Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've recently bought a ZooMed 501 filter for my turtle tank and it has been working great. Howevery, I cannot find the replacment parts anywhere on the market. I tried petsmart, petco, both online and instore, and alot of other supplies onilne and couldn't find anywhere that carries the replacement filters and the other parts (carbon and stuff). Lots of places have the actual filter for sale but they don't carry the replacement parts. Help!!! where can I buy the replacement sponge and all that???????????

Have you tried contacting ZooMed?

http://www.zoomed.com/html/aquatic_pumps.html
"Replacement Parts and Accessories are available directly from Zoo Med for these items."
email zoomed@zoomed.com
Link

Nope I haven't....I didn't think about that at all. I just emailed them. Interestingly enough they actually don't have the zoo med 501 on their website, and there's no infomration on any of its replacement parts.....

Don't email zoomed@zoomed.com... not a valid email address...
The charcoal and bio mass can be purchased at any aquarium store... Use a double pantyhose for the charcoal... Put the right amount in, and tie it off and double the layers.... the foam can be bought in bulk and just shaped, or call the zoomed number and wait forever...

Has anyone had trouble with this filter?? I purchased one and put it on a 10 gallon tnaks with my softies, and after acouple of days, it just stopped pumping water. I got it started again, but then stopped again. I work for a pet store and am very familiar with filters, and in my opinion, they really suck. Just wondering if anyone else has had problems with it.

I love this filter... easy to clean, easy to use... and it works flawlessly. Only problems I see with it is if you let the hoses have to great of bends in them, scum starts to collect in them. but that is always fixed with a quick cleaning.
I also use a small pump to help the water circulate a bit..and that helps out alot... Although I just had a massive tapeworm bloom. I noticed it last nite... little tiny worms on the glass everywhere. So, my two snaps are off to the vet on Friday... I had to disinfect the filter inside and out just to be safe,,,

I have this filter in a 20 gallon tank with about 8 inches of water and I can tell it is not doing its job. In my opinion - Don't get it. It's cheap but it doesn't really filter the water. The ciculation is weak and the water is cloudy. I have the same problem where it makes that sizzing noise once in a while when it trys to get rid of the air bubbles. Sometimes that noise makes me think that something is firing in there. I think this filter will not if you have a tank that is 5 gallon or less, probably for other small reptiles but definitely not for turtles. I can't find the replacement parts either.