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robertcoogan
03-24-2013, 08:29 PM
I will be setting up my IBC system this May, and have a question about matting used for filtration and bacterial growth. I saw this matting on Practical Aquaponics video and went to Home Depot and Lowe's where they had NO idea what I was talking about. I showed them photos, and they still had no idea. Does anyone know what this material is called? Here is a photo on my Flickr account:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ben_marko/ ... hotostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ben_marko/8588548866/in/photostream)

JCO
03-24-2013, 09:17 PM
It's AC filters that you can cut to fit and you will find it in the AC filter section of Lowe's and Home Depot. I use it in my bio-filters. :mrgreen:

davidstcldfl
03-25-2013, 03:26 AM
Heres' a link to a place that carrys it. Along with lots of other neat stuff... :)
http://www.aquaticeco.com/

When there, look for...Matala Filter Media

bretthogan
03-28-2013, 07:07 PM
I used floor buffing pads instead of the the AC filters. I can get them from my work way cheep like $3 each, i think new they are like $9 and I know Lowes carry's them.. they work really well, great surface area and for that price you cant beat it.

davidstcldfl
03-29-2013, 04:10 AM
As long as they don't come from the factory with some kind of chemical on them, you'll be good to go... :)

keith_r
03-29-2013, 05:11 AM
careful with the AC filters.. the "green" (all natural) ones will break down over time

dsrtlzrd32
03-29-2013, 11:00 AM
Doesn't the grow bed act as the filter? What is the advantage of adding these, and where do you put them?

bretthogan
03-29-2013, 07:01 PM
As long as they don't come from the factory with some kind of chemical on them, you'll be good to go... :)

i wash them in an industrial washing machine with just hot water a few times before and let them sit in the sun a few days. i havent lost any fish after adding them to my filter. But brand new i know people who just throw them in the filter as is and have never had a problem. its the same material.

davidstcldfl
03-30-2013, 04:24 AM
Doesn't the grow bed act as the filter?
Yes, your correct. One common reason....Folks that just do rafts, would use the filter media to try to keep the solids from building up in the raft beds.




As long as they don't come from the factory with some kind of chemical on them, you'll be good to go... :)

i wash them in an industrial washing machine with just hot water a few times before and let them sit in the sun a few days. i havent lost any fish after adding them to my filter. But brand new i know people who just throw them in the filter as is and have never had a problem. its the same material.
That's good to know... ;)

bretthogan
03-30-2013, 05:08 PM
[quote="davidstcldfl"]Folks that just do rafts, would use the filter media to try to keep the solids from building up in the raft beds.

One negative to DWC imo, my roots were filled with crud and crap only after a few weeks.