hi i have a fluval 405 for my 55 gallon with 2 oscars i know its to small but i have them in there until my 240 gallon is setup. i hope i get it setup this weekend

but my real q is if i put cut up straws in my caister filter will it work like bio balls

you are better off getting some lengths of corragated hose from your hardware store ..just like the inlet hoses that came with the filter..and cutting that up into 1 1/2" pieces..it works just as good as any media ,lasts forever and you can buy the hose for pennies .......but personaly i would use the straws for drinking through.........LOL

straws can be used for bio media if you in a pinch. however there are many better alternative out there for bio media. if you a little strapped for cash an affordable alternative for bio is plastic pot scrubbies. these have lots of area per square inch for the bb to live on and are inexpensive to purchase. they work fabulously for bio media in fact the sump on my 220 uses them and i have never had any trouble with ammonina in that tank.

if you really want to work on straw,.... bundle them and cut to 2 inches long, then another bundle of the same lenght, they will work as perfectly as any other biological media. the poblem is if they happen to dis-bundles during handling.... they will just float in your tank....

just my 2 cents opinion though

ya i am hurting for cash and the straws are in between filter floss i am using
sponges in the 1st backet gravel in the 2nd straws in the 3rd and then bio max in the 4th

okey then.... just wash them properly before using... too much sugar is bad ti fishes. better if they were used in drinking salted water:laugh:

LG0815 wrote:



these are the bomb



10 for a buck at the dollar store.they work great

Sometimes the things I learn here just leave me shaking my head. I'm not sure how much we paid for those pretty white bio balls but we were led to believe they were a must have. Maybe a thread from the ones that know shortcuts would be a good idea, money is tight all over the world. Thanks for the info !

theres loads of info here just ask ANYTHING and im sure someone will advise ....especially if it envolves saving money.....

Sinstinna wrote:

that is what this forum is known for: sharing the experiences and ideas.
you can also get the idea for cheap vacuum here. (a hose and an empty
plastic bottle of water or soft drink that works perfectly for the
purpose.

We got a python hose years ago and hubby added to it till it's long enough to reach the tanks in all the house. I couldn't be without it but that's a great idea.

PAUL wrote:



i swear by a empty plastic bottle vac !!!!!!!!! and i use one for a fish trap !!