Filter material substitutes

[blair thompson]

I have just purchased an Eheim Liberty, hang-on
filter.(smallest one). I can predict that, over the life of this
filter, replacing the sponges and the carbon-infused whatsit,
regularly, is going to run me into big bucks.The "biofilter
cartridges" alone are $3.50 each,Canadian.

Rather than being locked into replacing these with Eheim
parts, has anyone had any luck or suggestion for, devising cheaper,
but effective filtering media that would work as well as the Eheim
inserts?

Thanks for any information.
Blair.

[thorazine shuffle]

Don't replace them unless they get so mishapen that they are bypassing. If
they start to clog and you are noticing a reduction in flow, just rinse them
out in a bucket of water drawn from your tank.
And as for the carbon, a healthy tank doesn't need it.


"blair thompson" > wrote in message
...
> I have just purchased an Eheim Liberty, hang-on
> filter.(smallest one). I can predict that, over the life of this
> filter, replacing the sponges and the carbon-infused whatsit,
> regularly, is going to run me into big bucks.The "biofilter
> cartridges" alone are $3.50 each,Canadian.
>
> Rather than being locked into replacing these with Eheim
> parts, has anyone had any luck or suggestion for, devising cheaper,
> but effective filtering media that would work as well as the Eheim
> inserts?
>
> Thanks for any information.
> Blair.

[swarvegorilla]

Yep I re-use all me sponges after a quick rinse in water drawn from the
aquarium.
I plan to be buried with most of them.
Just slit the carbon inserts down one side
empty out the carbon and slip in a scotch brite green scrubber cut to
size....

I have a box of bulk fish foams I got from a chinese factory
cost me almost nothing
yet the same box at a lfs would cost hundreds and hundreds
the koi matt alone is ludicrous.

Just look at replacement foam for other filters
find a chunk thats big enuf to fill the whole filter
coarse enuf to not clog in a few seconds
and rip out the other media and wedge in the big chunk of foam

or if ya really must DIY
nylon pot scrubbers
or nylon netting body washers
both work excellent once crammed in
and last for ever



"thorazine shuffle" > wrote in message
et...
> Don't replace them unless they get so mishapen that they are bypassing. If
> they start to clog and you are noticing a reduction in flow, just rinse
> them out in a bucket of water drawn from your tank.
> And as for the carbon, a healthy tank doesn't need it.
>
>
> "blair thompson" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I have just purchased an Eheim Liberty, hang-on
>> filter.(smallest one). I can predict that, over the life of this
>> filter, replacing the sponges and the carbon-infused whatsit,
>> regularly, is going to run me into big bucks.The "biofilter
>> cartridges" alone are $3.50 each,Canadian.
>>
>> Rather than being locked into replacing these with Eheim
>> parts, has anyone had any luck or suggestion for, devising cheaper,
>> but effective filtering media that would work as well as the Eheim
>> inserts?
>>
>> Thanks for any information.
>> Blair.
>
>