Where to source pre-filter sponge?

[Charlene]

I have several reactors in my tanks at home and at work. Most are 4" dia or approximately this. None of the sites I regularly source sell those round foam sponges used in these upflow reactors reactors. Besides I don't think I'd like the price from the manufacturer :rolleye1:

These foam inserts should be consumables that can be replaced and purchased in bulk as they do seem to get pretty nasty after only a few uses.

Where can I find these or does anyone else have another solution?

These are the kinds of reactors I'm talking about:

 

[Charlene]

Wow. Nobody else regularly replaces these sponges? I guess I could go to lowes and buy some sponge and cut it out but it won't look quite as professional. Hard to believe some standard sponges are not available somewhere.

Now I did find this blog. It's pretty clever to see how he solved it. Granted he's cutting Styrofoam but I think it would work for sponge material.

http://www.core77.com/blog/object_c...nd_the_brilliantinexpensive_diy_way_17816.asp

 

[woodnaquanut]

Have you checked the manufacture? They are just sponges, after all. Shouldn't be too expensive. Probably no more than $20 each!

BRS sells sponges for it's GFO/Carbon reactors. Perhaps they would fit.

 

[dattack]

I used to buy the eheim canister filter sponge pads (blue) but these were around 6". Can get them pretty cheap on ebay/amazon but not sure if they have sizes for 4".
They came out to be around $2 to $3 each.

or buy foam in bulk and use an electric cutting knife or a hot wire knife. Make a jig so you can cut a perfect circle.

 

[nemosworld]

i never replace mine, just clean them real good and re-use.

 

[billdogg]

what he said. The ones for my BRS reactors are about 5 years old, on my TLF 150 they are at least 10. Just rinse them well and reuse. Of course, I'm a cheapskate lol

 

[Charlene]

I would re-use but they have pretty much disintegrated. 20 bucks is outrageous for these replacements. Gotta to be a cheaper way to make or buy these.

 

[Charlene]

Still. It's a bit of pain that nobody sources these. I would think they would be more readily avail.