Alternative To Expensive Filter Media?

[petetong]

Hi
Im setting up a tank on shoestring budget. Can anybody suggest any cheap alternatives to biomax( ceramic rings ) for bio filtration for my fluval 105?

 

[*Fishkies*]

What if you use some type of small PVC piping? Check ebay also, things on there are usually cheaper.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Stuff for ponds and pond filters is often much bigger and better value for money and is perfectly ok to use in tropical tanks.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yup buy pond stuff, it's designed to be used in much bigger quantities so it'll last you forever

 

[andywg]

If you can find them, the rubber style (probably latex) pot scourers used in the US have a huge surface area to volume ration.

If not, stuff such as velcro hair rollers is pretty good.

Anything which has a high surface area to volume ration is good.

 

[indigo]

if you do buy the original ones, bear in mind they'll last years, mine are 5yrs+ old, i have 2 fluval 404's.

 

[DevUK]

Out of interest, could you buy some cheap airstones and break them up a bit? They're ceramic after all ... ?

 

[petetong]

Good suggestions. Ive decided to go for the PVC rings ( look like bits of cut hose ) ( got them from my pond filter ). The only wory though, is that it isnt too tight fitting in the filter compartment( lots of empty pockets) This means that the water could potentially just flow by. Perhaps I should cut them up into little pieces. Any thoughts?

 

[DevUK]

cram in as many as you can

 

[petetong]

Thanks for the advice guy. Cycling well underway. So now I've got fluval foam media near my intake, two chambers with activated carbon and the topmost chamber with bio material salvaged from my pond. I hear the carbon is not really necessary. Maybe I should substitute one of them with that wooly foamy substance ( once again from my pond filter )?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

ooh teh great carbon debate rears it's ugly head!

if you use the forum search function and look at 'carbon' you'll find hundreds of threads debating weather it's actually any good or not, so I won't go into too much detail.

But speaking personally I would replace the carbon with filter floss/wool

 

[DevUK]

ooh teh great carbon debate rears it's ugly head!

if you use the forum search function and look at 'carbon' you'll find hundreds of threads debating weather it's actually any good or not, so I won't go into too much detail.

But speaking personally I would replace the carbon with filter floss/wool

Seconded!

Yeah, go with the filter wool and save the carbon for if you use any medications etc in the future. The wool should get rid of any fine particles and "polish" the water It needs replacing every month or so though (just throw it out, don't clean and re-use).