Polyfil in a box filter question

[16gallontanker]

Do yall ever use polyfil in a box filter and if so did yall like it ? How long till yall start noticing a difference in water clarity ? Did yall ever see hairs from the polyfil in the tank and if so how did you stop them from doing that? Here's the box filter I'm using in my 20 gallon tank

 

[GaryE]

I use pillow batting. The very loose type is a problem - messy. But the stuff in sheets works well.

 

[16gallontanker]

I use pillow batting. The very loose type is a problem - messy. But the stuff in sheets works well.

I messed up and bought the original polyfil in a 16 oz bag I guess when I run out of that I'll look into pillow batting but is there any way to get rid of the loose fiber or is it inevitable?

 

[16gallontanker]

I got a idea I put a filter sponge pad on top hoping it will hold the polyfil fibers in the filter

 

[16gallontanker]

Here's it in action

 

[Colin_T]

We used sponges in box filters so you didn't have to replace anything.

 

[GaryE]

We used sponges in box filters so you didn't have to replace anything.

I've been going in that direction, as that way, there is less waste. Poly in the environment - there's enough of it already. I've been cutting and shaping old filter sponges. Box filters are very under-rated tech, and I use a lot of them. I plan to go 100% sponge once the pillow batting is all used. I have part of a bag going.

 

[16gallontanker]

We used sponges in box filters so you didn't have to replace anything.

My goal is to use the box filter as my mechanical filtration and use my dual sponge filters as my biological filtration so I have a good balance of both in my 20 gallon tank

 

[MaloK]

I agree that anyway you can find to not use poly-wool is a positive step for the environment.

Reticulated fine 45-65 ppi sponges are way better in any aspect.

 

[Colin_T]

My goal is to use the box filter as my mechanical filtration and use my dual sponge filters as my biological filtration so I have a good balance of both in my 20 gallon tank

Sponges in any filter will act as a home for beneficial filter bacteria and also trap gunk.

 

[Back in the fold]

Since sponge filters are compressible it’s easy to cram one into a box filter .

 

[GaryE]

Box filters aren't the best for mechanical filtration, and I view mine very much as bio. But they do trap gunk very well, and need maintenance as a result.

I used to buy sponges for humidifiers. I don't know if that sort is still common - I still have it since sponge lasts. It was called a humidifier pad, and was a good pore size and easy to cut to fit. It does as good a job as poly, without messing up the cycle every time it does gunk up.

 

[MaloK]

It's where PPi becomes the controlling factor.

A good polishing filter has a water input that is higher height in the aquarium to catch finer particles.

And the coarse ones are at the bottom trowing the smaller particles that passes in the water to be cached by the polisher.

The main thing is to have water movement that brings particles to collecting points.

Inhabitant are going to make sure it keeps in suspension.

My mechanical filter becomes very dense rapidly and need cleaning, my biological never clogs or even need intervention.

 

[Colin_T]

We used box filters containing a sponge in tanks with big cichlids that dig things up and in tanks with crabs and crayfish that normally eat the sponge. The plastic case stops them getting to the sponge so it can keep doing its job without being eaten or dug up.

 

[tiggerfish]

Do yall ever use polyfil in a box filter and if so did yall like it ? How long till yall start noticing a difference in water clarity ? Did yall ever see hairs from the polyfil in the tank and if so how did you stop them from doing that? Here's the box filter I'm using in my 20 gallon tank

Yes. I use poy fill in my filter. It took about two days before I could see a big difference.At first there were a few floating fibers.