(CFI) C.A.R.E. FORUM INVESTIGATES - "HOT-RODDING" FILTERS

[DaveSamsell]

Do you experiment with hot-rodding aquarium filters?  Or is your practice more, use as is?    Do you have any special tricks or tips?

I like to try different things with filters & my latest filter to hot-rod, is not my favorite out of the box, but has great potential, IMO.  

IMO, You can customize nearly any filter, within reason, of course.  

A number of sponge materials will fit well in this hang-on-back (HOB) filter, but am going to use the Co-Op's, black coarse sponge pads.  They are great for providing additional surface area and do mechanical filter some.  I often also use the Co-Op's fine poly pads for particulate filtration.

The biggest thing to remember is don't jam the filter material inside or keep it too high near the edge of the housing; might possibly flood if there is a backup in the system, etc.  Always be careful & proceed at your own risk, when modifying any product from it's initial design.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

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@Cory, Also, has a great video on filter optimization and has input on this particular filter in one of his videos.  I'll link the video below:

NOTE:  His filter optimization begins at 23:05 , regarding this filter.

 

 

[RovingGinger]

I have this same filter. For the intake, is that sponge over the blocky original or instead of? 

[MickS77]

One thing I did with the Penguin Bio-wheel filters was to use the media basket inserts they sell. I used a dremel to remove the plastic dividers on the inside so I could use a media bag inside of it. 

[DaveSamsell]

9 minutes ago, RovingGinger said:

I have this same filter. For the intake, is that sponge over the blocky original or instead of? 

The strainer basket was not installed, just the open ended tube was inserted, into the in-take sponge.

[Expectorating_Aubergine]

I have a submerged power filter on my bichir tank. The filter puts out a strong current, with the fish don't appreciate. To slow the flow, I put a spraybar on the outflow. Then I slip some filter sponges over the spray bar. I figure bacteria can grow on those sponges, and as a bonus, the sponges slow down the bubbles from the venturi valve the filter has. My thinking is the longer these small bubbles are in the water, the more gas exchange will happen. The scuds and crayfish babies like grazing on the biofilm too....

[Fishkeeper125]

All I've ever done was remove the carbon insert of my hob's and put in sponge pad.