[JJBTEXAS]

I've been working on a little side project for the last week or so for my own personal use and figured I'd see if people on this forum would be interested in it as a product.

The cartridge is designed to increase the efficiency of the Azoo nano filter that is so popular lately. I had seen many people recommend throwing out the stock filter sponges for an oversized aquaclear 20 sponge, but knew this created it's own set of issues and I though I would try to address those. My cartridge allows for easy usage of a bio material and sponges by being easily removable. It's also forces all the water to pass through the filter material.

The stock filter sponges, as well as the common modification, allow much of the water to flow over the top, avoiding filtration. Because water will take the path of least resistance, flow towards the bottom of the filter box will be greatly reduced compared to the top. This is made worse by the common modification. My cartridge forces the water through all of the filtering material.

I'm currently running the cartridge with Eheim Substrat Pro and filter sponge.

 

[McCarthy]

Exactly my concern with many these filter designs. I'm all in, willing to test and contribute. Do you have somebody who can produce this cartridge?

 

[JJBTEXAS]

Exactly my concern with many these filter designs. I'm all in, willing to test and contribute. Do you have somebody who can produce this cartridge?

I've just started my search for a source a few days ago but figured it would be wise to gauge community interest while I work on that.

 

[Roshan8768]

Interested depending on pricing. Following

 

[JJBTEXAS]

Interested depending on pricing. Following

I'd be curious to know what people think a good price would be. I have a figure in mind, but it will be heavily dependant on the order volume.

 

[McCarthy]

I've been working on a little side project for the last week or so for my own personal use and figured I'd see if people on this forum would be interested in it as a product.

The cartridge is designed to increase the efficiency of the Azoo nano filter that is so popular lately. I had seen many people recommend throwing out the stock filter sponges for an oversized aquaclear 20 sponge, but knew this created it's own set of issues and I though I would try to address those. My cartridge allows for easy usage of a bio material and sponges by being easily removable. It's also forces all the water to pass through the filter material.

The stock filter sponges, as well as the common modification, allow much of the water to flow over the top, avoiding filtration. Because water will take the path of least resistance, flow towards the bottom of the filter box will be greatly reduced compared to the top. This is made worse by the common modification. My cartridge forces the water through all of the filtering material.

I'm currently running the cartridge with Eheim Substrat Pro and filter sponge.

I just had some time fiddling around with my Mignon filter and also the aftermarket basket for the AquaClear filter.

Based on the InTank basket, your drawing might not be optimal, because in your flow diagram the water will be pushed through the main media from the top to the bottom. That won't work if that section is open on the top, or the water will just flow over again.

This is how this basket works and IMO the only correct flow:

That last water column in your drawing should be actually in-front of the media column.

 

[McCarthy]

IMO the basket should be designed like this:

 

[JJBTEXAS]

Based on the InTank basket, your drawing might not be optimal, because in your flow diagram the water will be pushed through the main media from the top to the bottom. That won't work if that section is open on the top, or the water will just flow over again.

The top of the basket is higher than the Mignon's pump side overflow so that the water can't flow over the top and skip the media. It does skip the media if it goes over the pump side overflow, but that can be controlled by the valve and how dense your media is.

IMO the basket should be designed like this:

The issue with running the filter in a configuration similar to the InTank is room. If you look on the inside of the Mignon, there are 2 protrusions which keep the stock media off the front wall. Taking that into consideration, I don't believe there is enough room to have the water enter in from the back of the cartridge without creating major flow restrictions. The Mignon's pump seems overpowered for the rest of the filter. I've already gone through a couple revisions attempting to balance improved filter efficiency with creating too large of a flow restriction.

 

[Roshan8768]

I'd be curious to know what people think a good price would be. I have a figure in mind, but it will be heavily dependant on the order volume.

We'd have to get enough orders to get the pricing down to $15 or less per unit for it to be worth it to me. With that said I have 4 of these filters so you can sign me up for 4 once your testing process is done

 

[JJBTEXAS]

We'd have to get enough orders to get the pricing down to $15 or less per unit for it to be worth it to me. With that said I have 4 of these filters so you can sign me up for 4 once your testing process is done

Thanks for the input!

 

[McCarthy]

The top of the basket is higher than the Mignon's pump side overflow so that the water can't flow over the top and skip the media. It does skip the media if it goes over the pump side overflow, but that can be controlled by the valve and how dense your media is.



The issue with running the filter in a configuration similar to the InTank is room. If you look on the inside of the Mignon, there are 2 protrusions which keep the stock media off the front wall. Taking that into consideration, I don't believe there is enough room to have the water enter in from the back of the cartridge without creating major flow restrictions. The Mignon's pump seems overpowered for the rest of the filter. I've already gone through a couple revisions attempting to balance improved filter efficiency with creating too large of a flow restriction.

You got a point with those 2 protrusions, and running a Dremel inside might screw up the finish and is not for everybody.

I've got another idea. Why don't we design our own Mini Filter with proper flow? A basket inside an existing housing really is a half-assed design to begin with and having a basket manufactured or a housing is not that much of a difference.

 

[JJBTEXAS]

You got a point with those 2 protrusions, and running a Dremel inside might screw up the finish and is not for everybody.

I've got another idea. Why don't we design our own Mini Filter with proper flow? A basket inside an existing housing really is a half-assed design to begin with and having a basket manufactured or a housing is not that much of a difference.

I was just thinking that myself actually. I still think a good cartridge design aids in simplifying the manufacturing of a filter and cleaning (think canister filter). QC and marketing would also be much more complicated, but it would solve a lot of issues.

 

[McCarthy]

I was just thinking that myself actually. I still think a good cartridge design aids in simplifying the manufacturing of a filter and cleaning (think canister filter). QC and marketing would also be much more complicated, but it would solve a lot of issues.

If we arrange a pre order / bulk order on a couple forums and get 50 people together we could contact one of those manufacturers in China. They sell these filters for $2:

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Seabillion-HG-320-External-aquarium-hang_60545987606.html?s=p

With tooling for a new mold we could get away with $15 or so each.

Or we throw some money in, start a new business, and get this rollin.

 

[JJBTEXAS]

If we arrange a pre order / bulk order on a couple forums and get 50 people together we could contact one of those manufacturers in China. They sell these filters for $2:

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Seabillion-HG-320-External-aquarium-hang_60545987606.html?s=p

With tooling for a new mold we could get away with $15 or so each.

Or we throw some money in, start a new business, and get this rollin.

I was just looking at the same thing. Amazing what you can get from china. The most important part will be sourcing a pump that's quite enough from overseas. Could probably just get a sample though.

 

[McCarthy]

I was just looking at the same thing. Amazing what you can get from china. The most important part will be sourcing a pump that's quite enough from overseas. Could probably just get a sample though.

I wouldn't be surprised if those small Eheim pumps are made in China. Mine doesn't say made in Germany. If we could find the same manufacturer for the pump, that would be something. Good quality and very quiet for being made in China.

 

[ibebian]

+1 on this being a need. I did the modification and have to constantly clean the filter every several weeks because flow stops to zero. Not sure if this design would help that, since I'm not really sure the root cause.

The discussion on design alternatives is great, but nothing like a true test. Why not 3D print several approaches and see what does best?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JJBTEXAS]

+1 on this being a need. I did the modification and have to constantly clean the filter every several weeks because flow stops to zero. Not sure if this design would help that, since I'm not really sure the root cause.

The discussion on design alternatives is great, but nothing like a true test. Why not 3D print several approaches and see what does best?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Currently on the 5th revision which has been on a tank for a little over a week at this point.

It sounds like you filter is clogging up with particulate (uneaten food, decaying plant material, etc...). I'm not sure a cartridge would help that other than making cleaning easier. For what it's worth, I clean my filters every month.

 

[ibebian]

Currently on the 5th revision which has been on a tank for a little over a week at this point.



It sounds like you filter is clogging up with particulate (uneaten food, decaying plant material, etc...). I'm not sure a cartridge would help that other than making cleaning easier. For what it's worth, I clean my filters every month.

The tank doesn't get fed very often, about once every 2-3 days, and only with a tiny amount of food, we're talking 5 hikari micro pellets, so I would be surprised that small amount can affect its performance so much. But yes easier cleaning would help, especially since it's more frequent.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GrampsGrunge]

The Nano filter linked to Alibaba website is the same one made as the Jebo 501 sold on Amazon for $9.99

https://www.amazon.com/JEBO-501-Han...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HRJHRZF7BC8GR3AXFGNZ

I have one, it's been pretty reliable with a cutdown Aquaclear 20 sponge as it main media.

 

[JJBTEXAS]

The Nano filter linked to Alibaba website is the same one made as the Jebo 501 sold on Amazon for $9.99

https://www.amazon.com/JEBO-501-Han...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HRJHRZF7BC8GR3AXFGNZ

I have one, it's been pretty reliable with a cutdown Aquaclear 20 sponge as it main media.

Out of curiosity, why did you buy the Jebo instead of the Azoo Mignon?