How to Make a Cheap Cascade 80 Fish Filter for Your Fishy Friends

I got tired of paying a whole-lotta-cash for my Cascade 80 fish filters that I was having to replace every couple of weeks. So I decided to make my own, using furnace vent covers, activated charcoal and and an old filter. I would imagine that this would work for any filter that is a charcoal/batting material. It's been a couple of months and my fish isn't dead yet, but don't hate me if yours dies.

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Step 1: Step One!

Alright, so you'll need 3 things:

- Activated Charcoal
- Old Cascade 80 fish filter - I would imagine that this would work with any other type of cartridge filter
- Vent filters - these are used to cover your furnace vents it your house. I would image that a sewing store would have some similar type of material

Step 2: Step Two!

The second step is to remove the old filter and charcoal from the filter cartridge. I used a screw driver and peeled it all back; you could use any method you want. Just get it off and pour it out.

Step 3: Step Three!

Alright so you have the old filter material off, now it's time to pour some new charcoal into the old cartridge. I put about two tablespoons in, as that's about how much is in the old filter. It's important to have this stuff as it is what balances the water.

Step 4: Step Four

Now it's time for you to cut some of the vent filter, I found that it works best if you use 3/4ths of the vent filter folder over on its self twice. You can use the other 1/4th after a couple of replacements.