Question about Emperor/Penguin Diy media

NJ Devils Fan · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 46 Location: Yonkers, NY

Off-ice, I am going to do your DiY media for my emperors. I got one of those chair foam pads. Is it too thick to use? Should I only use this and not bother with the fluff in the baskets?

off-ice · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2003 7:33 pm Post subject:

That looks pretty thick and dense. I think I would probably cut it in half. If you leave it, it might clog up a bit faster, but you could always rinse it.

I don't put anything in my baskets, but that's just me.

NJ Devils Fan · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 46 Location: Yonkers, NY

Oh, ok, I'll probably rinse it every week.

cpr4cpu · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 11:42 am Post subject:

man that looks dense.
Just watch your flow rate once you install the padding. If the flow is reduced by half you need to thin the pad down. I try to keep the flow at least 75% of what it is with no filter medium at all.

I have also been known to reuse the filter pads on my emperor and penguin filters for years, just rinse the debris off them from tank water so as to not harm the biology of the media with chlorine. The carbon is useless and can be removed via a small hole in the back plastic (I make the hole in the bottom right closest to the filter impeller personally)

Goatlady · Joined: 28 Jun 2003 Posts: 917 Location: Wisconsin

Can I tell you what I do in ALL my Emperor 400 filters?
I take the little plastic filter baskets and take them apart. Then I take one half of it and stick it in the slot. It fits kind of loose, but that doesn't matter. Then I take two AquaClear 300 sponges and put them on their sides one on top of the other in front of the plastic media basket half.

If I really want to polish the water, I put the AC sponges behind the media basket half and pack the front with filter floss. My goldfish look like they are floating in air.

cpr4cpu · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 12:27 pm Post subject:

wow, that's pretty cool. I have stuffed all sorts of stuff in my filters, but since I have converted to peat moss in the changeable baskets I gave up trying to filter the particles out of the water. Maybe your polish method would help me out . . . thanks Goatlady, I think I'll give it a shot.

Essayons89 · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 195 Location: Cincinnati, OH

I basically do the same as Goatlady with my Penguin 330. This filter is running on my discus tank . I have AC sponges in front of the media baskets. I fill the media baskets with peat moss.

Bryan

NJ Devils Fan · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 46 Location: Yonkers, NY

Ok, I did it with one of the filters and it works great. Took some time to get the blue off the cartridge, I had to get the plyers and rip away, but I got it done. Now, I just got to do the other side, but so far, it's good.

bobalston · Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 60 Location: Tulsa, OK

Has anyone tried just putting a thin layer of foam/flass material INSIDE the media basket?

Bob

off-ice · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2003 9:33 am Post subject:

Hi Bob, glad to see you over here.

I answered your e-mail, but will put it here for everybody else as well.

I don't see any reason it would not work with the media baskets. My only concerns with it would be fibers getting loose, compaction, and either restricted water flow as a result or it ending up in a clump at the bottom of a basket and not filtering much. Next time I have to change mine out, which will be this week end, I will give it a try.

bobalston · Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 60 Location: Tulsa, OK

OK off-ice, I am anxiously awaiting your report of how it worked???????

Question

Bob

off-ice · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2003 9:58 am Post subject:

The loose fiber does compact a bit in the baskets allowing water to pass by. Nothing really drastic, and there are probably ways around it, such as adding a bit more, but I think I am going to stick with what I was doing.

bobalston · Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 60 Location: Tulsa, OK

Thanks for doing the experiment.

Now, what do I do with the patent application I had all ready to file???????

Bob Laughing

pminister · Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 11

cpr4cpu · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:06 am Post subject:

I think I can take a crack at 3 of the 4 questions and Off-ice can add his comments as well.

1. The purpose of the carbon is to adsorb things from the water column. Carbon pulls something like 99% of everything from the water, including the stuff you want like fertilizers.

2. While carbon does a great job of chemical filtration, the lifespan of your average carbon filter inserts is a week or so, and in that week it usually gets more of the good stuff like iron than the dissolved organics I really don't want.

4. I find that with regular water changes and filter cleanings I don't find the need to add any extra chemicals or chemical media.


News & Specials \| Plant Guide \| Algae \| Photos \| Articles \| Glossary \| Forum \| Resources