Filter pad replacement

[z rock]

Here's a DIY filter replacment that won't cost a fortune.First It begins with a $5 bag of the Marineland polyfiber.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d938b3127cceb2dedec5a52d0000001510
Then I ripped the original pad off of my Emperor 400's plastic frame and cut the polyfiber to fit.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d938b3127cceb2dedb7e643c0000001510
Then I stole some of mammas black nylon stockings (or use your own,whatever the case my be) and cut about a 6" piece.The toe section works best but not mandatory.And pull it over the plastic frame and the poly-filter.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d938b3127cceb2ded9b4e5c70000001510
I really do like this rig.I can take the pads and squeeze em out in some used tank water and put them back in there.They catch filth really well.

I re-arranged my rocks yet again.It's never ending.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d938b3127cceb2deda7624ac0000001510

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d938b3127cceb2deda0e24d40000001510

Keep on Tankin!
:ok:

[punkypuffer]

i really like the rockwork z... looks awesome. how many punds of river stones do you think that is?

[z rock]

It's probably a 150-200lbs.That one big one sticking up in the last pic is called quartzite.I like the texture it has.Been thinking about getting some more of it.I guess its the same stuff the pool filter sands made out of.

[cich1]

cool zrock,i use the same filter material but i cut it so it fits in the grey media trays instead.:ok:oh yeah by the way your tank looks awesome

[chc]

You could save even more money by buying polyester batting from a fabric store........ MUCH cheaper than blue bonded pads.

Also, rubber bands work well to hold it to the frame (I actually just band it to the media containers and trash the batting a couple of times a week).

[cich1]

hey chc,i was buying polyester filter fiber in a big bag at the lfs for around 2 or 3 bucks and stuffing that in the extra media trays.but it just seemed like a big hassle.is the polyetser batting in sheets that you can cut?

[z rock]

They have cheaper poly at Petsmart.It's about $2.50.I've tried the batting also.Seems like I remember a thread about some of it haveing anti mold or some kind of stuff on or in it.
At least if you get it at the LFS you will know it's aquarium safe.I like the Marineland poly cause it's doesnt pack down and is more durable.It's Bonded (what ever that means).You can rinse it out and reuse it for a long time.

I filled my media tray's up with some Carib-Sea Malawi mix substrate I had left over from converting to sand (PFS).Stuff makes an exellent biological media.Kinda like lava rock.They wanted $8 for a little box of lava rock in Petsmart!With it in there I can clean my filter pads and not disturb my bioligical in the trays.I don't know how ya'll get poly in the tray's with those little shelves in there.They wouldn't be able to shut.I don't know why they put those shelves in there.It makes it a pain to put about anything in them.

They used to make tray's that fit in my Penguin 330's.They were black and smaller.They didn't have the shelves in them.I can put poly or whatever in them and closes em up.I can't find them any more.I guess they were too good of an idea. Marineland wouldn't make any money off them!

[abenez]

The shelves provide a way to put media in them that would stay at various levels of the tray with out having it all slide to the bottom when you put it back upright and slid into the filter...

I use a slightly slimmer bonded blue poly media that I buy for my AC unit... a 20"x24" sheet is about $1.45 and I get about 12-14 inserts - easily a years supply.