Oase biomaster pre-filter foam dimensions

[Calamardo Tentaculos]

Hi there,

Does anyone know what are the dimensions of the Oase pre-filter foam especially the diameter if the hole? I am trying to see if it can fit as a pre-filter foam for my 12mm filter inlet but can't seem to find any information online.

 

[LMuhlen]

If the inner diameter is not enough, you can always cut a small slit in it. It's only foam, after all.

 

[Bradders]

Looks like 6cm diamster for the entire width, and the hole is 1.5cm.

 

[Maf 2500]

They are approx 55mm diameter x 50mm high with hole diameter of approx 15mm.

Edit: too late lol

 

[Calamardo Tentaculos]

Thanks @Bradders and @Maf 2500 it seems like it's too big for my inlet after all

 

[Calamardo Tentaculos]

Coming back to this a few months' later as I am having trouble finding a sponge to fit over my 12mm filter intake pipe. Any suggestions?

 

[Maf 2500]

Depends whether you need the filtration capacity or if it is just to stop small critters getting in the filter? If the latter, try something like this Aquarium Inlet Filter Stainless Steel Shrimp Guard. Otherwise buying some foam from a pond shop and making your own might be an option?

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

What inlet pipe do you have, plastic, glass or stainless and what porosity of sponge are you after?

 

[Calamardo Tentaculos]

What inlet pipe do you have, plastic, glass or stainless and what porosity of sponge are you after?

The FZone mini 12mm stainless steel inlet pipe.

As for the sponge, I am thinking 40PPI?

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

The FZone mini 12mm stainless steel inlet pipe.

As for the sponge, I am thinking 40PPI?

Ah, that’s a shame. I cut my own sponges but the “12mm” stainless inlet pipes on my system actually measure 14.1mm and the holes I cut are generally a good fit. According to what I’ve seen the FZone pipes are only 12.7mm so would be a bit loose?
I’ll see if I can find some different pipe.

This is the sort of thing I’ve made. This one is more coarse but I’ve been using Black 40ppi foam.
How deep does the hole need to be (to cover all the inlet holes in the pipe)?

 

[Calamardo Tentaculos]

@Aqua sobriquet how do you drill the holes in the sponge?

I reckon 5-7cm deep should suffice.

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

I grip a piece of copper plumbing pipe in the chuck of my lathe, spin it up and then feed the foam onto it. Once cut to depth I grip the waste and pull it out.
I’ll try and do a test cut on some scrap foam and see what happens.

 

[Maf 2500]

According to what I’ve seen the FZone pipes are only 12.7mm so would be a bit loose?

I am pretty sure the inlet grill part of the Fzone pipes are a couple of mm wider than the main part - see pics:
Stainless Steel Lily Pipe Inflow and Outflow 12/16mm

how do you drill the holes in the sponge?

One method is to use an offcut of copper plumbing pipe. If they have been cut with a pipe cutter rather than a saw they are quite sharp. I have just seen @Aqua sobriquet uses a similar method. If you damp and freeze the sponge it gets quite rigid and you can do it by hand rather than using a lathe (if you don't have access to one). You could probably drill out a frozen sponge also, but have not tried this method.

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

Looking again you may be right. The inlet is different to mine and has an extra part on it that’s a bit bigger.

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

Calamardo, send me your name and address by direct message and I’ll pop something in the post for you in a day or two.

 

[Calamardo Tentaculos]

Calamardo, send me your name and address by direct message and I’ll pop something in the post for you in a day or two.

Thanks a lot mate. Appreciate it

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

In case it helps anyone else. I normally sharpen 15mm plumbing pipe by using a countersink on the inside of the pipe.
This has worked for both 12 and 16 inlet pipes (the foam stretches to accommodate the larger size).
Today I sharpened the pipe on both the inside and outside to cut a slightly smaller hole in the foam and it worked well.