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Canister Filter Polishing Pads & Filter Pads

Discussion in 'Articles' started by The Rockster, Dec 9, 2009.

  1. The Rockster

    The Rockster Guru Class Expert

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    Hi,
    We have 3 canister filters. The maintenance can get expensive. Our newest filter is the C-530 from Marineland.

    Today we received replacement pads (polishing) for this filter. At about $9.00 per box (2 in a box) plus shipping this really seems like a waste of money. The instructions read to replace these polishing pads every 3 weeks.That alone seems like a waste of time and money. At that cost, they should give you the filter free. The pads are very thin, the box they came in seems better made.

    At the lfs, we have seen rolls and sheets of similar material. I could probably duplicate the shape with a pair of scissors.

    However we thought perhaps the density of the foam was engineered for the amount of required pass through or as the Eheim engineers claim "dwell time".( The predetermined time, optimally engineered, for the source water to be in contact with the filter media to promote nullifying bacteria is my definition of this.)

    Does anyone have any experience with DYI project of this nature?
     
    #1 The Rockster, Dec 9, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 9, 2009
  2. Gerryd

    Gerryd Plant Guru Team
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    Hi Rock,

    If the pad is a MICRON pad as opposed to just regular filter pads, than no. The micron pads trap much smaller particles and thus 'polish' the water. Once they clog, they want you to replace em, and they clog quickly.

    I would just use these say once a month or so as a nice maintenance thing.

    Or, just switch to the ocean clear or nu-clear canisters which have different size micron cartridges that can be cleaned/bleached.

    Hope this helps.
     
    #2 Gerryd, Dec 9, 2009
  3. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
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    Pads in canister filters like HOT's, Ehiems, Rena etc clog and severely reduce flow, fine if you have a cleaner fish only tank.

    If you want to polish and not have them clog, you need more pressure and as mentioned, Nu Clear, Ocean Clear type pleated canister cartridges.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #3 Tom Barr, Dec 9, 2009
  4. The Rockster

    The Rockster Guru Class Expert

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    These polishing pads are made of the same material..........for the Eheims and the Marineland. Far from a pleated micron as in a bio wheel or used in a Magnum 350, these are made of very cheap white foam.
    From what we know they are not optional, but mandatory and may serve a dual purpose of limiting sediment exiting the canister filter as well as polishing the water.

    I have $800.00 invested in canister filters and media, ( plus $85.00 worth of filter pads, bought on sale) one being a month old, so no way am I switching filtration systems.

    I check the flow of the canister weekly, after the waterchange, by checking the outflow of the spray bars prior to topping off the tank. I have been in touch with Eheim, and their engineers have told me my canisters were designed for LONG usage between maintenance (4-6 months) . I do the maintenance at 4 months. Since I am at almost 15 times the volume of the tank, I can afford an amount of degrading flow. :D:D


    Apparently, my question was not clear. Sorry.

    However after thinking about the question, perhaps the answer is to forget about dwell time and OEM polishing pads.

    Don't many folks use filter media from one company in other brands of filters? I put Eheim's media in Marineland's canisters. Many prefer Eheim Media.

    Also why else do the local lfs stock sheets of foam or spun wool in different thicknesses?
    I will ask the manager at Big Al's, they sell all brands of canisters and stock the sheets of foam, too.
     
    #4 The Rockster, Dec 9, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 9, 2009
  5. shoggoth43

    shoggoth43 Lifetime Charter Member
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    People use different media all the time. If you don't want to polish to some micron level there's nothing requiring it. I usually just wring out the filter pads a bit and stuff them back in until they get too stretched out. It's probably not the best, but I'm not opening up my cannisters all the time either, nor am I inclined to do so. Maybe every six weeks or so if that. I probably should given the amount that I feed since there's probably accumulated waste in there but there's only so much time in the day and it's quite a hassle to get at these units, empty them out, and move them around. The pleated cartridges would probably be easier but not an option for you. A bead filter would likely be easier still since it would just be a quick backflush to clean it but I don't know anyone who uses them so I can't say and it's not really relevent here anyway.

    If you want to use the pads from the LFS and cut them to size I can't see any reason why you couldn't. Heck, I don't see why you couldn't just stuff a ridiculous amount of fiber floss in the unit and call it a day either if you wanted to. The 2028 has a plastic grid that goes over the top basket to hold everything in. I don't know if yours does, but if so just shove whatever you want to use. You can even use old socks if you wanted to, just make sure they don't have anything toxic on/in them. :)

    -
    S
     
    #5 shoggoth43, Dec 10, 2009
  6. The Rockster

    The Rockster Guru Class Expert

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    Sorry For You We Seem to Think Alike!


    Thanks for reading my mind!!!:D:D:D
    All 3 canisters have the plastic grid you mention. When I open mine up, the polishing pad basically falls apart, and is full of soil residue. This shows me that the multi purpose of the pad is to block any of it from returning to the tank. If the polishing pad is not brown and full of this, I have noticed that the rest of the filter media it self is not that dirty.I have read that the true test of whether or not to do filter maintenance is to check the rate of flow. Some believe that up to the blockage point the filtration is improved. Of course the companies would like all to replace media continuously, perhaps, a sales pitch?

    Having a couple of years supply of filter pads for both Eheims, and 10 polishing pads for the Marinenland C-530, either way I am in good shape. I was just shocked at the quality, and cost of the latest pads.

    My inquiry was based on trying to separate "sales hype", from fact/ benefit. Not just for us, but anyone who has a canister filter. In this economy it seems wise to investigate expenditures, and to spend wisely.
     
    #6 The Rockster, Dec 10, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 10, 2009
  7. shoggoth43

    shoggoth43 Lifetime Charter Member
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    Our condolences on your cat. We recently lost one of ours. He went into the vet for an emergency procedure and arrested on the table. They brought him back but he never really recovered and died later the next morning in their care. That was Halloween and the other cats still call at night for him. It's rough.

    -
    S


     
    #7 shoggoth43, Dec 10, 2009
  8. The Rockster

    The Rockster Guru Class Expert

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    Rocky the Rockster

    Sorry to hear about your cat. We feel your pain. To us our pets are like our children, and we center our lives around them, others think differently.

    My cat was with me about 25 years. For some of that time, he was basically, my only family. He ate one of the best foods on the market (Nutro) and ate Snook and Bass regularly, as well as our catches at sea. Every Xmas he got a shrimp platter, toys, and a go at some cosmic catnip.This Thanksgiving as usual, we all ate turkey- 4 cats, 2 parrots and us. He died in his sleep 2 nites ago. We had his wake at the neighborhood bar (my friends adopted him years ago to) yesterday.

    I feel blessed, that he picked me to share his life with. I know that I will never forget him, or replace him.

    May both cats RIP.
     
    #8 The Rockster, Dec 11, 2009
  9. Left C

    Left C Lifetime Members
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    Coralife sells 50 and 100 micron filter pads in various sizes that can be cut to shape. Their 100 micron 36" x 30" (1080 cubic inches) pads are on sale at Big Al's right now for $7.99. The same size 50 micron pads are on sale for $11.99.

    To put these pads in perspective, a human hair is about 100 microns in diameter.

    http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18400/cl0/?viewType=Manufacturer&attrib_search=Y&attrib_cnt=1&attrib_id_0=2011&attrib_value_0=Energy%20Savers%20%28Coralife%29
     
    #9 Left C, Dec 20, 2009
  10. JDowns

    JDowns Lifetime Charter Member
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    When I used canisters in the past I always cut to fit my own material. You pay a premium for the same material for a manufacturer to cut it for you.
    Aquatic Eco has some of the best prices on things like this. If you search around you can usually find the exact same products commonly used in our hobby without the hobby price. Here is 30sqft of the same material for basically a buck a sq ft.
     
    #10 JDowns, Dec 20, 2009
  11. argnom

    argnom Guru Class Expert

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    When the polishing pad in my filter went south, I just replaced it with good old generic brand filter floss. It's a lot cheaper and works quite well. I think it was 3.00$ for a big old bag.

    In my days, all we had were corner filters, floss and carbon and we had to walk 10 miles uphill, both ways to get it and we did not complain and everything worked! :gw

    :p
     
    #11 argnom, Apr 22, 2010
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