Looking for Pond Sweep filter material

14 years ago

I'm looking for some new filter material for my waterfall. The original media was soft and green and came with the Pond Sweep kit. I understand that they don't make that anymore and recommend, instead, the green Matala mats. Well I bought green and black Matala last year and I don't think they trap nearly as much stuff. I still have the three original (5 year old) Pond Sweep media and even though it's old and torn it still holds a lot of muck. It's much more difficult to clean than than Matala but that's (in part at least) because it holds more.

Does anyone know of a similar type of media? Something soft and squishy and not stiff like the Matala?

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Comments (5)

annedickinson
14 years ago
Hi Basil.. LTNS!! I don't know if it is comparable, but I use the washable filters made for air conditioners. They are inexpensive, found at place's like Lowes and Home Depot and I am satisfied with them. Might be worth checking them out.
Anne
basilbird
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi Anne!
I will definitely check out air conditioner filter material. I just don't understand why everyone raves so much about Matala. Sure it's easy to clean but that's because it doesn't pick up that much in the first place.
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mike_il
14 years ago
Basilbird,

Pondsweeps used a 2" thick dark green filter mat but they also sold a 1" thick light green filter mat. This material usually was used in their skimmers. I don't think that you will find the dark green material anymore as I don't know of anyone selling this material. It is a little courser than the white material. I didn't think it was as strong as the white. Pondsweeps originally used the white material but switched to the green as it was cheaper.
Mike
basilbird
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks, Mike
I have a 1" thick light green material that is pretty fine (and really hard to clean). I bought it last year after trying both the grey and green Matala but I don't remember who makes it. The light green is okay but, in my opinion, *nothing* is better than the original dark green.

My current system is to use the grey Matala at the bottom, then the old green and the light green on top. This usually needs to be changed every day or even twice a day if I'm in the pond stirring the Spring muck up. If I know I can't clean the material for a day or two because of work or weather, I use one green Matala first and then one of the original green.

Has anyone had any luck with that Savio Springflo Bio-Filter Media?:
http://pondusa.com/sf01-3.jpg
It's expensive but looks like it would hold a lot.
mike_il
14 years ago
Basilbird,

The white or cream colored 2" thick polyflo material will work as well if not better than the dark green. It is just a little finer but in my opinion just a little stronger. Where most people will have a problem is that it holds so mush junk that when they lift it out of the skimmer by grabbing the pad it starts to tear from the weight. if they help lift with the pad holder it will last for years.

Springflo first hit the market back in 1994. I first put in my filter back in 1995. It works well but not nearly as good as machined PVC ribbon.
mike