Tetra Whisper Bio-Bag Filter Cartridges For Aquariums - Unassembled Medium (Pack of 12)

good

This product by far is worth the price. I have three tanks of fish and these have always been a slight financial problem. This is a GREAT price for a pack of 12. 6 of these at Wal Mart would cost me $9.00.

I have found making my own filters allows me to add more activated charcoal carbon filter media. The small package found in most filters does not (in my opinion) clean enough because they have only about a handful of filter media inside. DO YOU WANT BETTER FILTERIZATION?: I now use the unassembled filter bags -- I add enough activated charcoal to FILL the filter from bottom to top of the filter sac - then the water flows thru the charcoal and NOT around it. BE SURE TO rinse the filter with water to remove loose charcoal before re-installing in the filter frame. HOW I MAINTENANCE THE TANK: I maintenance the tank weekly or bi-weekly, first I remove the decorative accents from the tank so I can clean the rock by a gentle stirring motion,(being careful not to bump into the fish) then I loosen debris in rock with the tank water siphon vacuum tube - removing 1/4 the water. I wipe the glass with clean paper towel if needed to remove salts or other debris that accumulates on the glass, I add some fresh water to top off the tank, add de-chlorination, test the water (using a water test kit) and change the filter after filtering with old filter for 45 mins - 1 hr to remove the majority of debris loosen from gravel. That routine seems to keep the tank clean and the goldfish healthy. BEFORE vs AFTER: I use to buy pre-made, and had fair results for cleaning but after I noticed the pre-made have very little charcoal in the filter sac, I decided to make my own and add more filter charcoal. Now that I have increased the amount of filter charcoal (they call it activated carbon) media, the tank water is MUCH cleaner - at least 50% cleaner overall. KEEPING A CLEAN TANK SEEMS TO HELP FISH WITH SWIM BLADDER DISEASE: Goldfish may gulp and burp air to alter the pressure in the swim bladder. I have one fancy goldfish that gets an air in the bladder (this bladder disease leads to problems where the fish has trouble with buoyancy in the water -- this is more like a temporary condition that can be managed.) If the fish seems floats up to the top while swimming and seems to lay on side or back after floating to top (this may happen ccasionally because it gets air in the belly)- I have read online keeping the tank clean helps prevent this often genetic buoyancy disorder HELPFUL TIPS: I also try to add the food in the water downward stream to prevent top feeding which encourages air in the belly intake. GREEN PEAS TRICK MAY HELP swim bladder buoyancy: 1) Defrost 1 to 2 frozen peas. The peas must be very soft. 2) Gently squeeze the peas to free them from their skins. Discard the skins. 3) Put the skinless peas in the fish tank. Allow the affected fish to eat at least 1 of the 2 peas. If the fish will not eat the peas, remove the peas and try again later. Read more ABOUT FISH BLADDER BUOYANCY: This green pea method that seems to help the bladder syndrome rather quickly(for my fish this seems usually removes the floating symptom in a couple hours). ==>For more info google these words: fish bladder disease green peas FINAL THOUGHT: I found that often I can get a better deal (lower price) buying through AMAZON than the pet store I have checked the prices with several pet stores vs AMAZON, so if you plan ahead you can order the items and have them ready to use, when needed.

I purchased under the impression they were filter bags, get the box, I have to assemble them myself. Didnt even know these exist. Be weary

They changed the filters to a new cheaper design that you have to build on your own. This new design is garbage as all the carbon gets stuck at the bottom, no longer evenly distributed like the pre-built bags. Worst part is there was no warning that the item changed. I just selected Reorder as the previous version worked really well, I just needed more of them. 48 hours in, my bathroom already reeks from my two small fish.

worked good.

These tank filters last me for months,are easy to assemble and at a great price .More more could u want

I use these in my tetra Fauna Viquarium system. They are exactly the same as the $8.99 3Pack Repto-Filters Do the math, for that much of a savings Ill assemble them myself. Very easy to do and works great! My frog and I thank you!

Great bio bags with my two turtles these bags hold up for 6days. Although I love Amazon its to bad I cant find these unassembled bio bas where I live.

Good filter.