will this work as a filter media?

[jjohnwm]

If...big if...it's really a quality stainless steel, it should be perfectly fine in terms of being inert and non-toxic. I have a couple of these and find them to be among the best algae cleaners I own (glass tanks only!). But...a pot-scrubber is something most people think of as a cheap disposable item, so I really doubt that they are using high-grade stainless in their manufacture. Mine attract a magnet pretty strongly; I suspect that they are the lowest grade of steel that can still be legally referred to as "stainless".

They don't hold together very well, nowhere near as stable as a plastic pot scrubber. After only a few uses they start to unravel and come apart and require more and more careful handling as time passes. If used as mechanical filtration media they would be a royal PITA to handle and clean. If used as biomedia, along with an efficient mechanical pre-filter, they might be okay. The strands are very flattened and ribbon-like, so they look as though they might have way more surface area than a standard plastic pot scrubber with its round filaments...but I'm guessing here, and the toxicity question remains.

 

[esoxlucius]

Agreed, if it was a top quality grade of stainless steel, you may have a chance. Anything less that a top quality grade and corrosion will be the main issue, it'll rust, and, in time, fall to pieces, ugghhh!

And I'm taking it you are asking about their use in a freshwater system? Because if it's salt all bets are off, they'll rust whether they're a top quality grade or not!

It's funny because you say plastic pot scrubbies aren't available, yet I just typed in "plastic pot scrubbies" and was taken to more sites than I can count, along with your metal ones too!!

I'll go back to what I said earlier in the thread. Stick with what's been proven. Steel pot scrubbies, as far as I know, are very much unproven as a reliable and effective filter media.

Or, you could use them, and be the guinea pig. Be sure to report back with your long term findings.

 

[Abominus]

And I'm taking it you are asking about their use in a freshwater system? Because if it's salt all bets are off, they'll rust whether they're a top quality grade or not!

They will be used I freshwater system

It's funny because you say plastic pot scrubbies aren't available, yet I just typed in "plastic pot scrubbies" and was taken to more sites than I can count, along with your metal ones too!!

They might be online but not in shops. I definitely don't wanna spend much money buying like 50 70 scrubbies online. Besides I don't have a bank account and can only pay cash which can cost extra due to COD

Or, you could use them, and be the guinea pig. Be sure to report back with your long term findings.

I will try them. My mom uses each one for months for scrubbing and they don't rust. I will give you the results

 

[Abominus]

If...big if...it's really a quality stainless steel, it should be perfectly fine in terms of being inert and non-toxic. I have a couple of these and find them to be among the best algae cleaners I own (glass tanks only!). But...a pot-scrubber is something most people think of as a cheap disposable item, so I really doubt that they are using high-grade stainless in their manufacture. Mine attract a magnet pretty strongly; I suspect that they are the lowest grade of steel that can still be legally referred to as "stainless".

They don't hold together very well, nowhere near as stable as a plastic pot scrubber. After only a few uses they start to unravel and come apart and require more and more careful handling as time passes. If used as mechanical filtration media they would be a royal PITA to handle and clean. If used as biomedia, along with an efficient mechanical pre-filter, they might be okay. The strands are very flattened and ribbon-like, so they look as though they might have way more surface area than a standard plastic pot scrubber with its round filaments...but I'm guessing here, and the toxicity question remains.

I will conduct a toxicity test first with some few small fish

 

[Midwater]

Great debate. But there is other filter media available, it is not merely a choice between types of scrubbies.

I prefer pumice, not plastic, no metal.

 

[Backfromthedead]

This is just a bad idea imo. I use those type of "stainless" steel scrubbies on pots and pans (imagine that) and they do indeed seem to deteriorate and rust over time albeit at a slower rate than your typical steel wool or brillo pad.

Plastic scrubbies gonna be your better bet or maybe even something cheaper like gravel scooped from outside lol.

 

[AaronKWolfe]

I don't remember if they were stainless or not, but I used similar steel scrubbies to make iron oxide (rust) to make thermite. If you've really gotta save money, I would just buy lava rock.