Filter Media for PenPlax Cascade 1000

[jasonG75]

I have come to you DIYers and those more knowledgeable than myself to help me save money.

I have a Penn Plax Cascade 1000. The filter media is sold in stores for 10.99 for 6. I have 3 good size media baskets.

Now I know I have heard people state that they use the pillow filler that you can buy at walmart. I would like to look into something like this to save me money. Any anyone suggest or advise via link where to go to get this type of info.

THANKS

 

[fish-n-chips]

Any hobby/craft/fabric store should sell what you need for mechanical filtration. For bio., I just picked up a 50lb bag of lava rock from Home Depot for about $8. I had to wash it myself but afterwards, I was able to seperate the non-porous from the porous(discard the nonporous) and then I seperated the different sizes. The largest rocks went into the first basket, the smallest went into the last basket. Those in between went .........in the middle. Plastic scrubbies work well also. Hope that this helps. It works for me.
Sorry, but no link.

 

[jasonG75]

Any hobby/craft/fabric store should sell what you need for mechanical filtration.

So basically I cut it to fit the basket correct.. I am not worried about Bio, because those don't need changing out as offen. I can get bio rings for $8 and carbon for $8 it is just the filter floss that's so expensive.

I put 3 pads in all the baskets except the top baskets, it gets 2. So I always have to buy 2 boxes when I do change it out. Which I don't do but every 6 months and it is coming up to that time.

 

[sand crab]

A floor buffer wheel works good they have centers that make good bio applications .. You can get them where ever they have shiny floors...

 

[jasonG75]

OK cool ....thanks