View Full Version : Question about Eheim fine filter pads and filter wool
goldfish freak
06-20-2003, 9:14 PM
I was wondering if I can use regular polyester filter wool in my Eheim classic filters instead of the fine filters pads that they make specifically for them? These pads are very expensive compared to polyester filter wool.
Skittyfish
06-21-2003, 8:56 AM
If you can cover the whole area so that there is no bypass. I haven't tried that, but if it works please let me know. And you are right, they are expensive. Do you buy the three packs? Two fine and one coarse. That's what I have been getting for the last year and a half. I tried just letting it be a biological filter without the pads. I had a sponge on the intake to catch debris. But my tank looked to dirty to continue with that. I would much rather open up the filter once every 6 weeks or so to change the fine filter pad and pour out what gunk had accumulated.
Good luck, and post back if you try it.
If you use Eheim's Ehfisustrat as the biofilter media and do not use the fine pads, you are risking damage to the impeller and, even worse, to its housing.
goldfish freak
06-21-2003, 2:01 PM
Thank you for the replies. RTR, my understanding is that these fiine filter pads are constructed to prevent any fine particles from the Efisubstrat to get into the impeller.Won't polyester filter floss on top of this media perform the same job, or is there something special about those Eheim pads? I would like to be able to use this instead if possible.
No, they will not do the same job, the Eheim fine pad is very fine, at least an order of magnitude smaller particle capture than floss, and that only with very careful packing of the floss. I suspect in most circumstances the fine pads are effectively closer to two orders of magnitude finer than floss.
I personally would never put an expensive filter with a 10-20 year operating life at risk to save a few cents running cost. That to me is like adding regular gas to a car built for high test - it may work after a fashion and for some period of time, then it costs a lot more money to repair than was saved earlier.
goldfish freak
06-21-2003, 8:38 PM
Thank you RTR. I was worried about using filter floss, that is why I asked before I went ahead and did it.
Good move, IMHO. I am very protective of my Eheims, as I expect them to last all but forever. I do keep extra impellers around, as I have broken several in my life by dropping them - they are okay when young, but the blades seem to get brittle when old - and I have plenty of old Eheims.