Alternatives To Hob Filter Cartridges

Hi all,
I want to cut my own filter cartridge flossy stuff because the refills are expensive! I have 2 Aqueon HOB filters. What type of flossy stuff should i get?

Also, aqueon has "ammonia filters" that i buy, but they seem pricey for what they are. Is there a cheaper alternative?

 

How often are you changing the cartridges? You only need to change HOB filter cartridges when they are completely falling apart. Just clean them by swishing them around in dechlorinated water after a water change. I've had most of mine for more than a year.

 

You could also get a big piece of sponge like for an aquaclear 110 and cut it to fit your filters, they last about forever.

 

Go to lowes and buy a bag of lava rock and the coarse pond pump sponge. put the lava rock in your filter without the cartridge and add the sponge on top. Alternatively you can put the sponge around your HOB intake and pick up some polyfil pillow stuffing.

This will increase your filter capability and it drops your maintenance cost to almost zero.

 

I use polyfill (from a craft store) for my mechanical media, and I change this whenever it gets dirty. I also use micron felt pads (bought in bulk from Drs. Foster & Smith) that get changed every few months. For my biological media (never gets changed), I used no-brand ceramic rings I bought in bulk from Amazon.

 

Pinkyfilters.com! A roll is ten bucks. Cut to size. I also use the poly fill for clear water. Some bio balls, or ceramic rings and a little
mesh bag is good. Anyone would benefit from taking a look at your filter and how it handles water, and being creative from there. I have even hot rodded my Top Fin all in one nano tank by being a little creative with media Never be a slave to the people selling you those cartridges again.

 

I spend a little more money for the two stage polly
https://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Fil..._rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=03YPND77KR933V8HRD5Z

 

Pinky is 2 stage and much cheaper. Price does not always equal quality. Also, what the different ply are is important. The finer side can come in all sorts of coarseness (“fluffy” side pretty much the same I think. I like pinky because it’s an extra fine. There are blue kinds that let a lot more particles through, made to use with a poly fill or pad after that as the final polisher