Washing and reusing white filter pads?

Aquavaj · 07/30/2018, 09:52 AM

I buy them in a large sheet and cut them to size (7"x4") to fit in my media basket. I'm going through them at a pretty fast pace, 4 pieces each week. They are completely brown each time. If I can wash and reuse them just once more I think that'll help stretch my money a little bit more.

Will they fall apart or shrink too much if they're washed in the washer?

mcgyvr · 07/30/2018, 10:04 AM

Unlikely... But you assume we know the exact material composition/type of the pads you are using..

wanna save more money.. Don't use them at all...

I'm so glad I don't use and know I don't need any mechanical filtration to have a successful tank..

elishapep · 07/30/2018, 10:04 AM

You can wash with a tiny amount of bleach .. then wash again on a rice cycle .. or you can use a good ok fashion hose .. that’s what I do a lot of the time

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AlSimmons · 07/30/2018, 10:07 AM

Have you tried rinsing them out under the faucet yet? Don't expect them to ever be white again, but you should be able to remove most of the crap and get some more use out of them. It's definitely worth a shot before you go the washing machine route. Another option is to loose the pads altogether. (sort of) Just use them for a few hours during a water change when you've really stirred things up. Once the water looks clear go ahead and remove the pad.

Aquavaj · 07/30/2018, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Unlikely... But you assume we know the exact material composition/type of the pads you are using..

wanna save more money.. Don't use them at all...

I'm so glad I don't use and know I don't need any mechanical filtration to have a successful tank..

They are the plain white filter pads, I think either 50 or 100 micons. Not the less dense white/blue filter floss.

The pads are completely brown when I change them out. I use a skimmer too. How would I get rid of all this nasty stuff I didn't use it?

billdogg · 07/30/2018, 11:27 AM

I'm with mcgyvr on this one. Sure, they can be rinsed and reused probably many times, but why? I haven't used mechanical filtration for my systems in well over 20 years other than the once or twice a year "big" jobs when I use a Vortex XL Diatom filter to remove gunk that I've stirred up. That's what your CUC is for.

IME, anything that requires that much attention will sooner or later be put off. Then put off again. Until it becomes a problem. Then comes the post "Why are my Nitrates/Phosphates so high?"

homer1475 · 07/30/2018, 04:30 PM

I'm with the above... My tank hasn't been healthier since I ditched using mechanical filtration.

If you must, a big bag of pillow stuffing from walmart is like 3.00$, and you can throw it away every couple days. It's what I used in my biocube and a media rack.

newbie2014 · 07/31/2018, 08:33 AM

[QUOTE=homer1475;25476999..................If you must, a big bag of pillow stuffing from walmart is like 3.00$, and you can throw it away every couple days. It's what I used in my biocube and a media rack.[/QUOTE]

That's exactly what I used with my FW tanks. Just stuffed it in a HOB filter or canister. One $3 bag lasted me a loooong time.

I use no mechanical filter with my softies/LPS tank. It's sumpless, and I only have a heater and 2 MP10's in the tank. I was hesitant at first. But the water is very clear, except at feeding time. My phosphate is about 0.01-0.05 (hanna ULR).

07/30/2018, 09:52 AM	#1
Aquavaj Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 132	Washing and reusing white filter pads? I buy them in a large sheet and cut them to size (7"x4") to fit in my media basket. I'm going through them at a pretty fast pace, 4 pieces each week. They are completely brown each time. If I can wash and reuse them just once more I think that'll help stretch my money a little bit more. Will they fall apart or shrink too much if they're washed in the washer?

07/30/2018, 10:04 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Unlikely... But you assume we know the exact material composition/type of the pads you are using.. wanna save more money.. Don't use them at all... I'm so glad I don't use and know I don't need any mechanical filtration to have a successful tank.. __________________ Who me?

07/30/2018, 11:27 AM	#6
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I'm with mcgyvr on this one. Sure, they can be rinsed and reused probably many times, but why? I haven't used mechanical filtration for my systems in well over 20 years other than the once or twice a year "big" jobs when I use a Vortex XL Diatom filter to remove gunk that I've stirred up. That's what your CUC is for. IME, anything that requires that much attention will sooner or later be put off. Then put off again. Until it becomes a problem. Then comes the post "Why are my Nitrates/Phosphates so high?" __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

07/30/2018, 04:30 PM	#7
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	I'm with the above... My tank hasn't been healthier since I ditched using mechanical filtration. If you must, a big bag of pillow stuffing from walmart is like 3.00$, and you can throw it away every couple days. It's what I used in my biocube and a media rack. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

07/30/2018, 10:04 AM	#3
elishapep Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Ny Posts: 15	You can wash with a tiny amount of bleach .. then wash again on a rice cycle .. or you can use a good ok fashion hose .. that’s what I do a lot of the time Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07/30/2018, 10:07 AM	#4
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	Have you tried rinsing them out under the faucet yet? Don't expect them to ever be white again, but you should be able to remove most of the crap and get some more use out of them. It's definitely worth a shot before you go the washing machine route. Another option is to loose the pads altogether. (sort of) Just use them for a few hours during a water change when you've really stirred things up. Once the water looks clear go ahead and remove the pad.

07/31/2018, 08:33 AM	#8
newbie2014 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 235	[QUOTE=homer1475;25476999..................If you must, a big bag of pillow stuffing from walmart is like 3.00$, and you can throw it away every couple days. It's what I used in my biocube and a media rack.[/QUOTE] That's exactly what I used with my FW tanks. Just stuffed it in a HOB filter or canister. One $3 bag lasted me a loooong time. I use no mechanical filter with my softies/LPS tank. It's sumpless, and I only have a heater and 2 MP10's in the tank. I was hesitant at first. But the water is very clear, except at feeding time. My phosphate is about 0.01-0.05 (hanna ULR).