Whisper Bio bags

[Tampa]

WOW........the price of large Whisper Bio bags for the Whisper #3 hob filter have gone up a lot.
I've been using the Whisper filter on my tanks for a long time and currently have 8 filters going and each filter uses 2 bags.
I was buying the bio bags on line in 12 packs for $8 and change, but now the price has increased to almost $14 for the 12 pack plus mailing
If I have to pay that much per month I just might look for other brands of filters where the bags are less costly
What I like most about the Whisper is the simplicity of the filter, every month change the bags and that's it
QUESTION #1 Does anyone know where to buy them (online) where they are less costly?
QUESTION #2 If I have to, in order to keep the monthly cost down, which other filter can I replace my Whispers with that will be as simple and less expensive for replacement bags

Thanx for any input

Al

 

[jpappy789]

Unless your bags are falling apart you shouldn't need to replace them regularly. Just clean them off in tank water every once and a while to keep them from clogging up.

 

[fishorama]

I just got some Dr Foster ones, mainly for the clamshell frame so I can easily use other batting media or sponge cut to fit. They come with carbon that I don't normally use.

Pappy is right you can reuse them for a while but the last few years they're not as sturdy. Squeeze the out in tank water or dechlorinated.

 

[jm1212]

make sure you keep the sponge part clean. the carbon really isnt needed unless you have to dose the tank with meds

 

[Notophthalmus]

I absolutely agree. The manufacturers' suggestion that you replace your media every month is a shameless attempt to take your money; it actually reduces your filter's effectiveness.

 

[paperdragon]

Plastic craft canvas cut to size with polyester quilt batting wrapped around it. Ten bucks'll get you a 10 year supply of filter cartridges that way. Works the same way, and nobody's really going to be peeking in your filters when they visit.

 

[excuzzzeme]

I just throw all those away rather than change them. They aren't worth the cost. I use filter floss instead and have found that it does a better job as you can eliminate a good percentage of the by-pass. None of my non-AC's have anything other than floss. All my AC's have double sponges (no carbon).

 

[dixienut]

top fin ones are the same all their filters are made by whisper unless you have the larger filters that take the bigger sixe they have sm,med, larg, for like peguine c size they don't make