How to make your own filter cartridges with polyester batting?

I've been reading how many people make their own filter cartridge
replacments using the plastic frame of an used store-bought filter
cartridge, and then taking the filter material off and charcoal and
attaching some inexpensive filtering material, such as polyester batting
from a fabric store.

That sounded great to me: instead of spending $5 per filter replacement
cartride per month, make your own for pennies per month.

I went to a fabric store and bought some polyester batting (like they use to
make quilts) off of a roll, that they had to cut for me, and used that on an
old filter cartridge plastic frame (attaching it with rubber bands). As many
people suggested, I made sure I didn't buy any polyester batting that had a
fire retardant or or other chemical on it.

My homemade filter seems to work well at filtering dirt out of the water,
but only problem is, it leaves lots of white fuzz or little polyester
threads and fuzz floating around in my aquarium water. Its probably because
this polyester batting seems to pull apart easily, so it seems that the
water flowing through it tends to wash out little particles and threads from
the polyestester batting.

Do any of you who make your own filter cartridges with polyester batting
have this problem? Is there a different kind of batting that would work
better? If so, where do you get it and what's it called? Is there any other
material I can use instead of polyester batting that is inexpensive and
works well, while not leaving little pieces of fizz in the water? BTW, I
have a Penguin 125 filter that I'm using this on. Thanks for your help!

"DK" wrote in message ...
I've been reading how many people make their own filter cartridge
replacments using the plastic frame of an used store-bought filter
cartridge, and then taking the filter material off and charcoal and
attaching some inexpensive filtering material, such as polyester batting
from a fabric store.

That sounded great to me: instead of spending $5 per filter replacement
cartride per month, make your own for pennies per month.
I went to a fabric store and bought some polyester batting (like they use
to make quilts) off of a roll, that they had to cut for me, and used that
on an old filter cartridge plastic frame (attaching it with rubber bands).
As many people suggested, I made sure I didn't buy any polyester batting
that had a fire retardant or or other chemical on it.

This is why I have all Aquaclears. The inexpensive sponge filters are
squeezed out and last for several years.

My homemade filter seems to work well at filtering dirt out of the water,
but only problem is, it leaves lots of white fuzz or little polyester
threads and fuzz floating around in my aquarium water. Its probably
because this polyester batting seems to pull apart easily, so it seems
that the water flowing through it tends to wash out little particles and
threads from the polyestester batting.

I haven't had that problem when using poly batting. You will save money by
replacing your filter/filters with Aquaclears, and they last for many years.

Do any of you who make your own filter cartridges with polyester batting
have this problem? Is there a different kind of batting that would work
better? If so, where do you get it and what's it called? Is there any
other material I can use instead of polyester batting that is inexpensive
and works well, while not leaving little pieces of fizz in the water? BTW,
I have a Penguin 125 filter that I'm using this on. Thanks for your help!

Maybe it being cut from a roll was the problem. I used the kind used for
stuffing small pillows and toys. I pulled it apart. I didn't cut it.

--

RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

On Jan 30, 3:27*pm, "Reel McKoi" wrote:
"DK" wrote in ....
I've been reading how many people make their own filter cartridge
replacments using the plastic frame of an used store-bought filter
cartridge, and then taking the filter material off and charcoal and
attaching some inexpensive filtering material, such as polyester batting
from a fabric store.

That sounded great to me: instead of spending $5 per filter replacement
cartride per month, make your own for pennies per month.
I went to a fabric store and bought some polyester batting (like they use
to make quilts) off of a roll, that they had to cut for me, and used that
on an old filter cartridge plastic frame (attaching it with rubber bands).
As many people suggested, I made sure I didn't buy any polyester batting
that had a fire retardant or or other chemical on it.

This is why I have all Aquaclears. *The inexpensive sponge filters are
squeezed out and last for several years.

My homemade filter seems to work well at filtering dirt out of the water,
but only problem is, it leaves lots of white fuzz or little polyester
threads and fuzz floating around in my aquarium water. Its probably
because this polyester batting seems to pull apart easily, so it seems
that the water flowing through it tends to wash out little particles and
threads from the polyestester batting.

I haven't had that problem when using poly batting. *You will save money by
replacing your filter/filters with Aquaclears, and they last for many years.

Do any of you who make your own filter cartridges with polyester batting
have this problem? Is there a different kind of batting that would work
better? If so, where do you get it and what's it called? Is there any
other material I can use instead of polyester batting that is inexpensive
and works well, while not leaving little pieces of fizz in the water? BTW,
I have a Penguin 125 filter that I'm using this on. Thanks for your help!

Maybe it being cut from a roll was the problem. I used the kind used for
stuffing small pillows and toys. I pulled it apart. I didn't cut it.

--

RM....
Zone 6. *Middle TN USA
~~~~ *}((((* *~~~ * }{{{{(ö

As RM stated,.You do not have that problem with Aqua Clear filters,
as they do not need propreitary filter media. YOur really better off
using the ridgid filter batt media than the soft polyester junk they
sell in fabric stores. Its stiff enough in a lot of cases yu can
forget about a plastic frame as its sufficeintly stiff and strong
enough to stand up without a frame as support. A lot of LFS sell it
as does online pet supply vendors like Big Als..plus it comes in
afairly large sheets inpregnated with activated carbon, or phosphate
or nitrate removing compounds that actually do work.

Thanks everyone for the good advice. You bring up good points about the
benefits about an Aquaclear. Just went out and bought one. Sounds like you
can re-use the sponge filter for years, and even when you do need to replace
it, it's only about $1. Thanks for the help!

--
DK

"DK" wrote in message ...
Thanks everyone for the good advice. You bring up good points about the
benefits about an Aquaclear. Just went out and bought one. Sounds like you
can re-use the sponge filter for years, and even when you do need to
replace it, it's only about $1. Thanks for the help!
=============================
I wouldn't have anything but an Aquaclear. When you clean the sponge don't
forget to clean the impeller well. I use Q-tips. They slime up and sometimes
wont start after a power outage.
--

RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

On Feb 1, 11:42*am, "Reel McKoi" wrote:
"DK" wrote in ...
Thanks everyone for the good advice. You bring up good points about the
benefits about an Aquaclear. Just went out and bought one. Sounds like you
can re-use the sponge filter for years, and even when you do need to
replace it, it's only about $1. Thanks for the help!

=============================
I wouldn't have anything but an Aquaclear. When you clean the sponge don't
forget to clean the impeller well. I use Q-tips. They slime up and sometimes
wont start after a power outage.
--

RM....
Zone 6. *Middle TN USA
~~~~ *}((((* *~~~ * }{{{{(ö

The "best" IMHO way of cleaning the impeller is by:
Remove filter media basket and pickup (U-tube) asembly
Pull up grey / black cover over pump impeller
Using Tweezers, or forceps grip impeller and pull up and out.
Hold magnet in one hand and grip impeller between blades and pull
straight off motor armature. Use Q tip to clean inside bore of
impeller and brush shaft the impeller fits on on the armature / magnet
assembly.
Use brush to brush slime off impeller and magnet assembly and also
inside the cavity of the motor.
Push impeller back on to armature / magnet assembly and insert back
into motor cavity.
Replace cover over pump assembly
Insert pickup tube, and media basket.

By pulling up the pump cover to gain access to pump impeller there is
no need to drain and refill filter assembly, as would have to be done
if one was to twist off the motor assembly from the filter housing.

If pump cover is hard to access from having large hands etc, use a
piece of coat hanger cut and bent so there is a slight hook on one end
that can be inserted under the cover and then pulled up. You would
be surprised how many so called GURUS never knew that pump cover is
made to remove..............and there is not a need to drain fitler to
clean impeller.

You will notice your sponge turning a different color over time, but
as long as its not torn or dry rotted its just fine. You can also cut
filter bat (ridgid or soft type) to lay under sponge bewteen basket
bottom and sponge itself if you find a need to "polish" the water, but
usually what comes supplied with an Aqua Clear is more than
sufficieint for nice clean water.

If pump does not start back up after power outage, odds are the
impeller on the armature is not free to move back and forth about 270
degrees. If that is the case, pull off impeller and clan as described
above. as all it takes is a bit of sand or crud to prevent impeller
from moving and pump from restarting after being shut off or power
outage. If you notice the pumps stainless shaft is scored up and
worn,l just go to welding supply store and buy a lengfth of "cut 36"
long stainless steel TIG welding rod............and cut to length to
match bad shaft. IIRC its 3mm or so in diameter, and they make SS
welding rods in this size. Hagen (aqua Clear charges $4.60 plus S & H
for these shafts, and odds are a welding supply store will give you a
rod for free. Enough there on one rod to made a bunch of new shafts...
Just use pliers to pull out old shaft, and simply push in new shaft.
Use wire cutters to cut length and file to clean up ends......takes
about 2 minutes of time to make new shaft and install it.

Thanks for the great cleaning tips! What model Aquaclear do you have? I'll
have to take another look at my model 50/200 ... but I don't remember seeing
a cover over the impeller.

Also, my new AquaClear makes a rumbling/humming sound when it's running ...
it's much louder than my old Penguin filter. Will this rumbling/humming
sound go away after the slime starts accumulating around the impeller (i.e.,
the slime acts as a lubricant?)? I made sure the impeller is seated properly
on the pin and isn't rubbing on the sides. Also, took my first AquaClear
back and exchanged it, thinking it was defective because it made this sound,
but my replacement Aquaclear still has this rumbling sound when it is on.
Hope that sound goes away, so I only hear the water going into the tank,
like on my old Penguin filter.

--
DK

On Feb 3, 5:37*pm, "DK" wrote:
Thanks for the great cleaning tips! What model Aquaclear do you have? I'll
have to take another look at my model 50/200 ... but I don't remember seeing
a cover over the impeller.

Also, my new AquaClear makes a rumbling/humming sound when it's running ....
it's much louder than my old Penguin filter. Will this rumbling/humming
sound go away after the slime starts accumulating around the impeller (i.e..,
the slime acts as a lubricant?)? I made sure the impeller is seated properly
on the pin and isn't rubbing on the sides. Also, took my first AquaClear
back and exchanged it, thinking it was defective because it made this sound,
but my replacement Aquaclear still has this rumbling sound when it is on.
Hope that sound goes away, so I only hear the water going into the tank,
like on my old Penguin filter.

--
DK

All models of aqua clears are the same. They are all made almost
identical and the only differences that are there is
size.............If its making noise, pull yuor impeller and make sure
it is free on the end of the armature shaft. SOmetimes there is a bit
of plastic flashing from the molding process that may make it stiff
which creates noise. The flashing usually wears off in due time.
Another cause of noise is if there is air entering the intake U tube
and getting pulled into the impeller of the pump,. Make sure the
entire U tube is full of water, and no air pockets remain at the point
on the top of thr U tube that bends down to go into the pump. Use the
little plastic thing that snaps into the bottom of the filter housing
itself to make sure yur fitler is not hanging at an angle, which can
also keep you from getting all the air out on startup. YOu may have
ot adjsut water flow from low to full a few times back and forth to
work any trapped air bubbles out...Other than that yuo do not hear
any of mine run. Just when new or if housing is at angle or there is
air being pulled into the pumps impeller. I do not recall what all
models RM has but I have a buchh of each model Aqua Colear makes with
most being the 110/500 and the 70's, but do have em all down to the
mini 20 and they all work fantastic.

Thanks again for the tips.

Well, I checked and made sure there are no bubbles, and I pulled out the
impeller and checked it out everywhere, as well as the shaft area that it
goes into, and can't find any plastic bits that could be causing this
humming. The impeller housing and the hole that it goes into all appear to
be smooth. Also, the sound isn't due to the angle that the filter rests on
the glass or the cover vibrating, because I double checked all that. I also
checked to make sure the shaft is firmly seated in the motor housing.

To me it sounds like the motor ... you can kind of hear it rumbling as it's
turning. Yet I don't think it's defective because I heard the same sound
from the earlier one that I bought and exchanged for this one. (I got them
from two different stores).

I'll try it for a week and see if the sound gets better after the filter
gets "slimed" and after it's broken in.

Anyway, thanks for the tips, and let me know if you think of anything else
that could be causing the noise, which is louder than the sound of the water
dropping into the tank.

--
DK

"DK" wrote in message ...
Thanks again for the tips.

Well, I checked and made sure there are no bubbles, and I pulled out the
impeller and checked it out everywhere, as well as the shaft area that it
goes into, and can't find any plastic bits that could be causing this
humming. The impeller housing and the hole that it goes into all appear to
be smooth. Also, the sound isn't due to the angle that the filter rests on
the glass or the cover vibrating, because I double checked all that. I
also checked to make sure the shaft is firmly seated in the motor housing.

To me it sounds like the motor ... you can kind of hear it rumbling as
it's turning. Yet I don't think it's defective because I heard the same
sound from the earlier one that I bought and exchanged for this one. (I
got them from two different stores).

They should run silently. Perhaps there was a defective batch made. Have
the store owner TRY then in the store before you leave. Or try another size.
Get a larger of smaller filter. All my Aquaclears are quiet. I'm sorry
you're having this problem.


I'll try it for a week and see if the sound gets better after the filter
gets "slimed" and after it's broken in.

Anyway, thanks for the tips, and let me know if you think of anything else
that could be causing the noise, which is louder than the sound of the
water dropping into the tank.

--
DK