Please report if you are using AquaClear foam for cart filler

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

I've been using a piece of AquaClear foam in my 510 cart for about 2 weeks now to try it out, and have to say, so far I really like it.
http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?sku=173010&pd=recentlyviewedproduct
Most threads that talk about the aquarium filters are about the Eheim or Marineland (blue). I would like to just discuss the AquaClear in this thread. This stuff is a larger reticulated foam.

If you are using it, will you please report your findings. Off taste noticed, problems with burning, leaking, tips for cutting, using as a plug or any other issues that you think may be helpful.

I'm cutting my pieces slightly longer and wider than the cart and compressing slightly for both the 510 and 801 (which I just loaded up again this morning). I'm using menthol liquid in the 510 for 2 weeks with it, so haven't noticed an off flavor, but that could be due to the liquid masking it. So far this morning, no off flavor with the french pipe in the 801 (but again, a strong smoky flavor, so I may not be detecting it under the strong flavor).

I have not seen any change in the material, nor any evidence of melting at this point.

I'm also using battery mods, so am running these with 3.7/4.2v. Anyone using it with 5v or 6v? I am a bit concerned that this is polyurethane, and a high voltage could cause some heat issues which may release chemicals from the polyurethane. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Vape safely people!!

 

[MaxUT]

I got some Aquaclear foam this afternoon on your recommendation and stuffed two 801 carts with it. Previously I had been using Marineland blue foam.

Some differences I noticed:
The color is white.
The cells are larger in the Aquaclear, maybe 50% bigger.
The foam is stiffer.
Liquid is absorbed better when filling for the first time.

I cut a strip of the foam which was maybe 1/2" square in cross section and then cut a length of the strip which was slightly longer than the cartridge core depth. I compressed the strip in a pair of tweezers and inserted it, then trimmed the excess length with a razor blade.

I managed to put in 34 drops of juice before it puddled on top; 32 was the record for carts with blue foam.

About off taste: I thought I tasted something a couple of times but wasn't sure. May have been my imagination. On the other hand, it may have been the 5 volts I'm using.

So far, so good. Thanks for the tip!

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

I'm not sure whether this is off your specified topic or not:

I've just started using "Hagen Fluval Foam Inserts" (recommended by someone here on ECF, sorry for ommision of attribution) also from Petco (although I purchased mine locally from another pet store). They are white in color, whereas the photo on your linked webpage of AquaClear foam appears to be beige. Otherwise, they seem to be quite similar.

I haven't been much of a cart user in the past, so I have only starter kit cart stuffing to compare it to, but these seem to work quite well ... in my 510. In my 801 carts, I get juice in my mouth. Yuck!

 

[MaxUT]

I haven't gotten any juice in my mouth from an 801 cart for quite a while. I always wipe down the sides of the cart when removing it to top off, and remove the mouthpiece and rinse it out at least once a day.

I've been vaping on an Aquaclear-filled cart all evening, it must be at least 4 hours since it was last topped off and it's still working well. I use a BE112 atty.

 

[smonomo]

This thread was where I first saw mention of the Aquaclear and Blue foam for fish tank filters.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/cartridge-mods/27723-eheim-filterpad-mod.html
The Aquaclear with a blue foam or polyfil plug works quite well, but still leaves some juice trapped in the Aquaclear, the Aquaclear by itself leaked too much in my 801.

 

[MaxUT]

...the Aquaclear by itself leaked too much in my 801.

I should add: after inserting the Aquaclear with tweezers, I pushed it in an additional 1/8" to compress it at the mouth of the cart, then trimmed it flush. Maybe that's why mine haven't leaked. Then too, the juice I'm using is not thin.

I finally had to refill the cart this morning: it took 18 drops.

 

[umjim]

I've been using the sideways spring and blue foam plug(1/4" thick) for a couple of weeks now and it works beautifully.I get every last drop with no leakage at all, using thick juice.I did have a leakage problem with thin juice though.Scottyballs is the one who suggested this method and for me it is just the ticket

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

I'm not sure whether this is off your specified topic or not:

I've just started using "Hagen Fluval Foam Inserts" (recommended by someone here on ECF, sorry for ommision of attribution) also from Petco (although I purchased mine locally from another pet store). They are white in color, whereas the photo on your linked webpage of AquaClear foam appears to be beige. Otherwise, they seem to be quite similar.

I haven't been much of a cart user in the past, so I have only starter kit cart stuffing to compare it to, but these seem to work quite well ... in my 510. In my 801 carts, I get juice in my mouth. Yuck!

Don, if you come back to this... did you get liquid in your mouth with this foam? I find it seems to let go of it slower, but steady. Much better than any other filler I've tried for the 801.

The Fluval foam is white... the Aqua Clear is beige. Better stuff, really!! Much better than the blue micro foam (I got a bad taste from that stuff, and tiny pieces seem to break off of the blue foam, yuck!!).

I should add: after inserting the Aquaclear with tweezers, I pushed it in an additional 1/8" to compress it at the mouth of the cart, then trimmed it flush. Maybe that's why mine haven't leaked. Then too, the juice I'm using is not thin.

I finally had to refill the cart this morning: it took 18 drops.

Yup, compressed makes the difference... not a lot, but just barely cut wider than the cart. No leaking with it, and takes a ton of liquid. Thanks for adding your info!

 

[jedrojam]

Don, if you come back to this... did you get liquid in your mouth with this foam? I find it seems to let go of it slower, but steady. Much better than any other filler I've tried for the 801.

The Fluval foam is white... the Aqua Clear is beige. Better stuff, really!! Much better than the blue micro foam (I got a bad taste from that stuff, and tiny pieces seem to break off of the blue foam, yuck!!).



Yup, compressed makes the difference... not a lot, but just barely cut wider than the cart. No leaking with it, and takes a ton of liquid. Thanks for adding your info!

I use the Fluval foam inserts, and wrote about it in the Eheim thread. Been using it for over a month. Tried both the AquaClear and Fluval (both made by Hagen). Couldn't get the smell out of the AquaClear, so went with the white Fluval blocks. I've also tried the blue foam, which seems less durable to me.

So, I only use the white fluval foam in my 801 and 510 atty's (Janty Stick). As long as I keep it horizontal when not vaping, the atty's will not flood.

I have only gotten liquid in my mouth once while using this mod. Turns out there was not a good "seal" of the foam around the cart wall. The juice was just running out of the space between the foam and cart wall. I don't know how better to explain it, just try and make sure that you don't stuff the foam down at an angle and that it's equally touching all around the inside of the cart.

Haven't found a better cartridge filler mod yet (but always searching )

Here's a link directly to my original post.... http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/cartridge-mods/27723-eheim-filterpad-mod-17.html#post623581

 

[BanjoMan]

Heading to PetCo tomorrow.

Subscribing to this thread for future reference...

 

[jedrojam]

You are gonna love the foam, BanjoMan.

Give it some time while you determine the best size to cut your inserts. It took me a few tries to hit the sweet spot.

I have 2 different sizes I use (per atty type), depending on the thickness of the liquid.

 

[BanjoMan]

Picked up some AquaClear and Fluval this morning. First impression: not so great.

Took two empty 901 carts and packed one with AC, the other with fluval. I knew immediately I had them too tight because the first two or three drops of juice just sat there staring at me. Pulled out the tweezers and starting prodding juice in until I reached about 9-10 drops each. Primed the attys and started drawing. Draw was ok, vapor was lighter than normal.

Removed both samples and cut them down to about half their width. After blotting them to remove excess juice I reinserted them into the carts with slight compression. Filling this time was easier and I managed to get 10-12 drops in each fairly quickly before they filled up. Once again after several minutes of trying I was only getting light vapor.

Whatever I'm doing wrong neither material is wicking very well for me. The same two attys with poly or PTB produce tons of vapor, so I know it's not them. Also, I was getting a fairly strong unpleasant taste with both materials... at least I *think* it was both materials (after vaping the first one it might have stayed with me). I rinsed both out well with hot water and let them dry before I started.

Any ideas or tips?

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Aw crud Banjo. I have such good luck with it (and I don't notice a taste at all, odd!). Did you rinse it? (I didn't, but can't hurt) I cut mine just slightly larger than the cart, slightly angled smaller at the bottom (bottom of cart side). Use tweezers to set in the cart and cut off to the top.

I've had one piece in a 510 for a month and love it. Keep trying? Let us know how it goes.

 

[BanjoMan]

Not giving up yet. I'll try some different size pieces tomorrow and see if the taste comes back.

 

[jedrojam]

Sorry it's not working great yet. It took me a couple days of tinkering to finally come up with the right "V" cut and overall dimensions. You'll definitely know when you get it.

 

[BanjoMan]

Sorry it's not working great yet. It took me a couple days of tinkering to finally come up with the right "V" cut and overall dimensions. You'll definitely know when you get it.

Any idea why the "V" cut at the bottom seems to make a difference? I would think the more surface area at the bottom, the better. (?)

 

[jedrojam]

My thoughts on the "V" at the bottom (away from the atty bridge):

1. Provides an air pocket once the liquid starts wicking out.
2. Gives the foam room when the bridge pushes on it, to prevent overcompression.
3. Most cart's are narrower towards the bottom, this is a quick way to shape the foam.
4. Easier to know which end is up after washing.

My guess is that it's a combination of numbers 2 and 3.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Yup, I do it like Patriot. Less foam at bottom end will allow for more liquid was my thinking... which will wick it to the top (where a plug won't. Cut slightly (very slightly) wider than the cart gives some compression at the top to keep it from leaking (not much though!)