Filter Alternatives

[BettaThe Devil]

We're new to keeping betta and our filters are AquaOne 55C.
I'm staggered that these filters cost about £5 each and am respectfully asking whether anyone can advise if there are any cheaper alternatives available please ? Links would be a nice bonus - thank you in advance.

 

[MattW]

55c? I'm getting images of reusable filter pads. I assume you want to stop buying them as replacements?
They are simply products made by the company as a way to have a constant income stream usually at the cost of newer hobbyists. If you want to take advantage of filter floss just buying a bag would be much cheaper.

This bag cost me £5.45 last year and I still have half left. JBL Symec

IME just a piece of coarse sponge would do, in both a HOB filter and internal filter. Just rinse every week or two in tank water during water changes.

Hopefully this helps

 

[gwand]

Like Matt, I use sponges and floss. Works great and very economical.

 

[Essjay]

According to what I can find on-line, the filter has a sponge and a cartridge.

You don't need to run carbon full time. It's a hangover from decades ago. Carbon is useful for removing medication after treatment has finished if fish ever get sick, but that's about all. Keeping a new cartridge in the cupboard is a sensible idea, but don't bother using them full time.
I would use plain filter wool instead, as the other members have mentioned.

 

[BettaThe Devil]

55c? I'm getting images of reusable filter pads. I assume you want to stop buying them as replacements?
They are simply products made by the company as a way to have a constant income stream usually at the cost of newer hobbyists. If you want to take advantage of filter floss just buying a bag would be much cheaper.
View attachment 354543This bag cost me £5.45 last year and I still have half left. JBL Symec

IME just a piece of coarse sponge would do, in both a HOB filter and internal filter. Just rinse every week or two in tank water during water changes.

Hopefully this helps

Thanks very much for your advice - couple of points :
1. I was told by the aquarium shop that carbon filters were "essential".
2. If I used just floss would I just fill the area where the 55C cartridge goes please ?

 

[MattW]

1. @Essjay 's post answers the first question

You don't need to run carbon full time. Carbon is useful for removing medication after treatment has finished if fish ever get sick, but that's about all

2. Yes you can just fill the area with filter floss. Filter floss gets smaller particles which clog more often which shouldn't be a problem if you have an abundance of it available to replace with. A coarse filter sponge won't get smaller particles but larger particles and usually holds more beneficial bacteria IMO. Using them in tandem is a good idea. Personally, Id have the sponge come into contact with water first then the floss.

 

[Essjay]

Never believe anything a shop tells you, especially about fish.

Carbon was used decades ago as water changes were done infrequently (they were believed to be bad) and the water became tinted yellow after a while so carbon was used to remove the yellow colour. Now that we do weekly water changes we don't get tinted water but many people still believe carbon is necessary. The person at the shop may still believe this - or maybe encouraging you to buy cartridges to make more money for them.


On a similar line, the filter instructions and/or shop may tell you to replace the sponge every few months. Sponges last for years and only need replacing when they go into holes or won't go back into shape after washing. Sponges just need to be washed by squeezing in old tank water taken out at a water change.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Fish stores are trying to sell stuff, so they often say whatever will get you to buy stuff. I agree that charcoal is unnecessary, as are the replaceable cartridges. Not only is replacing them unnecessary, but it's actually counter productive, because every time you replace one you're throwing away all the good bacteria that keep your water clean. Buy some coarse sponge (like this--I'm sure you can get something comperable in the UK), cut it to fit the slots in your filter, and Bob's your uncle.