Or just reuse the original cartridge. Just spray it out with the sprayer on your sink or garden hose. They last forever. If they start falling apart replace it. I've had one cartridge last well over a year no problem.
That's a great idea. I've just recently found that polyfil can be rinsed just as well. I use a dollar store pasta strainer over a bucket and use the water to feed plants.
They were old hand me downs. I've seen them at Walmart a lot. Full of neon colors. We repainted then with flat white Krylon Fusion paint. Fish safe after 24 hours. They do look sharp...
Good point. And the tiny bit that is inside the factory filters can't be that effective. So if it's needed, one could simply add a mesh bag of it into the filter housing.
I check it to see if it's overly built up. If so, I rinse it in aquarium water. Pull some water from the tank and gently rinse it. You don't want it completely clean. And you don't want to use any city tap water with chlorine in it. That will kill off the beneficial bacteria culture.
@@hagenhilldesign I'm not familiar with that foam but I clicked the link you posted and it said that the white part was coarse and the green was fine. I'm not speaking from experience 👍
Honestly, I don't think the tiny amount that is sprinkled inside is that effective. One can always drop a small mesh bag of charcoal in behind the pad.
The majority of the colony resides on a separate piece that sits in front of the filter pad. It holds a sponge and has several plastic "fingers". The water flows through that piece before returning to the tank.
Beneficial bacteria lives pretty much everywhere in the tank. The substrate, rocks, decorations, glass, etc. Also, that blue cartridge holder which houses the filter is designed to store bacteria.
Awesome
Or just reuse the original cartridge. Just spray it out with the sprayer on your sink or garden hose. They last forever. If they start falling apart replace it. I've had one cartridge last well over a year no problem.
That's a great idea. I've just recently found that polyfil can be rinsed just as well. I use a dollar store pasta strainer over a bucket and use the water to feed plants.
@hagenhilldesign I reuse the floss as well. I do water my house plants with tank water but I have so many tanks most of it goes to waste.
You mean the cartridge with the carbon inside?
I always thought the carbon went bad after about a month or so.
Clever!
Thank you!
💯
Why use the frame? I do the same hack, only using cut-up scouring pads. No frame though. Itll stay in place on its own, in the carrier.
I guess I didn't want it to float up. I'll try it your way next time and see what happens. Thanks 👍
Love those white caves in the tank. Where did you get them from?
They were old hand me downs. I've seen them at Walmart a lot. Full of neon colors. We repainted then with flat white Krylon Fusion paint. Fish safe after 24 hours. They do look sharp...
@@hagenhilldesign Cool! Thanks
@@joevaz9mm welcome:)
Also rids filter of carbon, which some folks (like me) seldom use.
Good point. And the tiny bit that is inside the factory filters can't be that effective. So if it's needed, one could simply add a mesh bag of it into the filter housing.
What about the ammonia filter in front what do you do with that
I check it to see if it's overly built up. If so, I rinse it in aquarium water. Pull some water from the tank and gently rinse it. You don't want it completely clean. And you don't want to use any city tap water with chlorine in it. That will kill off the beneficial bacteria culture.
Where can you get the roll what is it called many thanks !!!!
Aqua-Flo 12" Pond & Aquarium Filter Media, 72" (6 Feet) Long x 1" Thick (Green/White) a.co/d/aF6qf9s
If the green part is the finest material why wouldn't you want the coarse white side to hit the water first to remove the larger particles?
I'll have to look again. To me the green side seemed much more coarse. I'll check it out. Thanks!
@@hagenhilldesign I'm not familiar with that foam but I clicked the link you posted and it said that the white part was coarse and the green was fine. I'm not speaking from experience 👍
@PremiumBlendHerbal lol whoops. I've been doing wrong for a while then. I guess I have a new idea for a video now. Lol Thanks!
Where is the charcoal
I don't use it.
But what about the charcoal replacement?
Honestly, I don't think the tiny amount that is sprinkled inside is that effective. One can always drop a small mesh bag of charcoal in behind the pad.
You really do not need the charcoal and especially so if you have live plants.
A coarse sponge and some floss are all you really need.
But aren’t you throwing out the beneficial bacteria colony every time and destroying the cycle in the aquarium?
The majority of the colony resides on a separate piece that sits in front of the filter pad. It holds a sponge and has several plastic "fingers". The water flows through that piece before returning to the tank.
Beneficial bacteria is stored on everything in your tank, but mostly on the coarse sponge (usually black) that comes with Whisper / Tetra Filters.
Beneficial bacteria lives pretty much everywhere in the tank.
The substrate, rocks, decorations, glass, etc.
Also, that blue cartridge holder which houses the filter is designed to store bacteria.