Retrofit other media into Penguin HOB?
- Thread starter Ramphonic
- Start date
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
i stack a dual output hob filter that normally would take those gosh awful expensive cartridges just like i would an Aqualcear hob. two sponges on either side cut to fit the space, then a hefty handful of biomax or other bio type media, then a layer of the white filter floss, cut to fit, that you get in a big roll in a bag from the lfs (Big Al's has this all the time in my area). basically treat each side (where each output is) like it's own separate hob. works great!
CWO4GUNNER
USN/USCG 1974-2004 Weps
The huge thing the cartridges have over stack filling in an HOB is the surface area filtering capacity. You just cant compare for example a 5X8" (40 SI) cartridges surface area high-flow long-term filtering ability to restrictive stack filter media of the HOB void, trying to use a low pressure pump to force water to flow through a smaller surface area of 2X5 (10 SI), you will always lose short and long term performance. I'm actually modifying my aqua clear and installing my own vertical cartridge made from old under gravel filter framing. The cartridge will be reusable by tying new blue bio blanket to it with dental floss. It should improve the immediate and long term filter performance ability of my 110 AC by almost 400%, now only 23 SI with deep stacked sponge but small surface area prone to clogging and too thick to clean properly. Compared to 80 SI with a vertical cartridge that handles more volume, last longer and much easier to clean. Unless you have high pressures, the higher media is stacked the less effective the filter becomes. This is why in engineering filters are almost always designed to accommodate surface area rather then thickness, you see it in your auto air cleaners, oil filters, refrigeration water filters, even in your vacuum cleaners, surface area is the key to filtration not stacking or thickness.
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CWO4GUNNER
USN/USCG 1974-2004 Weps
Incidentally JK47 I couldn't help but notice your growing something out of your HOB void. Let me share some experienced trial and error info. My Hedra English Ivy that initially it grew great when I installed the plant behind the filter cartridge. I didn't realize at the time that the dirtier the filter cartridge got the faster the plant was growing. When I went to change filters I had problems separating it from all the plant roots that had penetrated the sponge and were growing inside the dirt. I fixed the problem by cutting the roots off the dirty filter cartridge and not replacing it with a new one. Well needless to say my plant started a slow but steady decline. This was also do in part to my use of salt which land plants just cant tolerate, except of course Mangrove trees. But even after I stopped using salt the plants never grew fast the way they had in the very beginning. So I decided to repeat what had originally worked and installed filter cartridges again and after about 2 weeks as the filters started to collect dirt the plants started to suddenly bloom new leaved and stems like crazy again and experiencing a steady decline in my nitrates again between water changes. So I’m never changing the filters again as the roots and once again penetrated the filter cartridge and cleaning the filters for me. At some point Ill have to trim the roots I suppose but for now the plants are happy and so am I.
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Yeah if you look close, you'll notice there is no filter pad at all in mine. Just a open cavity with the mangroves and a biowheel. I am growing out the mangroves for an external planter box plumped to my sump. I have other filters in the tank taking care of my mechanical.
