White Filter Pad

[FallChinook]

Hi Everyone,
I have a RSM130 and was wondering about the replacement white filter pads. Can you purchase less expensive polyfill from a craft store and use in its place?

 

[TonyV]

Yes Walmart sells it for less than $8 for a huge roll of it. The brand name is Morning Glory and I got the quilters Polyester batting which is neatly rolled and flat which makes it easy to cut into desired squares/rectangles. Just be sure to change it every few days. It really cleans up the debris floating in your tank.

 

[DaveK]

If you are going to use pollyfill from a craft store be sure to wash it off in tap water first. Often there is some residue on it, and you don't want that in the tank.

 

[steveh]

You might find it causes microbubbles or even worse. I haven't tried it but be careful to ensure it is not chemically treated in any way

 

[Reefmack]

I used to use this stuff that's usually listed on Ebay:

Bulk Pond Pad

bought by the roll and a roll gives a lot of pieces.

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

FallChinook - I am sure you know this... but the new 130D's don't even ship with the white filter any longer, just the more course black one. I may be wrong, (sure steveh would know for sure) but I am thinking RSM is thinking it's not needed.

 

[Reefmack]

I have the older 130 but really liked the ability of the filter pad to remove a lot of fine particulate quickly. The black sponge, especially now that they cut a corner off, never could do that. The pads plug up after a couple days and need to be cleaned/replaced, but they did a great cleaning job, even if you only put one in once in a while. just my opinion, but the tanks now come with only the black sponge, with a corner cut off, as a "fix" to the otherwise neverending problem of the pad plugging, the water level in back dropping, and starved pumps blowing microbubbles.

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

I did pick one up when I added my sand & ran it for 2 hours & then have not used it again, but it did great to quickly clean the tank of small particles.

May use it again if I stir up the tank cleaning or moving things... :updown: