A question about cartridges

[PatandSassy]

I am so new to this and I have read and seen a lot of the videos here. I think some things just confuse me more.

I see people using other cartridge fillament and even tea bags.

What is the reason for this?

Are you re-using cartridges you already have? Is this a substitute for purchasing more cartridges?

It appears that you are taking out the old material and putting in new and therefore I am thinking that you do that rather then get new cartridges.

Can one re-use empty cartrdiges this way?

 

[April]

Yes it is a substitute for buying new blank cartridges. People fill them with all kinds of different things. I have used a tea bag and right now i'm using a paper towel. There is post somewhere on here about it, but i'm not sure where Good luck!

 

[PatandSassy]

I think somone said fish tank filter material is that correct? Or what other good material are other people using? Of course, I want to drip the material I put in there.

How long can you continue to do this with one cartridge if you clean the cartridge good each time?

 

[spike]

I reuse all my cartridges by washing out the filling when it has started to turn too dark and the taste gets off. Just run them under the tap and dry on kitchen papertowel. They can be used and washed until they begin to fall apart. But I have also been trying out teabag paper (empty) and various brands of papertowel; on the whole I think they wick better but need more topping up than the normal filler.

It's trial and error, along the way a particular method will suit you. But you need not buy cartridges ever again if you take care of the ones you've already got. Search 'tea bag' and the threads will come up.

 

[Elendil]

The tank filter material is called Fluval. It works pretty well.

 

[wegster]

This is what I'm using currently:
Fluval Polyester Pads from Hagen - Filter Media - Fish - PetSmart

I'm replacing every week or so..