Will this work? v. DIY sponge filter
- Thread starter jd8521
- Start date
I've spent $3 so far for enough PVC to make 6 of these things. Now I just need to sponges.
Considering how easy it is to build one, don't really see how it would be cheaper. Just find a tube of some sorts, attach sponge (rubberband works), drop hose/airstone in. Any work/expense after that is just to increase efficiency and secure it from floating.
getting a proper sponge is the expensive part. It would be cheaper if you bought in bulk, but finding a cheap sponge supplier might be difficult.
Well seeing as I can buy this
http://www.aquariumguys.com/foamfilter1.html
for about $7.00 sponge/engineering included I'd have to just go with the commercial one. To keep it from floating you've got to find a piece of slate or a rock, silicone it. And is your time free? I barely have time to keep up with my tanks much less tinker with a filter I can buy cheaper than make when you add in my time. I could be enjoying watching my 21 month old watching the fish instead of me making a cheap filter. How much are you really saving when you add the time to make the filter, the parts and the time you could be doing something more fun. Like watching my 21 month old watching the fish. (Yep, he's my avatar. Taken at the north end of Ft. Desoto in FLA)
That's more of a time value of money then true savings debate. The problem with TVM is that it changes for each person. Yes, if you don't have the free time or would rather do something else then $7 is cheaper. But if you have the time or enjoy taking the time to build things then $3-4 is about half as much. Really this is why DIY projects shouldn't have a savings value attached to them to begin with. The whole point of DIY is customization and the joy of building/tinkering with things.
Yeah I do love tinkering with things. Always have. I have the old Freshwater and Marine Magazines going back to the early 80's I loved the "For what it's worth" column. Always had some really good ideas. Even tried a few. Some worked. Some of course didn't. At least not for what I wanted.
Take fishing for example. I got so into it and couldn't find rods I liked. Not even the Loomis rods. So I taught myself to build custom rods. I have never, nor will I ever add up the cost of parts alone. Nor will I add up how much time I spent building each one. I just really can't see spending all that effort to make something so inexpensive as a sponge filter. Now an air powered corner filter, well.......
