dude big lots rocks. pre filter spounge. (does it work)

[iamvictor2k]

its the bald guy in action. i had an epiphany as i was walking threw big lots. i have a guppy breeder tank that the babys love to get sucked into the hob tube. so to fix it i threw a rubber band and a bio media bag over the intake. was looking for a nice prefilter sponge but didnt want to pay a ridicules price. and then i saw it. and its 3 bucks and it will do plenty.
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pull it off the clamp gently with lots of pressure
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and cut to appropriate size
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trim it up nicely and cut a hole in the center
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and BAM its shoved in nice and tight(the way i like it)(thats what she said) and its done in less than 5 min(thats what she rely said)

[odinthejd]

great DIY!

[iamvictor2k]

great DIY!
thanks

[toddnbecka]

I use penguin powerhead prefilter replacement sponges for that purpose. They're much coarser, and don't clog up (slows down the filter flow) every few days. Aquaclear sponge inserts are also good for that application. The penguin sponges are cheap online: http://shop.bhg.com/product/foam-sponges/207427/marineland-reverse-flow-powerhead-replacement-sponge-prefilter.html

[iamvictor2k]

o yeah i just made a post filter lol they seem pretty similar from the factory foam to the bald guy sponge
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123613.

[iamvictor2k]

I use penguin powerhead prefilter replacement sponges for that purpose. They're much coarser, and don't clog up (slows down the filter flow) every few days. Aquaclear sponge inserts are also good for that application. The penguin sponges are cheap online: http://shop.bhg.com/product/foam-sponges/207427/marineland-reverse-flow-powerhead-replacement-sponge-prefilter.html
seems way more expensive to me when i can get probly 6-8 out of 1 bald guy and my guy is 3 yours is 3.50 for 1

[cellodaisy]

Are you at all concerned about chemicals in the sponge? It seems everything is "antibacterial" or "anti-mildew" or "anti-something" these days.

[iamvictor2k]

Are you at all concerned about chemicals in the sponge? It seems everything is "antibacterial" or "anti-mildew" or "anti-something" these days.

no its going in a feeder guppy tank lol

[toddnbecka]

Expense vs convenience for me, I need coarse prefilters on multiple tanks to keep the Najas and pleco poop from clogging the intakes. It got annoying having to take them off and rinse them every few days...

[iamvictor2k]

Are you at all concerned about chemicals in the sponge? It seems everything is "antibacterial" or "anti-mildew" or "anti-something" these days.

its pretty much my test tank for every thing

[iamvictor2k]

Expense vs convenience for me, I need coarse prefilters on multiple tanks to keep the Najas and pleco poop from clogging the intakes. It got annoying having to take them off and rinse them every few days...

i guess in your app that would be the best option but for me i have 4 tanks that i am in at least once a day. wont bother me a bit if it does clog up

[cellodaisy]

no its going in a feeder guppy tank lol


its pretty much my test tank for every thing

Well, let us know how it goes. Good luck, little guppies! :)

[iamvictor2k]

Well, let us know how it goes. Good luck, little guppies! :)
they arent dead yet

[platytudes]

Actually your sponge looks way finer. Open cell pore foam/sponges like the ones in the AquaClear sponges can be found in craft stores, or so I've heard. But the reticulated foam sponges like the ones in the link for the Penguin powerhead are truly the most durable and long lasting, and also able to go a long time between cleanings. Incidentally this is the difference between the Hydro Sponges and the Hydro Sponge Pros.

The problem is not so much that your prefilter will get dirty, but that it will restrict flow so much that it will stop sucking in water, and your motor might burn up from running dry.

I would be writing/calling the Mr. Clean company (probably Procter & Gamble) and asking them about the mildewcides etc. Would only take a quick Google to find out contact info.

[iamvictor2k]

Actually your sponge looks way finer. Open cell pore foam/sponges like the ones in the AquaClear sponges can be found in craft stores, or so I've heard. But the reticulated foam sponges like the ones in the link for the Penguin powerhead are truly the most durable and long lasting, and also able to go a long time between cleanings. Incidentally this is the difference between the Hydro Sponges and the Hydro Sponge Pros.

The problem is not so much that your prefilter will get dirty, but that it will restrict flow so much that it will stop sucking in water, and your motor might burn up from running dry.

I would be writing/calling the Mr. Clean company (probably Procter & Gamble) and asking them about the mildewcides etc. Would only take a quick Google to find out contact info.

thanks for the negativity. time will tell all.

[RodInCALIFORNIA]

reticulated foam sponges are the way to go.

[platytudes]

I know you think we like shooting down your enthusiasm, Victor, but it's nothing personal. There are tons of things that are great to use in aquariums that are meant for other uses. From spawning mops made with yarn and corks to Velcro, Chip Clips, plastic baskets with suction cups (like for soap dishes), terracotta pots...the list is endless. But using sponges made for cleaning has risks (mildewcides, I know that some brands of sponges say specifically on them not to use them for aquariums) and there are plenty of cheap sources for the kind of sponges that are proven to be superior:
http://members.cox.net/tulsaalstons/BuklFilterMedia.htm

So while it may be great that you got a huge sponge for $3, it's not great if it has mildewcides and kills $3 worth of feeder guppies.

Find out of it does, and if it doesn't then it would make an awesome air powered sponge filter. But it doesn't look to me like it is going to make a good prefilter, because it is just too dense.

[platytudes]

Also, I felt free to comment since the title of your thread has (does it work) in the title. Perhaps you meant something different.

[captaincaveman9]

no its going in a feeder guppy tank lol


I would be even more concerned about chemicals with it being a feeder tank, I would worry about the chemicals used in making the product and sterilizing it slowly leaching into the fish you are feeding these things to. I think it's great you look for alternatives, but I don't think it's wise to look in the cleaning aisle for help with you living animals

[mott]

Just about any sponge product made for cleaning will say "not for aquarium use" on it somewhere. If it doesn't you might be ok.

[iamvictor2k]

Just about any sponge product made for cleaning will say "not for aquarium use" on it somewhere. If it doesn't you might be ok.

o no where on the package does it say not for aquarium use.

[iamvictor2k]

I know you think we like shooting down your enthusiasm, Victor, but it's nothing personal. There are tons of things that are great to use in aquariums that are meant for other uses. From spawning mops made with yarn and corks to Velcro, Chip Clips, plastic baskets with suction cups (like for soap dishes), terracotta pots...the list is endless. But using sponges made for cleaning has risks (mildewcides, I know that some brands of sponges say specifically on them not to use them for aquariums) and there are plenty of cheap sources for the kind of sponges that are proven to be superior:
http://members.cox.net/tulsaalstons/BuklFilterMedia.htm

So while it may be great that you got a huge sponge for $3, it's not great if it has mildewcides and kills $3 worth of feeder guppies.

Find out of it does, and if it doesn't then it would make an awesome air powered sponge filter. But it doesn't look to me like it is going to make a good prefilter, because it is just too dense.

i just think its funny that you never ever ever have any thing positive to say about my diys. every thing is negative that you have ever posted on my threads. maybe you should concentrate on both good and bad and not just bad. that would be cool lol. and to let every one know all is still living and breathing fine no strange behavior. no deaths yet.

[iamvictor2k]

I would be even more concerned about chemicals with it being a feeder tank, I would worry about the chemicals used in making the product and sterilizing it slowly leaching into the fish you are feeding these things to. I think it's great you look for alternatives, but I don't think it's wise to look in the cleaning aisle for help with you living animals

why not its my money its my fish???? if i can experiment and fined that a product works and its cheep then every one wins. if it dosent then only i lose.
im a grown man i think i can make decisions like that my self. thanks for your input though.

[RodInCALIFORNIA]

im sure there is alot of people think your diy's are extreme and not cost effective or lack safety as a concern. like the canister filter you made way over priced for what you got and its unattractive. then the light you built i showed the pics you posted of the build to my insurance agent and asked if i had that and it caused a fire would i be covered and he said NO way would they pay off. and then the sponge diy its not the correct type of sponge and most people are not going to want to mess with cleaning it every day or 2 and the neon yellow color doesnt blend in and is a eye sore. just because something can be done as a diy doesnt mean that it should be when better products are available for less money and made properly.
but if none of this matters to you thats fine its just a opinion and this is the USA your free to do as you please.
but i do get a chuckle looking over your diy projects your a very entertaining guy.

[iamvictor2k]

im sure there is alot of people think your diy's are extreme and not cost effective or lack safety as a concern. like the canister filter you made way over priced for what you got and its unattractive. then the light you built i showed the pics you posted of the build to my insurance agent and asked if i had that and it caused a fire would i be covered and he said NO way would they pay off. and then the sponge diy its not the correct type of sponge and most people are not going to want to mess with cleaning it every day or 2 and the neon yellow color doesnt blend in and is a eye sore. just because something can be done as a diy doesnt mean that it should be when better products are available for less money and made properly.
but if none of this matters to you thats fine its just a opinion and this is the USA your free to do as you please.
but i do get a chuckle looking over your diy projects your a very entertaining guy.

thank you. o yeah the canister filter is still pumping great. it does an awesome job in my tank and its very easy to maintain. and the hood light is still rockin out, puttin all the light i need in my tank and not shorting out. and what does it mater if it is pretty or not. majority of fish keepers have 5 gallon buckets under there tanks. this one just happens to have 2 tubes coming from it. and im still trying to fined pre filters cheaper than what i made them for. sure its not that pretty but it blends fine when you have a spounge bob background. lol

[247Plants]

sure its not that pretty but it blends fine when you have a spounge bob background. lol

'nuff said.

[The Zigman]

All I got to say is that its find, Not fined.

Anyway, carry on...

[James0816]

Well I am one for experimentation as well. It's always good to think of something, make it and then post it up for comments. You just have to be prepared for both the good and the bad when you're seeking out this type of feedback. However, regardless of how bad it may be....don't let it discourage you and keep tweaking. That's the art of DIY.

Now...on to your latest idea. Pre-filters are a great addition to any tank and especially fry tanks. The only issue I see with this version of it (and it was mentioned already) is the density of the sponge. Too dense of material will cause a big strain on the motor leading to a burn out. Just pay extra attention to it and squeeze it out often.

Keep on truckin!

[platytudes]

Victor, I've only posted on two of your threads. The light and the sponge thread. I saw your canister filter thread but I don't know enough about those sorts of DIYs to say anything good or bad. It looks like you got some advice on building a better handle and it looks like you did modify it, but I don't know what you did because I didn't look. If it works for you then I'm sure it's great. It probably won't be as durable as a commercial one, but as long as you check it to make sure it doesn't leak I don't think it will be that big of a deal.

I did see your light thread, and like pretty much everyone else I thought the same things: 1) wait a minute, is that safe? it doesn't look right... and 2) OMG all those lights put together are 783 watts! over an 125 gallon tank!

So what is the positive thing I can say about it? It's a huge power guzzler for what you're getting. I can't say that I like the way it looks, it's too top heavy - but you did put a nice stain on it. "More light is better, so as much light as possible must be best!" - I don't agree with that (and actually, most people don't). The best part is that you and your daughter had fun making it. Oh, and that part about getting free light bulbs. But you could run 16 Fluval FX5s for what it costs to power your light. You already know that it's going to be cheaper in the long run to use something else, and have said so. And using the plug in light bulbs or whatever those were, make it different from other light DIYs where people used the right materials. It's not like we're a bunch of elite snobs...it's just safer to do things by the book.

The sponge...huh. What do you want us to say there? It's an ugly yellow sponge that's way too fine to use as a prefilter. It cost $3...the right sponge costs $5.

Almost all sponges say "not for aquarium use" - you know how when you get them out of the package they're a little bit damp and they have that "clean" smell? Well, that's because they have mildewcides on them.

I don't know if your sponge does, and neither do you - only the manufacturer knows. And the manufacturer probably doesn't think that you're going to use a mop refill to scrub inside an aquarium, but they DO think that you might use a dish sponge - so they put that warning on the dish sponges.

[platytudes]

o no where on the package does it say not for aquarium use.

Take a look at this dish sponge, for example.

[iamvictor2k]

Well I am one for experimentation as well. It's always good to think of something, make it and then post it up for comments. You just have to be prepared for both the good and the bad when you're seeking out this type of feedback. However, regardless of how bad it may be....don't let it discourage you and keep tweaking. That's the art of DIY.

Now...on to your latest idea. Pre-filters are a great addition to any tank and especially fry tanks. The only issue I see with this version of it (and it was mentioned already) is the density of the sponge. Too dense of material will cause a big strain on the motor leading to a burn out. Just pay extra attention to it and squeeze it out often.

Keep on truckin!

thanks bro. thats a decent comment and tactful also.

[iamvictor2k]

Victor, I've only posted on two of your threads. The light and the sponge thread. I saw your canister filter thread but I don't know enough about those sorts of DIYs to say anything good or bad. It looks like you got some advice on building a better handle and it looks like you did modify it, but I don't know what you did because I didn't look. If it works for you then I'm sure it's great. It probably won't be as durable as a commercial one, but as long as you check it to make sure it doesn't leak I don't think it will be that big of a deal.

I did see your light thread, and like pretty much everyone else I thought the same things: 1) wait a minute, is that safe? it doesn't look right... and 2) OMG all those lights put together are 783 watts! over an 125 gallon tank!

So what is the positive thing I can say about it? It's a huge power guzzler for what you're getting. I can't say that I like the way it looks, it's too top heavy - but you did put a nice stain on it. "More light is better, so as much light as possible must be best!" - I don't agree with that (and actually, most people don't). The best part is that you and your daughter had fun making it. Oh, and that part about getting free light bulbs. But you could run 16 Fluval FX5s for what it costs to power your light. You already know that it's going to be cheaper in the long run to use something else, and have said so. And using the plug in light bulbs or whatever those were, make it different from other light DIYs where people used the right materials. It's not like we're a bunch of elite snobs...it's just safer to do things by the book.

The sponge...huh. What do you want us to say there? It's an ugly yellow sponge that's way too fine to use as a prefilter. It cost $3...the right sponge costs $5.

Almost all sponges say "not for aquarium use" - you know how when you get them out of the package they're a little bit damp and they have that "clean" smell? Well, that's because they have mildewcides on them.

I don't know if your sponge does, and neither do you - only the manufacturer knows. And the manufacturer probably doesn't think that you're going to use a mop refill to scrub inside an aquarium, but they DO think that you might use a dish sponge - so they put that warning on the dish sponges.

good points. dont really agree with the delivery of most comments but hey if i can start an argument the longer the thread stays alive and the more people get to see my "P.O.S." diys.