Are they unbranded AC's or plain packaging? Trying to figure out why they are only $20??

[Austin]

Plain packaging. No bio media. Other than that I would guess big ALS just got a deal and is moving them out quick...

[kewlkatdady]

AC's IMHO the best HOB filter...could it have been set up incorrectly?

when you say it didn't work, expand on that.

There GPH rating are pretty accurate and they are very versitile in media...

how didn't it work?i have used aquaclear in the past and in my own opinion they dont work i have replaced 4 of them with bigger and better filters

and i Never just throw away the insert i change / rinse them with old tank water my filters have 2 sides each so i only mess with one side at a time so i have never had an issue with the bio load in this tank in ever

[TheCanuck]

AC's IMHO the best HOB filter...could it have been set up incorrectly?

when you say it didn't work, expand on that.

There GPH rating are pretty accurate and they are very versitile in media...

how didn't it work?


Also petsmart will always issue you a new one if you go in there and tell them its broken. I have returned multiple ones that i bought from ebay and just said that i bought it there. They exchange no problem, other than they can't give me cash.... otherwise id secretly be making money... though i really got an xp4 for 75 dollars because of the credit...

[Stickzula]

WOW that's a hell of a deal! Sorry TheCanuck:) I went to Big Al's hoping to find the deal, but when I searched AC's, the above prices came up. You are right. For $20 you'd be a fool not to pick some up.

However, I still believe that DIY cartridges are the way to go. Stick some reticulated foam on top of the diy whisper cartridge and you are good to go. I use emperor's so I don't worry about throwing out the bio media.

I think that it is foolish to throw money away on OEM cartridges. Granted AC's mech/bio sponges are reusable so that's a big plus for them.

Anyway, I retract the BS flag

[TheCanuck]

WOW that's a hell of a deal! Sorry TheCanuck:) I went to Big Al's hoping to find the deal, but when I searched AC's, the above prices came up. You are right. For $20 you'd be a fool not to pick some up.

However, I still believe that DIY cartridges are the way to go. Stick some reticulated foam on top of the diy whisper cartridge and you are good to go. I use emperor's so I don't worry about throwing out the bio media.

I think that it is foolish to throw money away on OEM cartridges. Granted AC's mech/bio sponges are reusable so that's a big plus for them.

Anyway, I retract the BS flag

No worries man! Pick up an ac70!! for the price of a 110 you can technically get an ac240 lol