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HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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Posted by hollyhockdoll z5 IN (My Page) on Wed, May 7, 08 at 6:50
| The only local place I've found to buy the floor scrubbers is an equipment rental place, and they want $10 each!!! I've found online sources at janitor supply places, but how do I know what to order? There's different colors which go with different "grits" (for lack of a better word), and ones made out of other material. What exactly do I need to order to make sure I'm getting the right scrubbie material for my filter?? Or is there some chain store that carries them in bulk that I haven't tried yet? I've looked at the big box stores, sam's club, etc.
Thanks for any help you can give - my skippy's ALMOST up and running! I have pictures on the dig. camera that I'll post if I ever find time to download them!
Jill |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| Jill, please do post your pics. I need to build a Skippy for a stocktank pond I am putting in this summer. I also need the information about the scrubbers as I really don't know what kind they are talking about. |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| I just ordered mine from skippysstuff. They sent me the amount I needed for my 150 gallon stocktank. Some were red some blue and some were green. Don't think the difference in the kind makes a difference. Glenda |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| I just built a skippy, too. I couldn't find a large quantity of scrubbies at a reasonable price, either. But, I'm trying polyester cushion material. The stuff called NU-Foam isn't quite as stiff as a scrubbie but has similar pore sizing. It comes in mats of 15"x17"x2" for about $6 at Walmart in the sewing department. I used a circle of NU-Foam at the bottom of my skippy then a bag of regular loose cushion stuffing (about $2) on top. Since I just built my skippy, I can't swear by performance, yet. But both materials are similar to what are in my indoor aquarium filter and that works just fine. Kathy |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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When I built my skippy I filled it with a mixture of Dollar Store shower scrubbies & assorted kitchen mesh scrubbers. It works great. I couldn't justify the price & shipping for the floor scrubber pads. Hope this helps.
Dianne |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| Thanks for the replies, everyone. If the skippy people are sending all different colors, then I guess the "grit" doesn't matter much. Dianne, I used kitchen mesh scrubbies from the $1 store for my 5-gallon bucket filter (that will soon be a tower filter!), but I wiped out the store's inventory and still did not have enough, and the skippy's 4'round & 2' deep! They do work well, though, and if I add shower scrubbies & visit several stores, maybe I'll have enough. I was hoping to use the floor scrubbers because of the larger size. Kathy, I'll be interested to see how the foam works for you over time. I work for a floorcovering store, so I can get all the free carpet pad scraps I want, but it is made out of scrap foam from the furniture industry, and it off-gasses & compresses over time, but maybe that's just in air, not water. Anyway,I need something stiffer for this filter, and something open enough that the plants can "root" in it some. I am now off to get the camera out of the car so I can "hopefully" show you some pictures! Jill |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| Jill, The Nu-Foam isn't like polyurethane foam rubber-more like stiff quilt batting or soft, thick scrubbie. I've read somewhere that foam rubber doesn't work that well (can't remember where I read that)but I don't know if that's because of the chemical composition of the material or the small pore size. |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| I know a woman who knits or crochets the kitchen scrubbies. I'll contact her and ask her: 1. What the material is that she uses and 2. The directions for making them. I would think it would be cheaper to make them yourself than buy them. Anne |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| I wouldn't recommend the nu-foam either... it's too dense, it just needs to be something that won't breakdown over years and has lots of hiding places for bacteria to grow in. I'm going to look for some bathroom "poofs" in my new homemade biofalls. I had a long braided one once from our bathroom, but I want to start with a clean one (I'd rather avoid adding people-germs). I also saved my old lava rocks from my Adam's filter. I enclosed it in a lingerie bag that zips shut. It's wonderful! None escape, I can lift it all out at once when I need to, and it anchors the scrubbies below. |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| I went to Walmart to the furnace filter department, bought a couple of the big square filters, cut them to fit the tub and they sit on top of the lava rocks. Seem to do a fairly good job without having to spend a lot of money. I just rinse them off when they need it. You may want to try it. You won't have much invested. BT |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| Brownthumbia, I have always heard to stay away from the furnace filters, because they are made of fiberglas. I don't know what harm fiberglas will do. Maybe not all of them, you might want to check to see what they are made of. Glenda |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| Haven't used them myself, but I know they now have out "green" furnace filters that are supposed to be fine. But again, have read that but never tried it. |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| Check out your local schools. They typically use floor scrubbers and may be tossing out the old scrubber pads. |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| Lordy,Lordy! I personally think that would be last thing I would use. You could never get all the soap, scum and floor polish out of those things. No telling what it would do to your pond. and it's inhabitants. Glenda |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| Here are two different instructions for making your own pot scrubbers. I checked at JoAnns this weekend and the nylon tulle is 99 cents a yard and 45" to 54" wide, so you can get quite a few scrubbies out of 4 yards of tulle and you can make them any size you want. Crocheted:
I usually buy a couple of yards of net (tulle) and cut in 2 inch strips across the 60 or 72" width of net. Then sew them end to end, and you don't have to be too particular. Then with at least a K hook chain 5 or 6, connect the ends. Then just start sc in every spot you can around continuously until it's about 4 inches across. I try to make the crocheted area as solid as I can, but the design is not important, if there's a gap, I put a sc in it. That's all there is to it. I have made them double layered, too Sewed (per Heloise):
Here's what you'll need to make one nylon-net scrubber: 1/2 yard of 72-inch-wide nylon net AKA Tulle (found at fabric shops) scissors strong nylon thread or dental floss large needle 1. Cut the nylon net into three 6-inch-by-72-inch strips. 2. Place the three strips on top of each other evenly, then take the needle threaded with nylon thread or dental floss and begin sewing down the middle (lengthwise), using long basting stitches. 3. When done, hold the thread in one hand and pull back on the nylon net to form a ball. 4. Secure the ball by wrapping the ends of the thread around its center and knotting tightly. Trim off the thread ends. 5. Pull apart the layers of nylon net to fluff, and you now have a scrubbie! |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| Just a thought folks- for those of you who have a Target store nearby, check their dollar section (at the front of the store in my city) Of course, you normally get 2 for $1 but if you watch you can catch them clearancing out the prior seasons selections- they can go as much as 90% off- 2 bath scrubbies for 10 cents- can't beat that !! I buy them whenever I stop in the store, whether I currently need them or not- and I always have a supply tucked away in the closet . |
RE: HELP! (finding scrubbies for skippy filter)
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| Pikecoe, Oh, dear!! That's interesting and scarey!! Well, without knowing what I was doing, I have been using these furnace filters for, I think this is the 3rd year. I really can't see that they are doing any harm, but I don't know. Don't know what they mean by green filters, but these are green. Is there maybe a special 'green'? Thanks for the input though. I hope it makes someone else think before they dive in. (lol, so to speak) Good luck, everyone, with your ponding experiences. Fun isn't it?!!!! |
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