black foam vs aquarium filter

[skywalk]

My local aquarium store sells black foam that looks like the blue foam everyone is talking about here. They also sell white filter called (euro wool) that looks like the white filter stuff some modders use.

I am very interested in finding out:

- which is more effective? (they both cost barely 3 bucks for a lifetime supply lol)
- pros and cons of each? I'm worried they will burn, and i'll breathe in the vapor
- is there a difference if I insert a straw in the cart and place the foam/white filter on top, vs plug the straw up in the blue foam dart configuration?

i'm probably going to do the straw + either black foam or white filter.

thanks in advance to the experts who reply

 

[Kent C]

My local aquarium store sells black foam that looks like the blue foam everyone is talking about here. They also sell white filter called (euro wool) that looks like the white filter stuff some modders use.

I am very interested in finding out:

- which is more effective? (they both cost barely 3 bucks for a lifetime supply lol)
- pros and cons of each? I'm worried they will burn, and i'll breathe in the vapor
- is there a difference if I insert a straw in the cart and place the foam/white filter on top, vs plug the straw up in the blue foam dart configuration?

i'm probably going to do the straw + either black foam or white filter.

thanks in advance to the experts who reply

I'm not familiar with the two foams you mention. You would have to find the manufacturer and see what it is made of. I know that polyfill, pbt and blue foam from marineland and the white and blue foam fluval are PET - polyester which is safe at the temps we get on ecigs.

It is likely that the foam you mention is the same stuff but if it were me, I'd definitely look it up before using it.

As far as the straw as a 'scaffold' for the plug vs. a plug inside the straw - I think that's what you mean, that really is a personal thing that you should experiment with. No 'expert' is going to convince you ;-) Try them both out and see what best works for you. I'll just say that I have found that if I cut a piece of foam oversized - say by 1.5x the width and length, that the compression of the foam is such, that it needs no scaffolding for support. The bridge pushes the foam to where it's 'supposed' to be (and that could vary from atty to atty) and the foam, because of the compression and force that it exerts against the cart wall keeps it in place from falling down. So I have no structure beneath, leaving more room for juice. But again - don't take my word for it - try various things.

I DO think that foam is better than the poly or wool material in that the surface texture is less likely to get caught on the bridge or on a barb of metal mesh that might grab the filler more easily.