cheap Eheim substrate?

[thomas]

It's time to replace my filter's media? It was the big Eheim 2262 that currently has the bottom half filled with bio balls, and top half filled with carbon. So, now, I want to replace the carbon with Eheim fish subtrate and Eheim Mech. Do you know where I can find best deal on this?

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: cheap Eheim substrate?

I might have some Effimech to sell cheap, let me look at home tonight and get back to you on Monday.

I want you to know that I have (2) 2262's and (1) 2260.  They are packed like this :

4L of Effimech Noodles
1-1/2" THK Medium Foam cut to fit from Jehmco.com ($14.95 sheet)
2 - (1) Gallon Bales of Bio-Bale by CPR aquatics.  I got it from Marine Depot for $7.99 ea.
5 - Bags of Chempure
Topped off with Blue Bonded pad cut to fit.

You dont have to have the Chempure, you could use regular charcoal or just add another layer or two of Blue Bonded Pad to make up the room.

All of this media can be had for about $40

Each month replace the blue bonded pad with new, and then every 3 months repalce the chempure with new, rinse and re-use all the other media in the sink EXCEPT the BIO-BALE.  Clean the Bio-BALE in aquarium water.

Take care,

Geoff

[eklikewhoa]

Re: cheap Eheim substrate?

The cheapest LFS in town is oddly enough, Fish Gallery for Effimech and Ehfisubstrate pro.

[thomas]

Re: cheap Eheim substrate?

Thanks, Geoff. I already have the old Bio-ball, so I guess I don't have to buy the new one. Also, when you said you used the Blue Bonded Pad, you placed it under the rack or on top of the rack between rack and Effimech? Next is Eheim Effimech. Next is another layer of Blue Bonded Pad to separate the two medium. Next is Eheim Ehfisubstrate Pro (or ChemPure, which one is actually better for planted tank?), then layers of Bio-balls, and then another layer of Blue Bonded Pad, and then the top rack.

I've found at Big-al-online and their quote is below
5 liters Effimech 29.99
5 liters Ehfisubstrate Pro 62.99
Looks like it's cheaper than Dr.Foster&Smith, but I am not sure about tax and shipping fee.

Any other ideas?

[edkrueger]

Re: cheap Eheim substrate?

If you want it really cheaply go to fish land and buy Oddysea filter sheets and cut them down to size and put some lava rocks as the loose bio media. The come in Phos remover, active carbon and plain. You could layer them: Flow=>Plain, Carbon, Phosx. My Magnums have only lava rocks in them. You can get them cheap at home depot in the grilling section [they are used as heat diffusers.]

[szidlon]

Re: cheap Eheim substrate?

Thanks, Geoff. I already have the old Bio-ball, so I guess I don't have to buy the new one. Also, when you said you used the Blue Bonded Pad, you placed it under the rack or on top of the rack between rack and Effimech? Next is Eheim Effimech. Next is another layer of Blue Bonded Pad to separate the two medium. Next is Eheim Ehfisubstrate Pro (or ChemPure, which one is actually better for planted tank?), then layers of Bio-balls, and then another layer of Blue Bonded Pad, and then the top rack.

I've found at Big-al-online and their quote is below
5 liters Effimech 29.99
5 liters Ehfisubstrate Pro 62.99
Looks like it's cheaper than Dr.Foster&Smith, but I am not sure about tax and shipping fee.

Any other ideas?

BigAls doesn't have a brick and mortar in Texas so you will not be charged sales tax.  If you check regularly, they sometimes have free shipping on orders over $75 but they just had free shipping a couple of weeks ago.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: cheap Eheim substrate?

I pack the canister like this starting at the bottom..

The bottom rack with the longest pins, with the pins touching the bottom.

Then 4L of Effimech

Then the 1-1/2" THK BLue Foam from Jhemco that is cut to fit like a 13" pizza

Then (2) of the 1-gallon bundles of BIO-BALE.

Then Blue Bonded Pad cut to fit like a 13" pizza

Then (5) Bags of Chempure.

Then the top rack with the pins pointing towards the top.

Close the lid.

You can substitute the Blue Foam from Jehmco with some kind of medium to coarse pad else where or even try 2L of the Green Grass Effifx.  If you were to use blue bonded pad here it would clog too soon.

You can substitue the Chempure with regular charcoal, or 2 to 3 sheets of blue bonded pad or a mix of blue bonded pad and filter floss.

Hope this helps you..

Geoff

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: cheap Eheim substrate?

typically Dr.Foster and SMith is the cheapest anywhere, sometimes BigAls or Aquariumguys is cheaper on some things.

Another thing you can also look at is Marine Depot will price match the others with shipping also included.  Lots of times Marine Depot has free shipping on a lot of items.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: cheap Eheim substrate?

Bio-Balls would work just as well as the Bio-Bale, I just do not know how many of what kind will fit in there to provide the same surface area.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: cheap Eheim substrate?

I would only use the blue bonded pad at the top or just below the Chempure.  Used anywhere else, it would clogg to soon.  That is unless you removed the white portion of the pad.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: cheap Eheim substrate?

I have all of my filters as so....from bottom to top...

Eheim Ehfimech
Coarse sponge
Eheim Ehfisubstrat pro(sometimes bagged)
blue bonded padding

[fishingaddict]

Re: cheap Eheim substrate?

"cheap" and "eheim" usually dont go hand in hand.