Canister Filter Polishing Pads & Filter Pads

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?

 

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.


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.

 

Sorry For You We Seem to Think Alike!

Thanks for reading my mind!!!
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.

 

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.