Making your own filter pads for HOB

[akfa]

I have a Emp400 and a penguin 350. I was just wondering, if you dont buy your own premade blue filter pads, what are the best cost effective ways to make your own?

[geoff_tropheus]

I am not sure but I think they also have it cut for Emporer.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4136+4169&pcatid=4169

[blacksmith37]

I use polyester quilt padding from Walmart. The 400 and 350 are the same width but different lengths.
I bought holders(for any filter media) for each several years ago, but they are difficult to find now.

[geoff_tropheus]

Anything could work you could trim for a frame and then use rubberbands and put blue bonded pad on it. There is plastic eggcrate at Lowes and Home Depot that could work

[fshfrk]

I made a 11 x 16 pattern out of masonite or you could even use card board. mark out a whole sheet and cut all once. stack up nice and neat. then I use the plastic chemical media basket(only 1/2 of it and it does not mater which 1/2). lay batting flat set basket on it with about 1" over hanging on top & bottom. you can use 3 fat rubber bands to attach. I only use the rubber bands on heavely stocked tanks that I know I will change the filter weekly. on smaller tanks I use monofilament fishing line. pull out 5 ft tie a loop knot in the end run the line thru it sinch it up, wrap it around 6 or 7 times moving up to the top. tie it off. those rubber bands break down after a couple of weeks.

[akfa]

I made a 11 x 16 pattern out of masonite or you could even use card board. mark out a whole sheet and cut all once. stack up nice and neat. then I use the plastic chemical media basket(only 1/2 of it and it does not mater which 1/2). lay batting flat set basket on it with about 1" over hanging on top & bottom. you can use 3 fat rubber bands to attach. I only use the rubber bands on heavely stocked tanks that I know I will change the filter weekly. on smaller tanks I use monofilament fishing line. pull out 5 ft tie a loop knot in the end run the line thru it sinch it up, wrap it around 6 or 7 times moving up to the top. tie it off. those rubber bands break down after a couple of weeks.

so just thick pieces of cardboard attached to the filter media basket? anything on the inside?

[Rico]

I made a 11 x 16 pattern out of masonite or you could even use card board. mark out a whole sheet and cut all once. stack up nice and neat. then I use the plastic chemical media basket(only 1/2 of it and it does not mater which 1/2). lay batting flat set basket on it with about 1" over hanging on top & bottom. you can use 3 fat rubber bands to attach. I only use the rubber bands on heavely stocked tanks that I know I will change the filter weekly. on smaller tanks I use monofilament fishing line. pull out 5 ft tie a loop knot in the end run the line thru it sinch it up, wrap it around 6 or 7 times moving up to the top. tie it off. those rubber bands break down after a couple of weeks.

pics would help

[fshfrk]

the card board is just a pattern it does not go in the filter. Vidio on the way.

[fshfrk]

vidio & pics of filterpad

the pattern is 11 x 16


filter pad laid out with frame on top


filter pad with rubber bands for tanks you change this weekly.(do not reuse rubber bands)


mono filament fishing line 20lb. you could use any but 20lb is easy to work with.


pull out a doulble arm length & a half. about 7 or 8 ft. for tanks that you will not change the pad in more than a couple of weeks.


wrapping the fishing line around the filter pad.

http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm210/johncrowder/?action=view&current=DSCN0678.flv

[fshfrk]

check out the group buy forum I have 8ft x 20ft pieces of this at cost.