PokeSephiroth
Member
Decided to do one of these, because a friend was asking for photos, and I figured I'd take pictures and do a little tutorial on how to get these things to become more effective than what they're really meant for. Been looking around the internet for tutorials, and couldn't find any that had pictures, so.... yeah. 
I have two Marineland Penguin 350's so, it uses the Rite-Size C filter cartridges. Just make sure you're using the same type of filter cartridge that your HOB filter uses, and you should be fine.
What you'll need:
Scissors
2 filter cartridges
Bio Media (I'm using Seachem Matrix)
Fishing line
Needle (Optional)
Begin by cutting off the mechanical filter stuff out, I just used scissors, and cut as close as I could, to make it as neat as possible. Doesn't have to be too neat. But it sure does help Then dump out all the Activated Carbon out, you can save it or just toss it. Your call.
Next, I take out the rest of the mechanical filter stuff (batting?).... there, looks nice and clean now Then I filled one side of the cartridge with the bio media. Because seachem's Matrix stuff has big and small pieces, I had to go through and see which ones fit, and which ones didn't. Figured the bigger ones would benefit more if they were used in a canister filter or trickle filter....but that's another project
Place the other half of the cartridge ontop of the other, thus making a sandwich-like thing, and run the fishing line through the slots alone the side of the cartridge to keep things nice and secure. You can also do JUST the corners, you're just making sure that the cartridge doesn't burst open when you place it in your filter.
One last thing, before you put the finished and modified filter, is to cut off the "tab" looking things on ONE of the cartridges, so that it fits snug in your filter. If you don't cut those off, then it won't fit down all the way. You can use a really sharp knife to cut it off, just be careful.
And there you have it! A modified filter cartridge that houses bio media for MORE beneficial bacteria to grow and colonize in . . . I would suggest adding an original filter cartridge BEHIND the modified filter, for the mechanical filtration. That way none of the food and gunk gets trapped in the bio media. Happy overfiltering!
I have two Marineland Penguin 350's so, it uses the Rite-Size C filter cartridges. Just make sure you're using the same type of filter cartridge that your HOB filter uses, and you should be fine.
What you'll need:
Scissors
2 filter cartridges
Bio Media (I'm using Seachem Matrix)
Fishing line
Needle (Optional)
Begin by cutting off the mechanical filter stuff out, I just used scissors, and cut as close as I could, to make it as neat as possible. Doesn't have to be too neat. But it sure does help
Then dump out all the Activated Carbon out, you can save it or just toss it. Your call.
Next, I take out the rest of the mechanical filter stuff (batting?).... there, looks nice and clean now
Then I filled one side of the cartridge with the bio media. Because seachem's Matrix stuff has big and small pieces, I had to go through and see which ones fit, and which ones didn't. Figured the bigger ones would benefit more if they were used in a canister filter or trickle filter....but that's another project
Place the other half of the cartridge ontop of the other, thus making a sandwich-like thing, and run the fishing line through the slots alone the side of the cartridge to keep things nice and secure. You can also do JUST the corners, you're just making sure that the cartridge doesn't burst open when you place it in your filter.
One last thing, before you put the finished and modified filter, is to cut off the "tab" looking things on ONE of the cartridges, so that it fits snug in your filter. If you don't cut those off, then it won't fit down all the way. You can use a really sharp knife to cut it off, just be careful.
And there you have it! A modified filter cartridge that houses bio media for MORE beneficial bacteria to grow and colonize in
. . . I would suggest adding an original filter cartridge BEHIND the modified filter, for the mechanical filtration. That way none of the food and gunk gets trapped in the bio media. Happy overfiltering!
