Prefilter mesh size?

**ThinkTank** · 07-09-2012, 06:02 PM

Does anyone know what size mesh is used for the stainless pre-filters?

I have some odd sized intakes - one is even square

- and i'd like to DIY a few of these but i'm not sure what size mesh is used.

steven p · 07-09-2012, 07:16 PM

Use your best judgement. If baby shrip are of concern, a smaller mesh might be called for. I use bath sponges. Massive surface area and they last many months nefore they get too broken down from being wrung(sp?) Out... At that point, i chop them up into thin sheets and layer it in my canister filters. I have sponges pushing a year that are still fine. Too much pull through the sponge tho can collapse the spong and will inhibit flow entirely, works well for beefing up small HOBs for big tanks.

**ThinkTank** · 07-09-2012, 07:33 PM

I have sponges on the intakes now, but i'm tired of the frequent cleaning.
I was hoping for something more precise than "my judgement" -

steven p · 07-09-2012, 08:07 PM

I have no experience with the metal screens.. seems like a downgrade to me.. i already have leaf litter gather on more open intakes, i think a metal porous cylinder would need to be fairly decent sized if you dont want to pick it clean every few hours... I already have plants and loose moss trying to invade a couple filters intake tubes..

Edit: what kind of sponge prefilter? is it the biomeshy fluval kind? I dont care much for those...

TwoTacoCombo · 07-09-2012, 10:50 PM

The SS mesh screens tend to collect more debris on them than the sponges, due to the difference in diameter and surface area. Unlike the sponges, all you have to do is shut off the filter and most of the crap falls right off the mesh. The rest of it goes with a quick tapping of a finger or tank tool. The screens take a more watchful eye, but i've found them easier to maintain than sponges. I've also yet to find a canister shrimp on the filters with screens. I pulled out 20 shrimplets from a sponge-covered filter last weekend.

**Jeff5614** · 07-09-2012, 10:55 PM

Try some window screen material. It's a fine mesh and it's black so it blends more.

punkassbob · 07-10-2012, 03:12 AM

I bought 60 mesh SS screen off [Ebay Link Removed]
Put large heat shrink (20mm) on top and bottom to secure the mesh.
Bottom heat shrink turned into little cup shape to hold round mesh I put in there, looks and works good.

07-09-2012, 06:02 PM	#1
ThinkTank Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 528	Prefilter mesh size? Does anyone know what size mesh is used for the stainless pre-filters? I have some odd sized intakes - one is even square - and i'd like to DIY a few of these but i'm not sure what size mesh is used.

07-09-2012, 10:55 PM	#6
Jeff5614 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: TN Posts: 2,438	Try some window screen material. It's a fine mesh and it's black so it blends more. __________________ My Tank: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/yo...o=view&id=1508

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07-09-2012, 07:16 PM	#2
steven p Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: columbus, ne Posts: 1,064	Use your best judgement. If baby shrip are of concern, a smaller mesh might be called for. I use bath sponges. Massive surface area and they last many months nefore they get too broken down from being wrung(sp?) Out... At that point, i chop them up into thin sheets and layer it in my canister filters. I have sponges pushing a year that are still fine. Too much pull through the sponge tho can collapse the spong and will inhibit flow entirely, works well for beefing up small HOBs for big tanks.

07-09-2012, 07:33 PM	#3
ThinkTank Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 528	I have sponges on the intakes now, but i'm tired of the frequent cleaning. I was hoping for something more precise than "my judgement" -

07-09-2012, 08:07 PM	#4
steven p Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: columbus, ne Posts: 1,064	I have no experience with the metal screens.. seems like a downgrade to me.. i already have leaf litter gather on more open intakes, i think a metal porous cylinder would need to be fairly decent sized if you dont want to pick it clean every few hours... I already have plants and loose moss trying to invade a couple filters intake tubes.. Edit: what kind of sponge prefilter? is it the biomeshy fluval kind? I dont care much for those...

07-09-2012, 10:50 PM	#5
TwoTacoCombo Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 383	The SS mesh screens tend to collect more debris on them than the sponges, due to the difference in diameter and surface area. Unlike the sponges, all you have to do is shut off the filter and most of the crap falls right off the mesh. The rest of it goes with a quick tapping of a finger or tank tool. The screens take a more watchful eye, but i've found them easier to maintain than sponges. I've also yet to find a canister shrimp on the filters with screens. I pulled out 20 shrimplets from a sponge-covered filter last weekend.

07-10-2012, 03:12 AM	#7
punkassbob Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Honolulu HI Posts: 2	I bought 60 mesh SS screen off [Ebay Link Removed] Put large heat shrink (20mm) on top and bottom to secure the mesh. Bottom heat shrink turned into little cup shape to hold round mesh I put in there, looks and works good.