TmanNZ Posted October 9, 2013 Report Share Posted October 9, 2013 I've got a question about a couple of Diy Filters. This DIY Filter uses K1 Media but since I have a very tight budget, would I be able to replace it with Filter Wool, and is this filter good for a sand substrate? Is this a good filter for a sand substrate if the other one isn't? And a question about both? Are they good long term or which one is or which one isn't etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted October 10, 2013 Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 I've got a question about a couple of Diy Filters. This DIY Filter uses K1 Media but since I have a very tight budget, would I be able to replace it with Filter Wool, and is this filter good for a sand substrate? Not really. You don't want to replace biomedia with mechanical filter media like filter wool, and the filter wool would clog up and block the air flow anyway. Look on trademe for bioballs. I don't think it matters a bit if the substrate is sand or not. Oh, someone's selling bioballs in the private trade and exchange section. Should be enough for a dozen of these ghetto filters. I assume you're wanting it for something where being super cheap and ugly isn't a concern like a fishroom breeding tanks? Otherwise spend a few dollars and get a good cheap filter like a CF1200, it will be 100X more effective and nicer looking on a single display tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TmanNZ Posted October 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 Aaah, thanks Ira, helping a new one out here! Well check out Private Trades and Exchange and the CF1200! :bggrn: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TmanNZ Posted October 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 How about a diy/home made media such as lego? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted October 10, 2013 Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 How about a diy/home made media such as lego? Have you looked at the price of legos lately? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TmanNZ Posted October 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 I've got a whole lot already :bggrn: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted October 10, 2013 Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 I've got a whole lot already :bggrn: sell it, its very popular - media is probably cheap compared to lego Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TmanNZ Posted October 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 Still, I don't wanna sell it, is it possible to use as media? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted October 10, 2013 Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 sell it, its very popular - media is probably cheap compared to lego No probably about it, its heaps cheaper than lego Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TmanNZ Posted October 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 alright, so sell it and by a ton of media? Will contemplate it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TmanNZ Posted October 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 Alright, what about the sponge filter for a tank with a small koura (Will get bullies once get good filter) till christmas when I can get a good canister? Then I can use the cycled sponge filter for a snail breeding tank or quarintine etc. Is this a good idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TmanNZ Posted October 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 Many many questions... What about crushed up pummus stone? It's got a great surface area, floats and works in the diy moving bed (I think) Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likoma Posted October 10, 2013 Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 Maybe you could swap the leggo for the the bio media David is selling. Bonus for both , he can have an excuse to spend more time in front of his aquarium building sumps out of leggo, and you can get some bio media. Stick to the ceramic rings as Bio Balls are really only efficient in a wet/dry setup. Not really efficient when submerged. How big are the Koura, a Hamburg Matten filter makes an excellent feeding ground for shrimp. Don`t know if the Koura would act in the same way. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TmanNZ Posted October 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 The Koura I have and the only one im putting is only bout 2 to 3cm long from nose to tail. He'll be alright for a while, I'll get a pair of bullies from the Pohangina River Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted October 10, 2013 Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 For the effort involved in a diy filter and the $20 for an intank ~250 l/h filter I know what I would use for a 55 l tank If you go dow the DIY rout you will need to buy either an air pump and lines, stone etc or power head + some media, one of the small intank jobs will be fine for such light bio-load that you are looking at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TmanNZ Posted October 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 I've got everything (maybe need more air lines) so as a temp job till christmas? Awesome :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted October 10, 2013 Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 Maybe you could swap the leggo for the the bio media David is selling. Bonus for both , he can have an excuse to spend more time in front of his aquarium building sumps out of leggo, and you can get some bio media. Stick to the ceramic rings as Bio Balls are really only efficient in a wet/dry setup. Not really efficient when submerged. I do quite like Lego... :lol: As for the bioballs, I know ideally they work best when in a trickle-type situation, but if submerged they still have a fairly good surface area (more than lego bricks I'd say!) so will still work ok as biological media. After all, with biological filtration all you are doing is providing as much area as possible for beneficial bacteria to colonise, it doesn't really matter if it is bioballs, rings/noodles, Poret, pumice, Lego, Barbie doll heads, if it has a surface then it will work for bio media [to some extent]. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 I am so pulling off the heads of my daughters Barbies in her sleep tonight :sml1: :sml1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discusguru Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 Plenty of surface area on the hairs of the barbie's head to gros bacterial too :lar: Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TmanNZ Posted October 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 I have direct access to pumice and if you get some ceramic media David, I'll be happy to sort out some exchange with lego Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 OK then in that case I would say go down the pumice route in a diy filter. I wouldn't fluidise it though, all the bumping will wear it down fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TmanNZ Posted October 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 So jam it packed full? Kk Pumice smashing time, will probably start a thread on setting up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TmanNZ Posted October 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 What about stainless steel pot scourers as a media... Sorry but just wanting to know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 they will eventually rust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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