Blue washable furnace filter for pond filter?

[Jennie Beth]

You know those blue, cut-to-size , washable, reuseable furnace filters? Any reason I couldn't use a piece of that as a spare mechanical filter pad for my filter in the pond? I have a bio filter pad and lava rock in there too, I just need extra mechanical filter pads so I can swap them when it needs cleaning. Looks like the same thing as came with the filter, but blue instead of white.

Thanks,
Jen

 

[excuzzzeme]

Just make sure it isn't made of spun fiberglass.

 

[toddnbecka]

You can buy blue/white bulk filter media on e-bay and cut it to size.

 

[Jennie Beth]

Just make sure it isn't made of spun fiberglass.

Not fiberglass. Plastic, more like a giant pot scrubber.

 

[excuzzzeme]

If it is of the same density I see no reason not to. Just make sure there are no chemical treatments to it. Do you have a link for the material?

 

[Jennie Beth]

I think this is it...have seen several brands in difn't hardware stores.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...3&productId=100351377&N=10000003+90044+500387

(hope that works, not sure how else to link it :/

Jen

Zoomed in on the packaging...says in the fine print 100% synthetic fiber will not support the growth of bacteria, mold, mildew or fungi, but doesn't say it is treated to prevent...am wondering if maybe it doesn't support growth of stuff because it is plastic and there is nothing for the bacteria, etc, to eat, or if it will actively kill stuff, which would be bad.

 

[excuzzzeme]

Having never seen this material before makes it impossible to make an educated recommendation. But I think as a general mechanical filter, it should work fine for pond fish. I doubt it would be fine enough to work out for aquariums except possibly as a primary in a multi-layered system.

 

[toddnbecka]

Better deal here, no worries about safety either: http://cgi.ebay.com/Wet-or-Dry-Pond-Filter-Media-13-x-10-Bulk-roll_W0QQitemZ310144809626QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4836123a9a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

 

[Jennie Beth]

Thanks for the link. I think I will have the e-bay savvy hubby order me up a roll. Better safe than dead fishy

Jen

 

[finsNfur]

I got some kind of furnace filters on eBay that were said to work well as pond filters too, but I will say they don't work as well. They definitely aren't reusable, they are too thin and flimsy. I have to replace them every 3-4 days, they clog up my underwater filter if I don't. Mine came in precut 24" lengths. I just wanted to warn you that whatever you get off eBay might not be the bargain you think it is.