Equipment Review and Discussion :: Ingenuity FTW! Coarse filtration

[BullDog]

I've been looking all over for a coarse mechanical filtration idea. Someone suggested pony beads, but I couldn't find a big bag for cheap. I couldn't find the foam filter blocks for ponds filters either...
Fluval's prefilter just wasn't cutting it, especially in Ralph's 404.

So today I made it my mission to find some coarse filtration!
My first stop was Home Hardware. I asked if they had any pond filters, but they only had the round pool-type filters. Then the lady suggested I go look in plumbing, since there might be something for water filtration systems over there. There was no one in plumbing to ask, but I was wandering around and found this:


It's an air filter made from coconut fibres and animal hair. And it was cheap! $4.29 for a 16"x20" piece (The smallest piece).

Anyhow, cut it to fit the filters, and voila! Instant coarse filtration!





I put two layers in each filter. I'll open it up in a couple of weeks and see how it looks, and maybe add a third layer (I've still got about half the piece left).

[Chrisbarnett]

Nice!

Fluval just wasn't cutting it eh?

They have pond filter foam at lowes...although I have no clue whether they have it in BC.

[BullDog]

Nah, the prefilter holes are too big and I was getting big chunks of gunk up in the top basket, and the carbon was just ick!

It was the weirdest thing - I just couldn't find the pond filters anywhere I looked (short of looking at a pond supply store). I was even looking on ebay... I figured as a last resort, I could get a set of two pieces of filter foam for about $8 including shipping.

[mat012]

It actually looks alot like the coarse filter pad for the Eheim. Although mine is made of something synthetic I'm sure. Let us know how it goes. It looks good! THe blue dye wont come off right?

[steve]

Whats wrong with buying bulk filter media

[Chrisbarnett]

Whats wrong with buying bulk filter media

because ingenuity is fun.

Why buy filter floss when you can have stockings.

[BullDog]

THe blue dye wont come off right?

I assume not since it's meant to be rinsed out. We'll see though, won't we?

Whats wrong with buying bulk filter media

Show me somewhere that I can get it cheap (including shipping!) and I'll go for it

Why buy filter floss when you can have stockings.

Exactly!

[steve]

I'm just concerned about chemicals that might be in there (or anywhere actually). Clothes, industrial and household products might contain some stuff you wouldn't want to put in water.

[Daniel3507]

if there are chemicals do you think soaking them would get them out?

[steve]

I would think you can get rid of chemicals in clothes but it would have to be washed without detergent/softener. Not sure about the filters... that is if there is something there to begin with.

[BullDog]

These filters are all natural, and they work for the air using static electricity and friction. There's no extra added chems, which is a good thing
The only thing that may come out of them is the blue dye, but I gave them a very good rinse before I put it in the filter.

[Daniel3507]

that sounds like its a pretty good find!

[steve]

I didn't see the part where you said "coconut fibres and animal hair". What's the size of the foam media for the 404?

[BullDog]

The foam media that the water initially goes through in the 404 is 11-6/16" X 3" X 7/8" (according to Amazon.)

I was surprised this week to find how quickly it gets gummed up though! I did Ralph's filter on Tuesday, then I put the new coarse filtration in on Thursday, and the foam blocks already had a collection of gunk at the bottom, and I ended up rinsing them again.

[PcBuilder14]

So, have you noticed a difference in water quality?