Filters

I'm off sick today so have been able to catch up on some of the posts I have missed . I was reading a question on filters and how you can wrap some stuff round a filter to avoid changing them all the time?

I saw something called filter wool (I think it was) in my lfs and I was wondering can you put anything in a filter and it will be ok? I have been given an old Fluval filter and it doesn't have any sort of pads or anything inside it - would the filter wool be ok for that or does it have to be a foam pad?

Hope you understand the question ok!

I'd try & get hold of a chunk of foam & cut a bit out, certainly wouldn't pay £3 for a farty piece of fuval foam The trouble with just using filter wool is that is does fall apart quicker and isn't quite as easy to wash & re-use so you wouldn't get such a good build up of bacteria. That, of course, is just my opinion & experience, others may say differently.
I know a lot of people who buy pillows/duvets & use the foam from them but I personally would never trust what they'd been treated with. This is just me trying to show how you can get around certain things but i think i'm just waffling now, lol

I didn't know that about the duvets MC - what a weird idea!

Hope you feel better soon Cam - I have been revisited by the cold from Hell that I had all over Christmas and New Year! I had about a week cold free and then it came back - not amused!

That filter wool is perfect for adding extra layers to a filter, Cam. I got a big bag in the LFS for just €2.50 and put it in all the tank filters on top of the various sponges and stuff.

I haven't had to change it yet but some of it is getting a bit stringy (after six months or so) so I might have to put in some new stuff soon but, if so, I'll just do it a little bit at a time so that I don't lose any beneficial bacteria.

i have a fluval 205 external filter how often would i need too clean it

I clean the filter media in my internal filter once a month in the dirty aquarium water (NEVER tapwater) so I imagine it's more or less the same for an external filter.

Btw, welcome to TFF.

I clean mine every 2-3 weeks. But i'm a freak

Lmao Matty

I clean my externals about once every 4-5wks.

munchycarrot wrote:

I'd try & get hold of a chunk of foam & cut a bit out, certainly wouldn't pay £3 for a farty piece of fuval foam The trouble with just using filter wool is that is does fall apart quicker and isn't quite as easy to wash & re-use so you wouldn't get such a good build up of bacteria. That, of course, is just my opinion & experience, others may say differently.
I know a lot of people who buy pillows/duvets & use the foam from them but I personally would never trust what they'd been treated with. This is just me trying to show how you can get around certain things but i think i'm just waffling now, lol

So are you saying you can basically use any old bit of foam for the filter? it doesnt really matter, the bacteria will grow in it anyway?

Well I wouldn't recommend it as it might not be made of fish-friendly materials.

I agree with mary. You never know what they are made from!!